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    In Bachelorette Party

    Fun alternative bachelorette ideas

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    Your bachelorette is seen as the last time you get to party with your girlfriends as a single woman. It’s often associated with wild nights out, drinking way too much and some scantily-clad well-built men. We’ll stop there.

    This special event can be so much more. If you want to do things a little different, it can become a treasured memory of best friends coming together to spend some much needed girl-time, allowing you to share your hopes and dreams for the future while getting rid of the wedding stress.

    Here are some fun, alternative ideas to the traditional bachelorette party:

    Take a hiking-trip

    If you like being active, getting outdoors with the gals is a great way to recharge, forget about your phone and get close to nature. Remember to do research beforehand and only hike on established routes. Booking a tour-guide might also be a good idea, so you don’t have to worry about anything! For a full weekend of fun, you can even consider setting up camp and sleeping over.

    Take a cooking or cocktail class

    If you’re not that adventurous, why not keep it indoors and take a culinary class together? Learning to make something yummy to eat or drink is guaranteed to result in loads of laughter and a satisfied tummy. Plus, adding skills to your repertoire is always a plus!

    Guided garden tours

    If you like sunshine, beautiful flowers and fresh air, but you’re not keen to do a full on hike, get out there with a botanical garden tour. Many botanical gardens have amazing histories and it’s always interesting to have someone knowledgeable to teach you about the birds and the bees. End it off with a lovely picnic!

    Sing your heart out

    If you have the talent (and even if you don’t) a sing-off is always a goodie. Karaoke is a great way to let your hair down and forget the world. Take a trip down memory lane and sing to your high school favourites, or strut your stuff with the latest pop song.

    Get creative: Clay, soap or candles

    Art is known for being therapeutic, and having something to show for it will be a special memory. There are many different options, like pottery, candle making and soap making. Choose something that strikes your fancy and will look lovely in your home.

     

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    In Do's And Don'ts

    Best and worst engagement photoshoots

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    You know how it goes: Photos or it didn’t happen. Recently, it has almost become a competition, with some couples going to extreme lengths to do certain poses and photographers bending over backwards to capture it on film. Some fail hilariously, others make for incredibly beautiful photos. We’ve found the best and worst.

    The best

    We’ve all seen them, and we’ve all wished we were in them. Some engagement photoshoots out there are simply jaw-dropping, and here are the best ones we found.

    Playful:

    Include your pet:

    Romantic:

    Funny:

    The worst

    From going horribly wrong, to just plain uninspired, here are the worst. Don’t try this at home.

    Uhm…

    Breaking bad indeed

    Careful now!

    Why though?

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    In Advice

    Romantic literary quotes to inspire your vows

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    Writing your wedding vows but lacking inspiration? Turn to the literary giants. Let these words of love get your romantic juices flowing.

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    “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” – Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

    “You are sunlight through a window, which I stand in, warmed. My darling.” – The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

    “The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you.” – The Illustrated by Jalaluddin Rumi

    “You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.” – Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

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    “I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me. – Allegiant by Veronica Roth

    “I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived: I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.” – The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

    “It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight.” – Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

    “Love lets you find those hidden places in another person, even the ones they didn’t know were there, even the ones they wouldn’t have thought to call beautiful themselves.” – Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

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    “You don’t love because, you love despite; not for the virtues, but despite the faults.” – The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner

    “You and I, it’s as though we have been taught to kiss in heaven and sent down to earth together, to see if we know what we were taught.” – Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

    “I’ve never had a moment’s doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life.” – Atonement by  Ian McEwan

    “I don’t ask you to love me always like this, but I ask you to remember. Somewhere inside me there’ll always be the person I am tonight.” – Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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    “I look at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world.” – Having A Coke With You by Frank O’Hara

    “For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.” – Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

    “You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought.” – The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle

    “We are asleep until we fall in love!” – War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

    “Soul meets soul on lovers’ lips.” – Prometheus Unbound by Percy Bysshe Shelley

    “In case you ever foolishly forget: I am never not thinking of you.” – Selected Diaries by Virginia Woolf

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    In Advice

    Pros and cons of a courthouse wedding

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    Nowadays, weddings are elaborate events. However, bigger isn’t always better. Home Affairs -or courthouse weddings- are a great alternative for couples that don’t want a big fuss or simply don’t have the funds.

