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Tips for creating a wedding website

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The digital age is upon us. Hard print copy is slowly leaving our fingertips as we migrate online. Most people have access to the internet and a variety of digital devices. As lovely as physical wedding invites are it may be a great idea to consider a digital approach. To help you along we have put together a few notes on how to achieve a successful site. Here are a few nifty tips to consider when starting your own wed-site. 

1. Know your limits

If you’re not great with computers don’t opt for a website where you have to create everything from scratch. Rather go with platforms that provide existing templates. You can still customise it and make it look great! Make sure to choose a website that will showcase what you want and make you happy. Look around and decide after viewing a few options.

2. Don’t forget the basics

It’s so much fun choosing various designs and pictures so try to remember the basics. Be informative and ensure your wed-site goes beyond just aesthetics. Remember to include the what, where, when, who and how. Provide your guests with the 411 on dress code, the program, accommodation, location, registry, and local attractions if you are planning a destination wedding.

 

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3. Representation

Be sure to create a wed-site that is a great reflection of you as a couple and of your wedding theme. Personalize the display to give guests a sneak peek of your big day – stick to a specific font, incorporate your colour scheme, or include a small photo timeline. To add extra flair, something to consider is creating a unique logo.


4. Boast yourselves

It’s your big day and you’re allowed to make things about yourselves. Tell your guests about your love story, how you met, funny anecdotes and how things led to this point. With that being said don’t write essays – keep things short and sweet.

 

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5. Registries and hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to create an online photo album that all your guests can take part in. Perhaps the most beneficial feature of a hashtag is its ability to pull all of your wedding photos, from any source, into one place. Don’t forget to add your wedding registry link. 

6. Protect your big day

Be sure to use a password for your wed-site. You don’t need any wedding crashers. Any special invite-only events shouldn’t be mentioned on the wed-site like rehearsal dinner and bachelor parties.

 

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Wedding Websites ? Password protected for your guests eyes only. No details were spared for this lovely couples special day ♥️

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7. Consideration

As mentioned before, digital is taking over but consider the fact that elderly people may not keep up with the times. If your elderly guests still sit waiting for the postman, try creating a special physical copy just for them. Also, consider having a FAQ section. Things may not always be clear and that’ll help a lot.


Don’t think of a bland email that just consists of details and lack of creativity and representation of your love. Creating a wedding website or wed-site can be fun and exciting.

You’re able to put your own twist on things and can play it up or down as much as you’d like. You don’t have to be tech-savvy as many websites offer existing templates that you can customise. With just one click, your guests can check out all the details and be informed of any changes. You can also read: Best wedding planning APP’s and tools

affordable website design packages | netsist digital marketing agency | netsist.co.za

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In Advice

Micro weddings

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Weddings can be quite costly, which is why micro weddings are becoming increasingly popular. Otherwise known as small weddings, these micro nuptials are not just smaller guest lists.

It should consist of all the typical wedding elements: just on a smaller scale.

Cutting the guest list down means that your wedding can be more intimate as it will only be your loved ones around. The ceremony duration is normally shorter. There is usually not a lot of bells and whistles involved. This cut back means that you can save quite a lot of money.

Less people means that you can splurge on things that you wouldn’t be able to in bulk. For example, expensive champagne or snacks. Since you’re only catering for about 20 people you can afford to get those special things.

 

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– G R A Z E –

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The micro wedding will be less stressful as you’re planning your big day on a smaller scale. Since you’ll only have a few people it will also be less nerve racking and you’ll be able to connect with your guests more.

Instead of having to mingle with over 50 people, your time can be divided among the few at your micro wedding.

If you choose to have the smaller scale nuptials your venue options are also endless. You can try approaching your favourite restaurant or garden. Keep in mind even if a place doesn’t advertise hiring their venue for weddings they may be able to accommodate your micro wedding.

Micro weddings are a great option and a good way to celebrate your wedding especially if you don’t have a lot of guests to invite.

However it may not work if you want a wedding with everyone including your extended family and co-workers.

