The days of having to invite your cousin twice removed and your grandmother’s brother’s children, whom you have never even met, to your wedding are over. These days, where the economy is tight for everyone except the royals and celebs, every penny counts and it really has become more common to have smaller, intimate weddings. That way, you can spend the day (and your hard-earned money) with the people that are closest to you and are part of your everyday life.
Thus, we present to you: The microwedding. This means usually no more than 30-40 guests in total. The best part is, if you do have a more flexible budget, you can throw an extravagant affair and cater to everyone’s needs. You also get to spend more time with each person, so you have great memories with everyone who shares in your special day.
This also means you can have a destination wedding with ease, as the practical arrangements are way simpler and the planning overall is way easier.
US filmmaker Lee Loechler is the man of many a Disney-lover’s dreams. He had a few tricks up his sleeve when he took his unsuspecting girlfriend, Sthuthi David, on a date to watch her favourite movie, Sleeping Beauty.
A partner in crime filmed the two watching the movie, when suddenly the well-known scene of the prince about to kiss the princess changes into something quite unusual. First, the characters’ faces change to resemble Lee and Sthuthi, and then things take a different turn. Sthuthi looks confused, then the on-screen prince takes a ring box out of his pocket and throws it out of the screen for Lee to catch!
“I love you with my whole heart, including all of its ventricles, atriums, valves… She’s a cardiologist,” he tells the crowd. “Sthuthi David, M.D., will you live happily ever after with me?” he asks.
Flowers don’t only have to be displayed in centre pieces and bouquets. Get creative and go high with floral chandeliers. A popular trend that has been blooming in the wedding industry over the last few years is the floral chandelier.
Floral chandeliers give your wedding an ethereal and fresh feel that is perfect for a summer wedding. They’re also a great way to add another visual element to your wedding that is unexpected.
Here are some floral chandeliers to inspire your own:
Your first wedding anniversary is special. A whole 365 days with your partner is no small feat and the traditional gift for a wedding anniversary is paper.
Symbolic of how fragile marriage is and the need to look after it carefully, paper is merely a guide that can be interpreted any way you want. Of course, you don’t have to stick to tradition. Any meaningful gift is a great one. However, if you are keen to follow tradition, here are some ideas for your one year anniversary:
A hardcover version of your partner’s favourite book
A photo album of all your favourite moments together
Fresh florals, luscious leaves, and blooming botanicals. Let your love and wedding day bloom beautifully with nature-inspired decor.
From your wedding venue itself all the way to your place cards, incorporating botanicals into your wedding is a breath of fresh air. Here is some inspiration to help you pull it off perfectly.
Your wedding pictures are an exciting part of the big day- make them count! The world over, celebrities and royals make the news with the all-important wedding kiss picture. And yes, it is cliche but you want it anyway. Here are some of our favourite things to do for this very special picture:
Glitz & glam
On your wedding day, you can be a diva all you want. Incorporate glitter and it won’t be just your eyes that sparkle. Just make sure it’s eco-friendly glitter!
Let the festivities begin
Getting hitched is cause for celebration. Use sparklers to light up your life.
Fairy tale
Get wrapped up in fairy lights for a romantic glow.
Get back to nature
Flowers are always a good idea, creating a playful atmosphere.
Play with sunlight
Catching those last rays on film during the golden hour never gets old.
A unique place card is yet another chance to impress your guests. No matter your wedding theme, there is a fun place card that will be much more memorable than the standard folded cardboard.
Place cards don’t have to be costly. From pinecones to seashells, there is a wealth of materials at your disposal to truly make a small statement to add to your wedding table decor.
Weddings can be taxing on the environment. Yes, flower walls are beautiful and balloon decor is whimsical, but they’re also wasteful and harmful for the environment. As the wedding industry shifts towards more sustainable practices, one plant rises above.
Spekboom has long been lauded for its magical powers. Also known as Pork Bush or Elephant’s Food, this water-wise tree of wonder can absorb higher amounts of carbon dioxide than any other plant in existence. A healthy thicket of this South African treasure trove is said to be ten times more effective at removing carbon dioxide from the air than the Amazon Forest.
