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    Music inspires and brings people together. For many, music has captured their heart and created important bonds with their loved ones. If you’re one of those people, then incorporating music into your big day seems like the perfect thing to do.

    There are so many easy ways to incorporate music into your big day, from invitations all the way to your guest book. A plus is that this theme is incredibly easy to DIY. Gather some sheet music, some old records, and some creativity.

    We’ve got the inspiration covered. Here are some decor ideas that will hit the right note on your big day.

    Invites:
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    Seating chart:
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    Decor:
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    Guest book:
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    Feature image: Unsplash

    When you really think about it, the idea of walking down the aisle carrying a bunch of flowers seems a bit odd. Perhaps for decorative purposes it works, but one could argue its a bit random and inconvenient, and serves to block the full view of the main attraction – the wedding gown – as well.

    Yet, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bride without a bouquet, or at least some form of it. Many consider it to be an essential part of the bride’s look.

    While we can all agree that the bouquet does add a touch of natural beauty which is unmatched, this is not the reason brides carry bunches of blossoms. Like most other wedding traditions, the practice is rooted in reasoning from centuries passed.

    In Ancient Rome, brides would carry flowers as they were believed to signify new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility, according to Modern Wedding. Bouquets, however, were not always made up of flowers.

    Herbs took preference for brides in the Middle Ages. Dill and garlic were most commonly used as they were said to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, according to Readers Digest. Reportedly, the dill would make a second appearance on the wedding day – during the feast – to prepare the newlyweds for the consumation of their marriage since it is considered an aphrodisiac.

    Later on, during the Victorian Era, the act of giving and receiving flowers came to be known as an expression of love. As they were then linked to love and romance, they increasingly became incorportated into weddings.

    Since then, it seems the practice has stuck and is not going anywhere either. Flowers are incorporated into weddings through bouquets, table decorations, and much more.

    There is a popular myth that has been reported by many publications, including Bustle, which that claims another reason for the bouquet in the 15th century was to mask the smell of the bride.

    This claim is based on the fact that, in those times, people only had one bath per year. Huffington Post reported that June was the most popualr month for weddings and most women took their annual bath in May.

    According to Snopes, an online fact checking resouce, this is not true. Brides have never carried a bouquet to mask their smell.

    “Although the modern practice of full-immersion bathing was a long way off in the 1500s (among other reasons because filling a vessel large enough to hold a person with heated water was rather impractical given the effort required to collect fresh water and fuel for heating it), people did still “bathe” in the sense of attempting to clean themselves as best they could with the resources at hand,” explains Snopes.

    “Although today’s brides carry flowers simply because it is now the custom to do so, at one time bridal bouquets were symbols of sexuality and fertility. Covering up anyone’s bad smell played no part in why this custom came into being.”

    Image: Unsplash

    Many beautiful brides-to-be and their partners were looking forward to celebrating their wedding day in early 2020, until the COVID-19 lockdown altered their plans.

    The House of J.C Le Roux understands how easy it is for even the most fun-loving and optimistic bridal couple to lose their sparkle when wedding plans fall through. In an effort to banish the bridal blues, the renowned sparkling wine-brand has launched  #JCSilverLinings – because in the world of J.C Le Roux there is always a silver lining.

    Brand Manager Michelle Michael explains, “The House of J.C. Le Roux understands how difficult the lockdown has been for everyone and recognises all the little things South Africans have been doing to stay positive.  Our team has been keeping a keen eye on the social media scene and recognise the efforts of brides and grooms-to-be across the country to remain upbeat.  The #JCSilverLinings campaign aims to surprise and delight 200 disappointed bridal couples who have had to postpone their weddings due to lock down with the little silver lining they need.”

    One of these bridal couples – Carly Fillis (33) and Nathan Goodall (35) – shared their story of the postponement of their wedding day on social media, which was spotted by the J.C. Le Roux team.  The pair from Johannesburg spent months planning their perfect, fairy tale wedding which they envisaged as an intimate and informal outdoor event that would reflect their light-hearted and relaxed approach to life.  However, they had to put this dream on hold when lock down was announced in March, as the wedding date was set for 8 May.