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In Advice

How to decide on a wedding theme

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By Larissa Vermeulen

A wedding theme is the golden thread running through your occasion, connecting every element, from the venue to the tiniest detail. Because the theme is such an important aspect of your wedding, it may seem like a daunting and overwhelming choice to make – that’s why we’re here to guide you:

The Venue

Where you choose to have your wedding will greatly contribute to the theme, so if you’ve already chosen a venue for your wedding, look at what it has to offer – a grand wedding hall calls for a glamorous approach while a beach venue requires a tropical or simplistic, natural theme.

The Season

If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, it might not be the best idea to celebrate your nuptials in the midst of winter, so it’s essential to take the season in which your wedding date falls into account. Furthermore, find inspiration in the colour palette of each season. For instance, if you’re planning an autumn or winter wedding, incorporate warm colors such as orange or red, or cooler colours for the warmer months.

The Mood

What kind of celebration do you have in mind? The formality of your event will directly impact the environment of your wedding. If you have always envisioned a formal black-tie event, then go for a glamorous, grand wedding theme. If you and your partner are both a bit more laidback, let that reflect in your chosen theme and go for a relaxed, informal garden party or beach wedding.

The Personal Details

It’s important to incorporate elements of you and your significant other into your wedding theme to make it unique to you as a couple. Have you travelled to any countries together that have inspired you? What is your sense of style? Even the most straightforward details such as what your favourite colour is could help you decide on a theme that is true to you both.

The Culture

Incorporating your cultural heritage into your wedding theme serves as a beautiful tribute as well as adds an element of tradition. It’s common practice for modern-day couples to combine multiple traditions, a dose of modernity and their personal style. These cultural elements could be incorporated in your colour palette, the menu or traditional activities.

The Budget

Most importantly, don’t forget about your budget! Be realistic and keep in mind that certain themes will be more costly than others. Don’t get wrapped up in looks or trends that you’ll regret later on. Having a classic, stylish theme is the way to go, but do incorporate small, fun details inspired by you and your partner to reflect your true personality as a couple.

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In Advice

How to keep guests happy at a summer wedding

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Wedding season is around the corner, and with that, lovely South African summer weddings. And although we love the warm evenings and longer days, a summer wedding does come with its fair share of drawbacks. We’ve gathered some solutions to help you keep your cool, and your guests comfortable.

 

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Just in time for the heatwave… ? ⠀ ⠀ Themal water is excellent for refreshing, but it can dry your skin out. Try this natural DIY face mist instead! It’s perfect for the hot days, conditioned rooms, and planes: you can bring a small bottle in your carry-on. ⠀ ⠀ ? Moisturizing Rose Water DIY Face Mist ? ⠀ ⠀ You’re going to need:⠀ ? 1 part of distilled water⠀ ? 1 part of rose water⠀ ? 5-7 drops of your favorite essential oil(s), e.g., lavender, jasmine, rose geranium, tea trea, bergamot… ⠀ ⠀ ? Blend all of these together in a spray bottle or mister and spritz on your face whenever you feel like it. Oh, and don’t forget to reapply your SPF and drink another glass of cool water!⠀ ⠀ ? Keep in mind that you may have individual reaction to some essential oils. ⠀ ⠀ #thermalwater #heatwave #staycool #diyfacespray #diyfacemist #facespray #facemist #diy #naturalskincare #naturaldiy #naturalcosmetics #skincareroutine

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DIY mists

We love a good DIY project, and this one is particularly practical. It will not only help keep your guests cool (and smelling lovely), but could serve as a nifty little favour as well.  You’ll need:

  • Small bottles with fine-mister nozzles (you can buy them at most bulk plastic suppliers)
  • Distilled water
  • Glycerin (a few drops per bottle)
  • Essential Oils (a few drops per bottle)

Combine all the ingredients in the bottles, and shake well. Try peppermint, lemongrass or lavender essential oils for a fresh, invigorating scent that repels bugs at the same time.

Citronella candles

No matter where you are, mosquitoes always somehow manage to join the party and bring an unwelcome annoyance. Place citronella candles or diffusers with citronella essential oil on tables inside and outside, close to food, or wherever your guests will spend the most of time, to keep the bugs away.

Drink up!

