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The coronavirus outbreak has caused many industries to come to a standstill. In the wedding industry, vendors like photographers, musicians and caterers rely on some form of face-to-face contact to carry out their jobs.

As many put their lives on hold, others are getting creative to maintain a sense of normalcy, like photographer Lex Alinsod from the Phillipines.

Although this wedding photographer couldn’t perform his job as normal, he found an inventive loophole to still do what she loves.

Alinsod shot an engagement photoshoot over FaceTime for couple Poy and Jeryl from the Philippines. The pair have postponed their November wedding due to COVID-19, but still wanted to have beautiful images to remember their engagement.

“What inspired me is the drive to still create art and to express myself despite the pandemic. I was inspired by one of the photographers I look up to- Alessio Albi who shoots models virtually using facetime. I want to incorporate it to my field which is wedding photography,” Alinsod told Wedding ETC.

Alinsod used his Photoshop skills to add graphics to the photos. He also asked the bride-to-be to write letters to her partner that he then superimposed onto the photos.

Alinsod says that a Facetime photoshoot brings its own unique challenges.

“The process of shooting on FaceTime is very much different from shooting with an actual camera. There’s an extra challenge to it. Other than directing the poses of the couple, you’ll need to also direct the placing of the camera. Prior to shooting, I asked the couple to give me a “virtual tour” of their place so I would know where is the good light and to also determine where will I let them position.”

The only difficulty he faced was in the quality of the photos because comparing the quality of screenshots to an actual shot from a camera is way different. 

This unique photoshoot goes beyond the pandemic, proving that creativity and love cannot be stopped. Despite the tough current climate, this couple will always have these stunning shots to remember that their love is real and survived the unexpected.

For more, visit Lex Alinsod’s Facebook page and Instagram.

Image/s: Lex Alinsod

Albert Einstein may have been known for his theory of relativity but his personal life was far from perfect.

Einstien was married twice, first to Mileva Marić a fellow scientist in 1904 and then after their divorce he married his cousin Elsa Löwenthal in 1919.

While there are many details to these marriages, which were discovered in letters Einstein wrote to his partners and others throughout his life, one of the most shocking are the demands Einstein gave his first wife as their marriage fell apart.

In the book Einstein: His Life and Universe, Walter Isaacson revealed a list that Einstein had written up for Marić around 1914. It was at this point that she had realised he was in love with his cousin and their relationship had deteriorated. 

To come up with a way to stay together for their children, Einstein wrote out a list of rules for his wife which placed her in the role of his servant more than his partner.

Under the title “Conditions” they were written out as follows:

A. You will make sure:

  1. that my clothes and laundry are kept in good order;
  2. that I will receive my three meals regularly in my room;
  3. that my bedroom and study are kept neat, and especially that my desk is left for my use only.

B. You will renounce all personal relationships with me insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons. Specifically you will forego:

  1. my sitting at home with you
  2. my going out or travelling with you

C. You will obey the following points in your relations with me:

  1. you will not expect any intimacy from me nor reproach me in any way;
  2. you will stop talking to me if I request it;
  3. you will leave my bedroom or study immediately without protest if I request it.

D. You will undertake not to belittle me in front of our children, either through words or behaviour.

Most can agree that even for the early 1900s this is a pretty harsh list so it was no wonder the two got divorced only a few years later.

Image:Rainmaker1973/ Twitter

To some, wedding colours may seem like a trivial topic. However, it is actually a tremendously important part of the planning process and in fact not much can be decided on, in terms of decor, if you don’t know what your colour scheme is.

It’s not as easy as it sounds, though. While it should be based on your general preferred style and personal taste as a couple, you can’t simply throw together your favourite colour and your partners favourite colour and be done with it. That might lead you to a rather odd looking wedding! Don’t risk it.

Your bridal party’s attire, table settings, flowers, and other decorative details all have to be synced to the same colour scheme. It’s likely it’ll be tough to get this sorted out if you’ve chosen colours that don’t match or even worse, if you haven’t decided on wedding colours at all.

Despite all of this, you shouldn’t let it stress you out! Follow these simple steps and you’ll decide on your wedding colours in no time:

– Start simple

If there is one colour you’ve always wanted to feature in your wedding, start with that. By beginning with a base colour, the rest of your decisions will come much more easily. If you don’t have a base colour in mind just yet, that should be your first task. Look for inspiration where ever you can find it.

– Think theme 

A dramatic theme calls for dramatic colours, while a more low-key theme, like a bohemian style for example, calls for toned-down colours. Consider what you’d like your wedding to look like in terms of theme, and base your colours on that.

– Season and style 

We all know as seasons change, so do styles and colours. Some colours are best used in specific seasons. For example, coral works great in summer while silver stuns during the winter time. Thinking seasonally can easily lead you to your perfect wedding colours.

Additionally, you’ll want your colour scheme to work across all parts of your wedding. So you’ll have to think about whether your colours are seasonally appropriate for your bridal party’s outfits too!