    Image: supplied

    Their story is one that touches the heart. They first met in 2014 when Carly showed up at Nathan’s 29th birthday party. As it turns out, his sister happened to be a good friend of Carly’s and Nathan had secretly set his sights on her four years before. The spark was ignited that evening and when he asked her out on a date, the mutual attraction led to more time spent together as a couple. Love blossomed and five years later, on 12 April 2019, he popped the question and they set their wedding date. ‘We were destined to be together, and this is a bump in the road we just need to get over,’ says Fillis.

    ‘I wasn’t expecting anything, and I was feeling ‘kinda blue’ when the call came in to let us know we were chosen to receive a hamper from J.C. Le Roux. We were both overjoyed and did a little dance around the living room,’ she laughs.

    Image: supplied

    Marketing Manager Nicola Coubrough says the stories shared on social media by bridal couples that have encountered similar disappointment have touched their hearts.  ‘To  those couples who have had to cancel their wedding because of lock down, this is our small way of saying it will soon be your time to sparkle.  We hope our hampers give them a reason to celebrate while they wait for the moment they will walk down the aisle on the most important day of their lives together.’’

    Bridal couples across the country will be delighted to know that there is yet another surprise silver lining on the horizon courtesy of the House of J.C. Le Roux, to be revealed on social media later in the month.

    Watch this space.

    Anyone who would like to be part of the #JCSilverLinings action on social media can follow J.C. Le Roux on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Check out ther website here: www.jcleroux.co.za

    Feature image: supplied

     

    A Dallas-based wedding videography company is under fire for refusing to refund a couple after the bride-to-be passed away before their wedding day.

    Justin Montney and Alexis-Athena Wyatt were set to tie the knot in May. Tragically, Wyatt died in a car crash in early February, leaving Montney heartbroken.

    Montney soon began contacting all their vendors to cancel arrangements, the majority of whom gave him refunds. One of their vendors, Copper Stallion Media, refused to refund the $1,800 (R31 241) fee the couple had already paid as it was against their policy and the couple had signed a legally-binding contract.

    “We replied and expressed our sympathy and explained to him that all of our wedding contracts are non-refundable,” said the company online. “He kept emailing us trying to get a refund and we kept reiterating that the contract is non-refundable. We eventually stopped responding since the issue was moot.”

    Montney continued to reach out to the company and after not hearing from them for months, said he would post about their refusal to refund him on social media. Copper Stallion Media then threatened to sue Montney, as well as Wyatt’s family for a negative review Wyatt’s mother had posted on The Knot.

    Montney then reached out to a local television station to share his side of the story, along with screenshots of the conversation between him and the company. According to the screenshots, Copper Stallion Media had a few harsh comments, writing “we hope you sob and cry all day for what would have been your wedding day. Sorry, not sorry.” The story quickly sparked outrage.

    According to Buzzfeed, Copper Stallion Media allegedly retaliated by creating a website called JustinMontney.com, on which they state they are building a case against Montney and accuse him of fueling a smear campaign against them, as they have received many negative reviews online since the story broke.

    “We will NEVER refund Justin Montney even with the online threats and harassment… If we knew he was going to shake us down, we would have charged a higher deposit,” they allegedly wrote on the site. “Life is a b**ch, Justin.”

    The content on the site has since been removed and replaced with a Youtube embed of the song ‘Disillusioned’ by A Perfect Circle.

    Buzzfeed also reports that The Knot Worldwide recently discovered that the accounts for Copper Stallion on The Knot and Wedding Wire sites were created under a false identity by a man named  Jesse J. Clarke.

    There are suspicions that Jesse J. Clarke, the creator of those pages, may also be Jesse J. Clark, a videographer who in 2013 was accused of scamming about 90 couples by not delivering wedding videos as promised, while pocketing their payments.

    “As soon as we became aware, we took immediate action and removed Copper Stallion Media from our marketplaces on The Knot and WeddingWire,” the company said.

    “We are conducting a thorough investigation across our sites to determine if there are any other businesses that have been created under false identities by individuals associated with Copper Stallion Media and will take quick action to remove any listings that are found,” the Knot said.

    A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family pay for funeral expenses, and over US$15,000 (R260 349) has already been raised.

    Feature image: Unsplash

     

    Movies are idealised versions of our messy, no-quite-so-perfect reality. This includes marriage proposals, which are often even grander and more emotionally satisfying on the screen. Here are some of the best marriage proposals through the ages.