Yes, your guests will most likely be sipping champagne, cocktails and the like, but it’s important to also have plenty of water available too. Alcohol causes us to develop a slight flush, even if it’s not noticeable in some people, leading to higher body temperature and dehydration to some degree, and even more so in hot weather. Have jugs and bottles of ice-cold water ready at a dedicated hydration station so guests have no excuse not to stay hydrated.

Individual parasols and fans

If you’re having an outside ceremony, it’s essential to provide your guests with some sort of shelter against the blistering sun. If you don’t plan on having umbrellas, provide your guests with individual parasols that they can use during the ceremony. Fans are also ideal to offer your guests to give them the option of fanning themselves during the ceremony as well as the rest of the night during dance breaks.

 

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In Gifts

SA wedding gift registries

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Couples are difficult to shop for and having a wedding registry solves a whole lot of problems for guests who don’t understand your style. Gift registries are easy and effortless, and ensure you don’t have 10 of the same gifts. Here are a few local shops and websites to consider when listing your registry. You can also read: Best wedding planning APP’s and tools.

1. Yuppiechef

Founded in 2006, YuppieChef was created by two friends. Known as a kitchen and homeware store, the company has assisted over 5000 happy couples. They offer an easy and convenient set up and stock products from over 700 brands. The company specialises in knives, cookware, appliances and soft furnishings.

2. @home

This well known homeware store offers a gift registry that can be set up online. @home offers an in-store consultation if you and your partner desire this. You can also manage your registry online. They offer several brands in various homeware sections such as the kitchen, bedroom, living room, bathroom and decor.

3. Wrapistry

Wrapistry  have a variety of gifts and brands on their website. The website boasts brands like Carrol Boyes, Jamie Oliver, Maxwell & Williams, Le Creuset and many more. Options include group gifting, free delivery, gift tracker and cash refunds.

4. Mr Price Home

This store has a wide variety of homeware items at affordable prices. Have your pick of living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and home decor items. Mr Price Home has online videos available to help assist with setting up your registry.

5. Gift Tree

They provide many gift registries and items to choose from. Gift Tree also allows group gifting, so if you choose something a bit more expensive, a few people can contribute to it. They customise your registry to suit any budget. Offering gifts from various sections like bar ware, decor, tableware, bedroom, bathroom and dining.

6. Bespoke

Founded in 2012, Bespoke offers a carefully curated collection of homeware items. Take a pick from kitchen, decor, bedroom, outdoor and living room items.

7. From9am.com

From9am is your one-stop online cyber destination for all things health and beauty in South Africa.  Quality products made locally and imported are available for online purchase, this includes makeup, eye, Lip, face, hair, body and feet products catering for all types of consumers! Shop the From9am.com beauty destination for makeup brush sets, blush and powder brushes, beauty blenders, makeup bags, tweezers, foundation, eyeshadows, palettes, eye makeup, lashes, concealers, contours, highlighters, bronzers, primers, setting sprays, face, body and feet products + so much more.

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In Advice

Wedding fairs and expos in South Africa

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Planning your wedding and finding inspiration can be tough. Luckily, wedding expos and fairs are there to guide soon-to-be wed couples. Not only can you get tips, ideas and special deals by trawling these, but they can also be a lot of fun. These events showcase decor, stationary, colour schemes, cakes and more to help you envision and plan out your perfect wedding. Some expos even offer the opportunity to meet with vendors that can assist you on your big day.

Have a look at wedding fairs and expos you can visit in South Africa:

1.Winelands Bridal Fair

This event will be taking place on August 3 and 4 with stunning Stellenbosch as its backdrop. The bridal fair offers everything you may need for planning a wedding all under one roof. There are even experts there who can assist you.

2. The Wedding Expo

This annual expo takes place in Johannesburg and Durban and sees brides- and grooms-to-be from far and wide paying it a visit. You’ll find a variety of services to help you with your wedding planning.

3. SA Bridal Fair

You can catch this wedding expo in Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg. The event hosts local vendors who can lend a hand in all your wedding plans. Make sure you save the dates. It will be at Makaranga in KwaZulu-Natal on August 11, the Hilton Sandton in Johannesburg on October 13 and the next Cape Town expo will be happening next year, so keep an eye out.