– Venue 

If you’ve already booked your venue, or have one in mind, consider what it looks like. Is it an outdoor venue with lots of greenery, or is it a warehouse with empty walls? These factors can inform your decisions on colour choices too. In fact, they can make or break your colour choices! For example, if your venue has walls decked out with wallpaper in intricate patters, it already gives a busy feel to the room. If you go with colours which are too bright, or decide to have too many different colours, it could start to look a bit messy.

– The colour wheel 

Don’t forget about this useful tool for colour co-ordination. The basics of the colour wheel are that colours which are opposite to each other on the wheel go well together. If you’re having trouble deciding on a second colour, consult this trusted resource.

Image: Pixabay

Even the best of us experience a bout of forgetfulness every now and then. However, when we forget an anniversary it may land us in the dog box. The day is, for obvious reasons, special to both partners and it stings just a bit when your significant others forget.

If you’re the one who’s forgotten, not to worry. While your partner may be a bit upset, you definitely can fix it with a few simple but thoughtful gestures.

Here’s what you have to do:

– A simple apology goes a long way 

Saying sorry genuinely makes the world of difference. A simple apology, taking the time to acknowledge that your partner’s feelings are hurt, is always appreciated. Make sure you note how this may have hurt them, and ask what you can do to make it up to them.

– Explain, but don’t hide behind excuses 

Explain to you partner what it is that led to your forgetting your anniversary. When you’re explaining, ensure that you note that you are not using these occurrances as an excuse. You shouldn’t try to play the victim or downplay its importance.

– Plan an intimate celebration

Once all is forgiven, you should make an effort to celebrate, whether its a belated celebration or not. Cook dinner and lay the table out with candles and flowers. Make it intimate and personal.

Others may want to make a day of it. Celebrate by spending quality time doing different things throughout the day. Perhaps you could recreate a few of your early dates in your relationship, or take a day trip to somewhere pretty. The world is your oyster.

– Do something sweet and unique 

Do something quirky and cute, to make your partner laugh. Maybe you decide to make matching anniversary t-shirts, maybe you’ll decide to go big and get a tattoo of your anniversary date (although admittedly this has not turned out well for many people), or maybe you’ll make a funny anniversary video. Whatever you do, try to make it personal, adding details only you and your partner would understand.

– Remember it next time! 

Do not forget it ever again! Set a calendar reminder, write it down, memorise it, do what needs to be done. When you remember it next year, all the effort will be worth it when you see the joy and love on your partners face.

Image: Unsplash

From Grace Kelly to Audrey Hepburn, high-neck wedding dresses have been a celebrity favourite for decades.

This style is classic and demure yet packs a punch. It also lends itself to a Victorian-inspired look. For brides wanting a more modest look on their big day, a high-neck gown offers coverage without compromising on style.

Here are a few ways to pull off this trend:

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Feature image: Pexels

Essential workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic have faced much heartbreak over the last few months. Those who were meant to tie the knot during this time experienced even more sadness over having to cancel their big days to join the fight against coronavirus.

This past weekend, 100 couples from 15 different provinces in China married in a group wedding after their own were cancelled. The wedding was held at resort city Sanya in south China’s Hainan Province.

The group wedding was organised by the municipal government and supported by about 50 enterprises to honour all the workers who had to put their big day aside to work on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The couples were also provided with free round-trip airfare, accommodation, wedding photos and honeymoon tours.

Take a look at some of the stunning images from the big day HERE.

Feature image: Unsplash

Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock recently became engaged to boyfriend of 4 years, footballer Andre Gray. The happy couple might tie the knot soon, according to Pinnock’s bandmate Jesy Nelson.

Gray popped the question on their 4-year anniversary in late May, which they celebrated at home with a romantic setup in their garden. Gray had set up an outdoor cinema and a walkway of fairylights. Halfway through the film, it cut out and a song special to their reationship began to play as videos and pictures of the couple flittered on screen.

The words “four years and counting” floated on screen, followed by “Will you marry me?” as Gray knelt on one knee to propose.

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The engagement had been a long time coming for the couple. In an interview on the Heart breakfast show, Little Mix bandmate Jesy Nelson said that Pinnock has been waiting for years for the proposal

“Every time Andre does anything romantic, she messages us, she’s like ‘it could be now’, we’re like ‘Leigh…chill babe.'”

Nelson also revealed that Pinnock won’t wait long to walk down the aisle.

“Obviously we can’t give anything away, but we know it will probably be soon because Leigh-Anne has no patience,” she said. “She will just want to hurry up and do it, but it will probably be like the biggest most extravagant wedding ever, because that’s just Leigh-Anne all over.”

Nelson added that all the Little Mix members could be bridesmaids on the big day, and will likely wear something incredibly stylish.

“I think it will be the height of fashion, I mean I’ll wear whatever she tells us to.”

“I mean we don’t even know if we’re bridesmaids yet, I love that we’re going on as if we’re definitely bridesmaids.”

Feature image: Instagram / Leigh-Anne Pinnock

 

Remember the childhood excitment of playing in a treehouse? The adventures and possibilites seemed endless.