    1. Love Actually

    This proposal is all about the power of love. Despite never having spoken a word the other could understand, Jamie and Aurelia feel a connection, leading both to attempt to learn the other’s language. We can’t help but melt as her entire town follows him as he searches for Aurelia and proposes to her in clumsy Portuguese and she says yes in equally clumsy English.

    2. Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason

    After two whole movies watching these two be on and off depending on which frustrating mishap or misunderstanding has happened, we finally get a typically Bridget awkward proposal. After interrupting Mark’s meeting to ask him to take her back, Bridget awkwardly leaves only to be met with a proposal from Mark in the hallway, even repeating it to make it slightly more perfect.

    3. Sex and the City 

    Big and Carrie were the biggest ‘will they, won’ they’ couples of the 1990s. While the couple’s first proposal is dull and uninspiring, after their first attempt at a wedding didn’t go as planned we got the proposal we deserved. Carrie deserved nothing short of a proposal in a beautiful penthouse apartment with the perfect Manolo Blahnick heels.

    4. Walk the Line 

    There is no bigger proposal than one that takes place on stage in front of everyone. Although this isn’t the first proposal throughout the movie, as Johnny is relentless despite June’s protests, it is the one where she says yes. Some may call it peer pressure (how can you say no to that blackmail?) but for the sake of fantasy, we’re chalking this up to a grand gesture.

    5. The Proposal 

    This one had to make the list, the entire movie is premised on the concept of a proposal! While Margaret’s deal with Andrew is a kind of proposal, the real heart-warmer is that Andrew’s declaration of love comes after an antagonistic relationship grows into love with him finally asking her to “Marry me…because I’d like to date you.”

    6. He’s Just Not That Into You 

    This entire movie about relationships involves many characters, but the most down-to-Earth, frustrating pair are Neil and Beth. Neil doesn’t believe in marriage and after an ultimatum by Beth, they break-up and he lives a sad life on his boat. After proving he is more of a husband not married to her than her sisters’ real husbands, Beth takes Neil back. While that may have been a sweet ending in itself, the best moment comes when Neil proposes using a pair of cargo pants Beth hates. “Check the pocket first,” he says, where she finds the ring box. He drops to a knee and asks, “Will you marry me?” and she says, “Of course.”

    7. About Time 

    This simple proposal is as sweet as the film it features in. Tim wakes Mary up to ask her to marry him, at first she doesn’t realise what he’s getting at but once she does she says yes. This simple, truly romantic proposal is much sweeter and realistic than a grand proposal.

    8. Sweet Home Alabama 

    This is a double proposal spectacular and which one you prefer really depends on what kind of person you are. First there is the New York lavish surprise proposal where Andrew takes Melanie into a darkened room before flicking on the lights and revealing it to be the inside of Tiffany’s so she can pick a ring. The second is the sweet, childhood sweetheart proposal between a young  Melanie and Jake as he asks her to marry him. “Why would you want to marry me for, anyhow?” she asks. “So I can kiss you anytime I want,” he responds.

    9. When Harry Met Sally 

    Harry fulfils the ideal of the proper but romantic speech to convince Sally that they are meant to be together. “When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible,” he says.

    10. Crazy Rich Asians 

    One of the most recent entries on this list, this proposal takes the cliché airport chase to the next level, ending up actually on the plane. After getting the approval and ring from his mother, Nick rushes to Rachel before she flies back to the US. It’s a cute spin and the beautiful ring and engagement party at the end makes it one for the books.

    Image: News365/Twitter

    Dancehall musician Sean Paul and his wife Jodi “Jinx” Stewart Henriques celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary yesterday, May 27.

    The pair, like many others, couldn’t do much to mark the occassion on account of the coronavirus pandemic. However, Stewart made sure to honour the day with a funny photo on Instagram.

    The photo shows the couple on their wedding day, with Paul glancing lovingly at his new wife as she strikes a silly pose.  “It was at this very moment that he realized he should have run!!! Thanks for sticking it out with me @duttypaul. I promise to always keep things exciting!!! Happy Anniversary Married 8 years, Engaged 1 1/2 years, Dating 8 years,” she wrote.

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    According to Stewarts caption, the pair have been together for 17 and a half years now.

    They made it official on May 26, 2012 at Boon Hall Oasis in Stony Jill – Kingston, Jamaica, according to Dancehall Mag.

    It has been reported that the ceremony was extremely low-key and private. Sources said that staff, wedding vendors, and guests were required to sign contracts declaring that they would not leak any information about the event. Dancehall Mag reported that guests were only given information about the wedding location mere hours before the ceremony.