South Africans are encouraged to plant spekboom wherever they may to play their part in combatting climate change. Those lacking a green thumb need not worry. The plant is easy to grow and water-wise, meaning it is low maintenance.
There are so many ways to incorporate this hard-working plant into your wedding. Here are some ideas.
Bridal bouquet:
Spekboom is a perfectly rustic addition to your bridal bouquet. If you’re not into the leaves, spekboom in full bloom is typically covered in tiny pink flowers that will add a beautiful pop of colour to your floral arrangement.
Credit: Instagram / suneoosthuizen7
Food:
Packed with vitamin C and other nutrients, spekboom leaves are juicy and full of moisture. They leave an acidic taste of lemon on the tongue, making spekboom an excellent addition to fresh salads or even in the wedding cake itself. Spekboom also helps to fight dehydration, making this magical plant perfect for hot summer weddings.
Credit: Stork.co.za
Decor:
Tiny clippings of spekboom are amazingly fresh additions to wedding decor. Use them as table decor on plates or in planters, in floral centrepieces and in hanging floral arrangements.
Credit: nikimphotography.com
Wedding favours:
Give your guests the gift of spekboom for a memorable wedding favour that will bloom for decades. One small clipping can grow into a magnificent spekboom bush when planted. The plant can live up to 200 years, meaning this gift is truly one for the ages.
Castles are not only for royalty. Complete your fairytale wedding by getting married in a real life castle! Across the world, there are many unique and stunning castles that make the perfect backdrop for your ‘I dos’. Here are a few of our favourites:
The Lichtenstein Castle – Cape Town
Situated on the hills of Karbonkelberg Mountain overlooking Hout Bay, the Lichtenstein Castle is a gothic dream come to life. Built to replicate the Gothic Schloss Lichtenstein Castle in southern Germany, this magnificent castle comes complete with statues of dragons and gargoyles, as well as a magnificent waterfall.
Inside, there is a ballroom with black and white checkered flooring, hand-blown glass chandeliers, and stable doors opening out to rolling green lawns. There are also 4 bedrooms and a honeymoon suite that you can use as your own private villa for the evening. The venue fits 150 guests seated or 250 cocktail.
Neuschwanstein Castle – southwest Bavaria, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle, located on the Bavarian Alps, is one of the most visited castles in the world, and it’s clear to see why. Built on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau, this magnificent castle is inspired by Romanesque Revival. The castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1869, and upon his death was opened to the public in 1886. Cinderella’s castle was modelled after Neuschwanstein, making this venue quite literally from a fairytale.
While you cannot get married inside the castle, couples are permitted to hold their ceremony on the grassy area in front of it, or in the chapel of Hohenschwangau Castle that has a view of Neuschwanstein.
One of the most coveted wedding venues in the world, Oheka Castle is a luxurious French-inspired location that has been hosting weddings since 1919. Once the home of investment financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn and his family, Oheka was built between 1914 and 1919 and is the second largest private home in the United States. The castle is made up of 127 rooms and over 109,000 square feet (10,100 m2).
Oheka Castle has inspired more than brides. F.Scott Fitzgerald was partially inspired by the mansion when describing Jay Gatsby’s stately home in The Great Gatsby. The castle also featured in Taylor Swift’s Blank Space music video.
New Zealand’s Larnach Castle is situated on the picturesque Otago Peninsula and was built in 1871 by merchant baron and politician William Larnach for his first wife Eliza. It was purchased by the Barkey family in 1967, who still privately own it today, and was restored to feature original New Zealand period furniture and antiques.
Your nuptials can take place at a number of places on the Castle grounds, including the Rock Garden on the Ballroom Lawn, the Reflecting Pond with Dunedin City framed in the background, the Alice lawn or under the beautiful 1930s Cupola. For your reception, step inside the ballroom that features period architecture, glorious furnishings, magnificent chandeliers, baronial open fires and a polished sprung dance floor. The ballroom can accommodate up to 180 people.