While we’ve become adults now, that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy these childhood wonders. If you’re a nature-lover, a treehouse might just be the perfect wedding venue for you. This brings together the beauty of the outdoors and the whimsy of yesteryear.

Here are a few treehouse wedding venues from around the world.

Treehouse Point –Washington

Easily accessible along the Preston-Fall City Road SE and located just 30 minutes from Seattle in a beautiful forest along the Raging River, TreeHouse Point offers a unique wedding location.

Choose a spot on the river, reserve the Pond Room, or stay the night for your special event. Whether your goal is a quiet getaway for two or a life celebration with friends and family, the TreeHouse Point Staff welcomes you!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9PZd-kJPKt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Tree Top Escape – Devon, England

Tree Top Escape is a luxurious hideaway haven and unique, intimate wedding venue perched above and amongst the trees on a beautiful private estate in North Devon. Surrounded by glorious rolling hills and valleys, patchwork fields dotted with sheep and leaves of green in every hue, Tree Top Escape offers a perfect setting for romantic breaks, special occasions and intimate weddings.

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Tree Hotel – Sweden

The Tree Hotel is set among the fall trees of the pine forest in Northern Sweden. The hotel rooms are all uniquely designed. One resembles a mirrorcube, another a UFO and another a birds nest. The tree rooms are suspended 4-10 metres above the ground and are accessible by ramp, bridge, or electric stairs.

Whether you’re looking for an adventure, a relaxing break or simply to wind down in nature, Treehotel invites you to experience nature in the most unique and memorable way you can imagine.

Winvian – New England
This historic Winvian estate is situated on an 113-acre plot in New England, surrounded by rolling lawns, wildflower meadows and enchanted woodlands.

Their exclusive treehouse is the perfect place to take your wedding pictures for a rustic glam look nature-lovers will appreciate. End the night by soaking in the Jacuzzi tub or cosying up by the fireplace.

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Tongabezi Lodge – Zambia

Say your ‘I do’s’ on the very edge of the iconic Victoria Falls at the Tongabezi Lodge. This stunning lodge is found on the banks of the Zambezi river, and combines exclusive ambience with the legendary warmth and hospitality of the people of Zambia.

The lodge caters for small or large groups, and arranges all the details including a priest for the blessing, the order of service (if required), plus flowers, menus, cakes, guest gifts, the choir, professional photography and other local entertainment such as a DJ or local dancers.

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Playa Viva – Mexico

This stunning eco-resort brings together the rugged, unspoiled beauty of Mexico in the guilt-free luxury of an environmentally conscious resort dedicated to sustainability and regenerative practices.

Tie the knot on the beach then celebrate with a small wedding party in the private treehouse that overlooks the ocean.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9rQMq-gUGj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Feature image: Unsplash

The Hollywood marriages of old times seem to hold unparalleled nostalgia and romance, a far cry from the trivial pursuits of attention modern reality TV relationships portray.

The year is 1944. He, an iconic actor and Broadway star. She, a 19-year old model and aspiring actress. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall met on the set of To Have and Have Not. Like all notable Hollywood romances, their relationship was a scandalous affair.

Credit: Pinterest

Bogart was married to his third wife, actress Mayo Methot, at the time (not to mention being 25 years Bacall’s senior). But there was no stopping the attraction between them. In her book Be Myself, Bacall wrote about the first time he came to her trailer one night after filming. “Suddenly he leaned over, put his hand under my chin, and kissed me. It was impulsive—he was a bit shy—no lunging wolf tactics. He took a worn package of matches out of his pocket and asked me to put my phone number on the back. I did,” she writes.

Credit: Pinterest

Soon after, Bogart divorced his wife. The star-crossed lovers tied the knot on May 21, 1945 at a ceremony on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield’s farm in Ohio.

Their wedding day. Credit: Pinterest

They had two children together, staying married until Bogart’s death in 1957. “No one has ever written a romance better than we lived,” Bacall wrote in her memoir.

Source: Country Living

Image: Pinterest

A wedding registry is to help newlyweds start of their new life together. From travel-lovers to foodies, homebodies the eco-friendly, gifts are always tailored to the specific couple.

However, there are a few essential items that every couple needs, regardless of their likes and dislikes. If you’re making your own registry, here are some key items to include.

For the kitchen:

– A coffee plunger

– Measuring cups/spoons

– pots and pans

– an egg cooker

– knife set

– glass Tupperware line

– mortor and pestle

– cutting board

– rolling pin

– cabinet organisers

Credit: Unsplash

For entertaining:

– A set of glassware

– Set of cutlery

– crockery

– serving spoons

– cake stand

– serving board

– table runners

– cheese board

– speaker

– coasters

Credit: Unsplash

For the home:

– A cosy blanket

– scatter cushions

– a mirror

– portable chargers

– artwork

– houseplants

– towel sets

– air purifier

– linen sheets

– photo frames

Credit: Unsplash

Also read: Where to register for wedding gifts in South Africa

Feature image: Unsplash