    Paul and Stewart now have two children together, and they couldn’t be happier!

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    Image: Instagram / jodijinx

    Weddings are believed to set the tone for your marriage in some cultures. There are also superstitions that are either a good or bad omen for your marriage. Rain on your wedding day is a good sign. The groom accidentally seeing the bride in her dress, a bad one.

    Some may believe in these correlations, but this doesn’t make them fact. Getting hitched in Las Vegas, for instance, may be symbolic of an inevitable failed marriage.

    Despite the many, many annulments and divorces that happen after a Sin City wedding – there are a few exceptions to the rule. Here are some of the marriages that have gone the distance in spite of the wedding’s location.

    Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas

    Yes it’s only been a year, but this couple have already outlasted hundreds, if not thousands, of other Vegas marriages.

     

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    Sin city with my angel #tbt

    A post shared by Sophie Turner (@sophiet) on

    Katherine Kelly and Ryan Clark

    In 2013 this couple wed in secret in a little ol’ Vegas elopement. The couple is still together 7 years on. The pair have two adorable girls together.

     

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    Happy Easter everyone xx

    A post shared by Katherine Kelly (@katherinekel) on

    Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos

    This must be one of the longest standing celeb marriages to have had their wedding in Vegas. The couple wed in 1996 and are still going strong 24 years later.

     

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    Call me crazy but i like #cincodemayo 2018 way better

    A post shared by Kelly Ripa (@kellyripa) on

    Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley

    The couple, who met in high school and fell in love, wed in Vegas in 1989 and are still together today.

     

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    This is the immortal love ❤️❤️❤️ Jon and Dorothea forever ❤️❤️❤️

    A post shared by ❤Bon Jovi❤ (@bonjovi_sisters) on

    Bette Middler and Martin von Haselberg

    The couple got hitched in Vegas in 1984 and are still together 36 years later.

     

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    Fellini Hulaweeni 2014 was a howling success! Here is a glimpse of the fun.

    A post shared by Bette Midler (@bettemidler) on

    Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

    One of Hollywood’s golden couples wed in a Vegas chapel in 1958 and stayed together for over 50 years until Newman’s death.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Paul Newman (@paulnewmandaily) on

    Some notably short marriages that give Vegas it’s non-happily-ever-after reputation: 

    Britney Spears and Jason Alexander lasted 55 hours.

    Nicolas Cage and Erika Koike lasted 4 days.

    Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon lasted two months.

    Nicky Hilton and Todd Andrew Meister lasted three months.

    Image: Instagram/ Paulnewmandaily

    Weddings don’t necessarily have to be in fancy hotels or expensive halls. They can be beach-side, river-side, or anywhere you’d like. Similarly, the reception doesn’t have to be super formal. It could be more relaxed too. A picnic wedding is a great option for those looking for something more simple.

    Since this type of reception is not the most common, you may feel a bit lost when it comes to planning. You need not worry! It’s more simple than you think, as long as you know where to start.

    If you’re considering a picnic wedding, here’s how to go about the planning:

    – Size and Location 

    Consider where you’d like to host your picnic wedding. Is it in a park, river-side, by the beach or on the lawn in your garden?

    If you have a large amount of guests, you’ll have to think about the size of the space and whether everyone will be comfortably accommodated. For example, a backyard picnic will not work out well if you’re having 150 guests.

    Another important factor is whether you’re allowed to have events in your desired location. Often, you may need a permit to host an event in a location such as a public park. Before you start making big plans and spending any money, get in contact with a municipal official to find out how you should go about hosting the event.

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    – Decor 

    Since you’re likely to be outdoors for the picnic, decor needs to be done cleverly.

    Ensure that you’re using decorations that are not harmful to the environment, and which are easily disposable to prevent littering.

    You’ll also want to make contact with vendors who provide items such as cutlery and crockery, so that they can advise you on the most appropriate items to use at your reception. The last thing you want is broken plates and inconveniently sized items which make eating outdoors difficult. They’ll also be able to advise you on transportation of these items, since you won’t be in a hall or similar venue, the logistics may be slightly more complicated. Be prepared for that.

    Additionally, a picnic often means you’ll be sitting on the ground or much lower down than you would at a normal table. Find ways to make seating picnic appropriate but still comfortable for guests. Perhaps low tables with comfy pillows for sitting on is a good place to start.