Nestled in the Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle’s buildings, ruins and award-winning gardens cover a sprawling 1,200 acres of grounds. This Tudor-style castle was once home to Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII, who also died here is buried on the grounds.
The venue’s 15th century church is the perfect ceremony location for traditional couples, but you can also choose from the Castle Library and their various outdoor spaces including the Secret garden, Queens’ garden, and Mulberry lawn to tie the knot. A bespoke marquee on the private Castle Lawn, which boasts grand views of the Castle and overlooks water lilies on the carp pond, is a stunning place to hold your ceremony.
Built in 1854 by the La Rochefoucauld family, one of the most eminent families of France, Château de Challain-la-Potherie is a magnificent mansion honouring net-gothic romanticism. It stretches 7,600 square meters, has 4 towers, 12 turrets and 26 spiral staircases that complete the fairytale feel.
Chateau Challain offers a full-service chateau wedding packages for 120+ guests that includes attentive staff and exclusive use of 23 decadently decorated suites, as well as their 72 acres of gardens, forest, and lake. You can say ‘I do’ in the spacious 18th century church opposite the chateau, under the gazebo by the lake, outside the beautiful Memorial Tower or even in their small on-site chapel.
Castell De Santa Florentina, or St. Florentina’s Castle, is a cultural heritage site that has been existence since the 11th century. The castle features a stunningly serene courtyard and interiors Game of Thrones fans might recognise as Horn Hill, the estate of House Tarly in the popular shows sixth season.
Wedding ceremonies can be held on the patio, pictured below, before guests move on to the magnificent Throne Hall that was designed to receive the King of Spain Alfonso XIII with his court, and can host a banquet of 200 people. You’ll definitely feel like royalty at this castle.
Hluboká Castle is considered one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic and was once home to Prince Jan Adolf II. Schwarzenberg. The castle was first built in the 13th century in the Gothic style, but has since been renovated many times, revealing a Baroque style during the 18th century and then being reconstructed to emulate the romantic style of England’s Windsor Castle.
Wedding ceremonies can be held on the hill in front of the castle, in the Ceremonial hall in the former orangery, by the pond in the park or in the interior of large dining room.
Food can truly make or break a wedding. After an emotional ceremony and posing for pictures, all your guests want to do is fuel up on some good food before partying the night away.
There are many ways you can serve up your food on your wedding day, and it’s important to pick the right style for you. Whether its a buffet, a plated meal or family-style, each serving style comes with its own pros and cons. Let’s dive into the family-style wedding menu.
A family-style wedding menu has all the foods placed in the centre of each reception table. Generally, there are two or three entrees and a variety of sides. Guests then take it in turn to dish up for themselves from the platters. This serving style combines the best of buffet and plated meals.
Pros:
Everyone gets their food together:
With buffet meals, guests have to line up in their table groupings to get their food. With a family-style meal, the food is placed on every table so the need to line up and wait is eliminated. You also don’t require waitstaff to be constantly up and down balancing multiple plates to serve food in a timely matter, thus also reducing the risk of accidents.
Wider variety of options:
With a plated service, guests would have to pre-select their entree. With a family-style meal, however, all options are available and your guests can pick whatever they want. This saves having to keep track of who wants what and eliminates the risk of someone receiving the wrong meal.
It’s a conversation starter:
Seating guests that don’t know each other around a table can lead to awkward moments. With a family-style meal, there is something to talk about, even if it is just, “Could you please pass the potatoes?”. Beyond this, a family-style meal creates a more casual atmosphere than a formal plated meal, enabling your guests to feel more relaxed and open to chatting.
Your guests might take more than one entree or dish up even more than they would have at a buffet where servers control portion sizes. As such, you might have to over-cater to must make sure there is enough food on each table. You will also need more serving platters and utensils to serve up the food on each table.
Takes up space:
Having all the dishes on the table can take up a considerable amount of space, and can leave it looking cluttered. You might also have to compromise on decor items like a large centrepiece to have enough room for the food, which can take away from your wedding look.
St. Florentina’s Castle – Barcelona, Spain