    If you are considering having a courthouse wedding, you need to be aware of the positives and the negatives that it entails.

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    Pros

    More intimate:

    Sometimes it can be overwhelming to have a large amount of guests. With a courthouse wedding, you go back to basics with the people that matter. Generally at courthouse weddings, it’s just you, your partner, the officiant and two witnesses. Up to six guests are usually allowed to participate in the proceedings. Invite your best friends or family members to share in your special moment.

    Cheaper:

    Weddings are expensive. Many South African couples spend upwards of R70 000 – R80 000 on their big day. If you don’t have the funds, a courthouse wedding is essentially free of charge (you still have to pay for the marriage licence), leaving you to spend your money in other ways.

    Little planning necessary:

    With a courthouse wedding, all you really need to do is make an appointment and show up. There is no dress rehearsal, no event planner, no real planning necessary. If you’re a more chilled person that doesn’t want to be bogged down by details, this might be a great option for you.

    Less stressful:

    Wedding planning can be overwhelming. With vendors, schedules and seating arrangements, it can quickly become a stressful time moving around multiple elements that need to fit together. Cut out the stress by having a simple courthouse wedding.

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    Cons

    Loved ones don’t get to witness your wedding:

    Weddings are a great time for family and friends to gather together and celebrate their loved ones. What other opportunity do you get to have everyone you love under one roof on such a special occasion? With a courthouse wedding, however, there is little space for guests, as many only allow a maximum of six. Many of the people you love will thus not be present on your big day.

    Location is not always pretty:

    Most Home Affairs offices are not exactly aesthetically pleasing. With dull brown furniture and bare white walls, you venue can leave you begging for some vibrancy. If you want beautiful pictures and a decorated venue, a Home Affairs wedding might not meet your standards.

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    At the end of the day, your wedding day is about you. If a smaller wedding feels right, then do it. Alternatively, if you’ve always dreamed of having a big wedding then live your fantasy. There is no one-size-fits-all for weddings.

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    In Decor

    Couple has Tim Burton-inspired wedding photoshoot

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    Edward Scissorhands. Beetlejuice. The Nightmare Before Christmas. Corpse Bride. All of these films are classic Halloween-time viewing that come from the mind of the unique writer and director, Tim Burton.

    Many laud Burton for being the king of spooky with his dark yet comical films that have gone down in history. His characters continue to inspire many a halloween costume, and now it has even inspired a wedding photoshoot.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3dgwpWBB89/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Miami-based couple Genesis and Kelvin have been together for 10 years and married in July 2019. However, due to personal circumstances they did not have the financial means to throw the extravagant wedding they wanted. They have four children, one of whom suffers from a severe form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome, and her resulting medical bills have been costly.

    “We didn’t really have a big wedding because our daughter has a disability,” Genesis told Business Insider US. “Our wedding day, unfortunately, was a big flop.”

    The couple, who are big Tim Burton fans, were granted the opportunity to have the wedding of their dreams when their friend approached them to do a posed photoshoot.

    The photoshoot, captured by photographer Angela Vallejo, recreated their wedding day in epic style. Together with Monica Reyes, event planner from ‘Events with a Promise’, the couple were spoiled with the spooky and glamorous day they had originally envisioned.

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    With the white piping on his lapel and the black and white colour scheme, Kelvin’s suit perfectly hinted at Jack Skellington’s attire from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

    Credit: Angela Vallejo Photography

    Genesis went for a gothic look, sporting a black lace gown with a lengthy train.

    Credit: Angela Vallejo Photography

    Elements from Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice were incorporated through decor and colour scheme. Green, purple and black are focal colours in many of Burton’s films, and were stylishly woven into this styled table without looking overly themed. Pumpkins, Jack Skellington’s favourite accessory, were also included in the decor.