    Finally, take the surroundings into account. You could save big on items such as flowers and table decorations if you make proper use of the area you’re surrounded by.

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    – Food 

    Ensure that you choose picnic-appropriate food. You wouldn’t want it to be too difficult for your guests to indulge in the treats you provide for them. Finger foods are a good start, but a caterer will be able to advise you on meal options that are best suited for the type of event you’re having.

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    – Weather 

    A picnic in the rain is not the most pleasant experience. A picnic wedding is best in the summer time. However, if you’re getting married in the autumn months try to find a way to cover your guests, for example by creating a tented area in your chosen location.

    It may be cute to supply blankets for later in the day when it starts to get a bit chilly, and it will show that you considered your guests while planning the wedding.

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    Image: Pexels

    Many might have forgotten that there was once a time British musician Seal and German model Heidi Klum were married.

    For seven years, this PDA-prone couple seemed as loved-up as ever. They would even renew their vows every single year in an elaborately themed ceremony.

    Klum and Seal met in 2004 at a hotel lobby in New York City, where the attraction was instant. Early into their relationship, Klum discovered she was pregnant with her ex-boyfriend’s baby. Nevertheless, the couple remained strong. Seal proposed in 2005 while the couple were on a glacier, in a natural snow cave in Whistler, British Columbia.

    They secretly married on a beach in Mexico in May 2005, with only 40 guests present. At the time, Klum was pregnant with the couple’s first child together.

    Throughout their seven-year marriage, the pair renewed their vows every year in a themed ceremony. The renewal themes were, at times, eyebrow raising.

    “It’s our time – a lovely family time,” she once told Redbook Magazine. “It’s about remembering this moment of love we gave to each other and reinforcing it.”

    Years after their divorce, Seal admitted that he didn’t enjoy the renewals as they always turned into a spectacle.

    Every vow renewal ceremony had a theme. One year, the theme was white trash. Klum wore her hair in cornrows and Seal fashioned a mullett as they tied the knot in a ceremony officiated by an Elvis impersonator.

    Credit: Pinterest

    The pair also had an ‘India’ themed renewal, as they fell in love with the country on a trip. They wore traditional Hindu wedding attire and married in a Hindu ceremony officiated by Indian priest Pandit Shailesh Tripathi, who was especially called from Indian holy city Varanasi to conduct the ceremony.

    Credit: Pinterest

    For their final vow renewal ceremony, the theme was ‘Brides and Grooms’. They had their guests dress as brides and grooms, and the minister was available to do vow renewals for anyone else who wanted them.

    The pair filed for divorce in 2012, and it was finalized in 2014. They share four children together: Leni (her child with ex Flavio Briatore, who Seal legally adopted), Henry, Johan, and Lou.

    Feature image: Pinterest

    Most couples meet each other by chance. A lucky encounter that leads to a forever relationship, like sitting next to each other in a university lecture theatre, through a friend, or at work. Some, however, have meet-cutes that are worthy of fairytale status.

    Falling in love with a total stranger as you lock eyes across the room is a thing of dreams for many. US YouTuber Malibu Darby and her now husband Aramis Phillips had just that.

    The pair were strangers when they attended the same wedding ceremony in 2015, and had never crossed paths before. Neither of them expected that this would be the day they met the love of their life. Of course, they attended the wedding with the intention of enjoying the festivities, celebrating the newly-weds and nothing more.

    As luck would have it, both Darby and Phillips were keen to participate in the activities of the day. When the garter toss and bouquet throwing time came around, they both stood up to try their hand at catching the items.

    We all know that tradition says if you catch these items, you’re the next in line to get married. Little did these strangers know…

    Both Darby caught the bouquet and Phillips caught the garter, and that was it. A few months later they started dating and after three years Phillips popped the question.

    Chatting to Briefly, Darby said that they had a low-key engagement. Her now husband surprised her at work and asked her for her hand in marriage. According to her, the fact that it was at work made it all the more surprising.

    “If it happened in a public place like a restaurant or park then I would have known he wanted to ask me to marry him,” she said in an old YouTube video.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BjLtP0pht81/

    The loved-up couple married on September 21, 2019 and had a blissful honeymoon in Jamiaca thereafter.

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    Talk about a fairytale!

    Image: Twitter / Youtube: MalibuDarby