4. Bridal Expo

Hosted at the Oakfield Farm in Johannesburg, this bridal affair will be taking place on January 25 – 26 and June 27 – 28 2020. Meet with wedding specialists who can help you plan your big day. The event includes competitions, bridal fashion shows, and a big bridal gown pop-up store with the biggest wedding dress sale in South Africa.

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Catch the Wedding Expo in Durban

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The Wedding Expo is making its way to Durban on August 3 and 4. The event will be held at Sibaya Sun Park in Durban North. The Expo has been providing advice and great ideas to engaged couples since 2002. Old Mutual has added their voice as a sponsor and will be providing financial advice to help couples achieve their lifetime goals.

The event will showcase various ideas and inspirations for bridal couples. The best part is the amazing competitions and giveaways. A couple stand the chance of winning a wedding that includes a venue, honeymoon and photography. The wedding expo also provides opportunities to meet with various suppliers. Vendors include catering companies, dress designers, photographers and more. There will also be discounted rates so you and your partner can score a few great deals.

The Wedding Expo will also have a cake tasting station where you can try various cake flavours. The highlight is always the fashion show displaying designer dresses and advice from the designers themselves.

Pop in for a mini-makeover and take valuable notes for your big day. After all the wedding rush you may need a minute relax and grab a bite to eat, the expo offers plenty of food choices.

Tickets are available on www.wedding-expo.co.za or on sale at door.

Dates: August 3 and 4
Venue: Sibaya Sun Park
Tickets: R100 per adult and R 30 per child (2 -12 years)
Time: 9am-5pm

Picture: The Wedding Expo

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In Advice

Post wedding ceremony activities for your guests

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So you’ve just tied the knot! Before you head to the wedding reception, you and your partner need to capture some memories. Perhaps the venue itself offers a great scenic background and is the perfect spot for your pictures, or you and your loved one are going somewhere that requires some traveling. While you’re off snapping some pics, your guests are either waiting at the ceremony venue or traveling to the reception venue to wait there. However, they don’t have to feel like they’re waiting around – here are some ways you can keep the party going while you and your spouse are temporarily gone.

1.Picture Time!

While you’re taking your pictures, your guests can too! Set up a photo booth and let them have some fun. Make sure there’s music playing, so it’s not awkward. You could also hire a photo booth so your guests can get their pictures on the spot to take home. You and your partner can join in on the fun when you’re done taking your romantic couple pics

2.Happy Hour.

Provide cocktails for your guests. Allow them to mingle over drinks and snacks. Go a step further and organise a mini alcohol-tasting section, whether it’s gin, wine, whiskey, rum, or bubbly. You can even have your family and friends make their own cocktails, or hire a bartender for a few hours.

3.Games and activities.

Let your guests play around! Set up various games and activities to get everyone in a silly mood. Karaoke, a How Well Do You Know The Couple quiz, old-fashioned lawn games or even some board games could prove to be a whole lot of fun. You can customise the games based on the venue, the number of guests and what you think they’d prefer.

 

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Anyone for Jenga?

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4.Professional entertainment.

Hire someone to keep your guests preoccupied and having a good time. A comedian, band, and caricaturists are all great options.

 

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Check out this great caricaturist I saw a recent wedding! Really amazing work!⠀

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5.Record the moments.

Have someone film your guests giving you and your partner a lovely message.

6.Advice section.

Have a something set up on a table where your family and friends can leave you some words of wisdom, whether it’s a book or pieces of paper to write on place in a jar. You can even have them sign something! It’s something cute and truly special to look back on.

It’s very important to inform your guests of the wedding schedule. There’s nothing worse than people being left lost and wondering, or worse still, bored to tears. Attach the schedule to the invitation, send an email, even have it posted somewhere at the ceremony and reception venues.

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Should you unplug your wedding?

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Technology is undoubtedly a massive part of our lives in this day and age. Our phones are practically extensions of our arms and we can’t go without checking in to our social media once a day. Most of our memories are made by captured moments on our digital devices and not by living in those moments. This can frustrate people who would rather be doing the latter, especially when it comes to significant occasions such as weddings.