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    The wedding invites featured curlycue script on a charred paper, giving a Halloween inspired look. The envelope, which reads “Mr. Unlucky”,  referred to  “Jack’s Lament” in The Nightmare Before Christmas.

    There was even a replica of Beetlejuice‘s “Handbook for the Recently Deceased”, except this time it was used as a guest book.

    The stunning three layer black cake was adorned with dried flowers and a cake topper with the figures of Jack Skellington and Sally cut into it. It also reads “Mr” and “Mrs”. The cake stand is in the shape of skeleton legs.

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    The photoshoot gave Genesis and Kelvin some much-needed time to spoil themselves. Most of their time is dedicated to looking after their children, especially their special needs daughter.

    “Your whole life becomes taking care of this child,” she said of her youngest daughter. “You don’t notice how much time is fleeting, and although your life becomes taking care of this child, you need to practice self-love too.”

    “We don’t really have time to go on dates or things like that, so for us, this shoot was just a time for us to take a step back and really, you know, practice self-care,” Genesis said.

    Picture: Instagram / angie.lilian_

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    In Decor

    Rustic Wedding Decor Trends

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    Rustic weddings are a popular wedding theme choice and they are perfect for the couple who wants their wedding to have a relaxed feel. This theme makes use of a lot of raw and natural elements and it is therefore a great way to incorporate nature into your wedding.

    Trendy elements to include in your rustic wedding include:

    Dried floral backdrop

     

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    Wood-backed seating chart

     

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    Simple table decor

     

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    Welcome sign

     

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    Door decor

     

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    Wrapped cutlery

     

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    Natural placement cards

     

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    Dessert setup 

     

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    Feature image: Visual Poetry Photography

     

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    In Advice

    Tips for the days leading up to your wedding

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    You want to look and feel your absolute best on your big day. Here are some good habits to help you get there!

    Go to bed earlier

    The busy-tired-exhausted cycle is one we’re all familiar with. While too many people wear their busyness and lack of sleep like a badge of honour, sleep deprivation has far-reaching harmful effects on our overall health, wellbeing and performance. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to try and get more sleep. Experts reckon adults need between seven and nine hours a night. That may sound like a lot so start small, like going to bed 15 or 30 minutes earlier than you normally do.

    Get a little help

    If you’re one of those burning the candle at both ends, your body and mind will thank and reward you for giving it a bit of help in the form of a supplement, such as folic acid, Vitamin B or Essentiale Extreme.

    Stretch while watching TV

    Surely nobody needs to be told that exercising is good for you. We know this, and what you choose to do with that information is up to you. An easy one is simply to do stretches while enjoying the latest binge-able Netflix series.

    Cut down on sugar

    Cutting sugar out completely is difficult, but the good news is that you only need to cut down your sugar intake. Start with something manageable, such as reducing the amount of sugar you take in your coffee, swapping soda for water (even if it’s only every second time) and opting for dark chocolate over regular milk chocolate.

    Keep healthy snacks on hand

    Quiz almost anybody and they’re likely to say that their biggest healthy eating challenge is when they get hungry and there’s nothing wholesome within reach. It’s easy to reach for a chocolate, a packet of chips or a sugary fizzy drink when the hunger pangs hit and cloud your judgement. Proactively curb the hangriness by keeping snacks like almonds, fruit, biltong or kale crisps in your bag or desk drawer.

    Schedule time for yourself

    Me-time would be great, but I don’t have time! Yes, we hear you but this is where you need to get serious about simply taking the time. Slot your me-time into your calendar as you would with any other appointment. Make it fun by calling it a play date, and use the time (even if it is just 30 minutes a week) to do something that gives you joy, be it reading, listening to music, going for a run, chatting to a friend or doing nothing at all. Regularly taking time for yourself will ultimately make you happier.

    Breathe deeply

    What could be easier than breathing? We’re doing all the time already, but breathing deeper  – and thinking about the action as you do it – has a number of health benefits such as increasing your energy levels, improving posture, reducing inflammation and relaxing both mind and body. So just breathe. And then breathe deeper.

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    In Accessories

    How to incorporate black into your wedding

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    Black is not just a colour for mourning. For decades, white has been synonymous with weddings for its symbolism of purity. White is traditionally expected. However, while many are afraid of including this dark-hued colour in weddings, black can actually bring much class and sophistication to your big day. Take a walk on the dark side and think of bringing this dark tone into your wedding.

    Here are a few way to incorporate black into your wedding that won’t look morbid.

    Invites:

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    The order of events:

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    Your dress:

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    All-black suit:

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    Your bouquet:

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    Wedding arch:

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    Black tables:

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    Seating:

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    Candles:

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    Escort cards:

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    Napkins:

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    Plating:

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    Your cake:

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    The pros and cons of having a garden wedding

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    There’s nothing quite like being in a beautiful and lush environment. If you love nature and want to make use of its beauty then a garden wedding could be perfect for you. However, as with any wedding venue, there will be upsides and downsides and you will need to decide for yourself if the negatives outweigh the positives when it comes to planning a garden wedding.

    The location

     

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    Gardens generally have plenty of space and can therefore accommodate all your guests easily. The setting itself is already natural and beautiful and so you will not have to worry too much about decoration. You will most likely be able to have your ceremony as well as your reception in the garden which cuts out travel for yourself and your guests.

    If you’re lucky and a family member or close friend has a stunning garden, they might allow you to have your wedding there and that will save you tons of money.

    However, if you are planning on holding your reception in the garden, you might want to hire a marquee to protect yourself and your guests from the elements and bugs. You should also have a back up plan in case it is incredibly windy or happens to rain on the day.

    If you’re looking at a public garden, it won’t be private and you may have trouble booking it during season as it will be in demand.

    The vibe

     

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    A garden wedding invokes a casual vibe and is also a much more family-friendly wedding venue. Kids can run around and play without getting bored and wanting to go home and you can set up lawn games for the adults’ entertainment.

    On the downside, if you’re wanting a full set up then you will most likely have to rent everything including seating, sound equipment and a power source since there won’t be any electrical outlets in a public garden. If it’s in the garden of someone’s home, you can get away with running extension cables from the house to power everything you need.

    The logistics

     

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    The nice part about garden weddings is that you will be free to use vendors of your choice. You might be able to find good deals with unattached vendors rather than using sponsored vendors and then having to put up with their pricing.

    As with any open space, however, there is the issue of sound getting lost, especially if there is a breeze. If you’re under a marquee, then this shouldn’t be a problem.

    These are just a few things to consider when you are planning a garden wedding. There are wedding venues that have garden locations within them that will have all the necessary equipment that you would need, but you might end up paying heavily for this type of venue.

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    In Fashion

    Rocking bridesmaid dresses for 2020

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    Bridesmaid dresses are a tricky one. There’s a delicate balance between wanting them to look gorgeous, and not wanting them to upstage you on your big day. Here’s some good news: You can get both. The latest trends for bridesmaids are absolutely stunning, but not at all overpowering and will complement your bridal party perfectly. Your bridesmaids will feel great and love you for it. Here are some non-traditional outfits that are stylish, classy and sweet.

    The two-piece

    Two pieces can be just as beautiful and formal as you want them to be. Long skirts with halter tops are very in, especially loose fitting pieces that have a soft, flowing effect. Opt for a darker colour at the bottom and a light colour at the top. The top can be either tucked in or not. Lace is popular, and will fit in nicely if you have lace in your own wedding dress.

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    hebedress.com

    The embroidered dress

    Embroidery is one of those things that used to be old-fashioned, then everybody realised how beautiful it is and brought it back big time. It has a feminine touch and goes well with pastel colours. Florals are always a favourite, but it doesn’t have to bind you. We’re loving this blue mullet dress with netted under layers.

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    The tiered dress

    Layers are good on everyone if you do them right. Tiered dresses are super fun and work well with short or midi dresses. It has a fashionable vibe and depending on the material you opt for, can be elegant or playful.

    theknot.com
    prettylittlething.us

    Remember, it’s your day and your bridesmaids should make your day more beautiful, not take the attention off your dress. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be stunning too!

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