This might be the reason some couples choose to have ‘unplugged’ weddings, where guests along with the bride and groom must forego using their mobile devices and instead be present in the moment.

The benefits of having an unplugged wedding is the intimacy and the lack of distraction. Take away cellphones and the guests will pay more attention to the happy couple. Everyone will be able to relish the occasion. Requesting that digital devices are switched off also eliminates the chance of unwanted disturbances during the ceremony.

By unplugging, the photos from your wedding will also look a whole lot better – no more pictures of your beautifully-dressed guests with their eyes glued to their mobile devices. There’s just something refreshing and romantic about photographs without cellphones in sight. There also won’t be any unplanned overexposure in the pictures because five people all decided to take a photo with the camera flash on at the same time as the photographer. It will also remove any awkward encounters. We all know the aunties are going to insist on taking fifty pictures, of the same shot, with their outdated cellphones. That either means your paid-for photographer will have to compromise their shot or uncomfortably wait for the aunties to get their picture.

 

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How do you feel about having a #phonefree wedding? Let us know below ? #cocomelody #daretolove #weddingideas

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Aunties aside, there are some positives to plugged-in weddings as well, the first being that you don’t have to wait for the professional photographs to be sent to you (there is a bit of a waiting time) before you can see pictures from the wedding. While you wait for your professional photo’s, you can enjoy Auntie Jackie’s pictures from her phone!

Having access to social media at a wedding can also be a good thing. Using a unique hashtag just for your wedding on Instagram or Facebook is a smart way to create an online ‘photo album’ made up of pictures snapped and uploaded by you and all your wedding guests. Everyone will be able to view pictures posted with that specific hashtag, all in one place. It’s also a lovely idea to implement the hashtag from the first wedding event onward, for example, the engagement party. This will allow snapshots from every wedding celebration to be placed in one section.

 

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Oh Snap! #gunningwedding #socialmediarequest #pluggedinwedding #diybride #diywedding #TableTents #PleaseSendPics #NPRofWeddings

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Still can’t decide if you should have a plugged or an unplugged wedding? Why not do both. You can opt for an unplugged wedding ceremony and a plugged-in reception, for example. You can customise it however you want, after all, it’s your big day.

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Setting a wedding budget and actually sticking to it

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Whether you are paying for the wedding yourselves or your parents are contributing, you will need to calculate how much money you have to spend. Once you have this figure, immediately set aside 5-10% of that for contingency.

Establishing and sticking to your budget is the best gift you can give yourself as a couple. In order to do this, you have to ensure that all your planning is documented. But before you start crunching numbers, think about the overall feeling you want your wedding to have as this will affect how you spend within your budget.

Do your research on vendors and get estimates on how much each thing will cost. This will include everything from venue to flowers to the dress and so on. Then get quotes from vendors and write it all down next to estimated costs.

Now that you know what kind of wedding you would like to have and how much money you have to spend, put together a rough guest list. The number of guests determines your venue, food and alcohol.

These are generally the largest expenses and a wise rule to follow is to allocate 40% of your budget to these three things.

It is time to discuss your non-negotiables with your partner (try to keep it down to three). These are things that you have always dreamed of having at your wedding and are willing to spend the money needed in order to achieve them. Research vendors and get quotes so that you can allocate it to the budget and then see how much is left to spend on the rest of the wedding. If you are already over budget based on your list, or close to the end of your budget, have a look at your priorities again and see what you can reduce.

Now that you’ve got all your quotes and guest list numbers, you can create the spreadsheet. You can get a template online or create your own but try to keep it as simple as possible. Put your overall sum in the top corner somewhere and then create these tabs: estimated, modified and actual.

Your estimated tab will be amounts that you have found based on research.

Modified will have real quotes from vendors.

Actual will be the final amount that you end up paying.

Time for a reality check – does your budget allow you to achieve what you want? If not, you may have to adjust your budget if that is an option or adjust your expectations.

Steps to take in order to ensure you stick to your budget:

  1. Figure out how much you have to spend.
  2. Research vendors and get quotes before settling on your budget.
  3. Write a list including all researched costs and quotes from vendors.
  4. Write down your proposed guest list
  5. Create the spreadsheet and input all the relevant information.

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