Genetic testing is a touchy subject because of the implications it brings up with regards to future children. However, knowing the genetic make-up of you and your partner will mean you are more informed when making decisions before getting married or having children.

What is genetic testing 

It is testing to see whether a person is a carrier of abnormal genes, which can result in a disease in future children. It is done usually through a blood test.

Why do genetic testing

Genetic testing is done to identify if there are any “faulty” or disease-carrying genes present in a person. This is because two sets of the same gene, one from each parent, might not cause a defect for them but when combined could result in a child with a disability or disease.

It should be noted that a child with a disability or disorder is not inherently a negative outcome. Society has framed it in such a way that it seems like an undesired outcome, but with more inclusivity and support, this no longer has to be the case and of course, does not lessen the value of the child as a human being.

However, being prepared to care for a child with a possible issue is key for parents. Without this mental and economic preparation there can be serious strain on everyone involved.

This is why genetic testing can be useful. If parents are identified as being carriers of a specific abnormal gene, they can weigh up their options and decide what is best for them when it comes to future children.

Who should do genetic testing 

Diseases such as Sickle Cell Disease, Tay-Sachs and others are commonly found in certain people groups from specific regions of the world. Tay-Sachs is commonly found in people of Jewish descent whose ancestors lived in Eastern Europe, while Sickle Cell is common among those from or with heritage from African or Mediterranean countries.

Understanding your background will help you find out if you should get tested, although with the mix of backgrounds many come from, it is easier to do it just to be safe.

Picture: Unsplash

Microweddings are all the rage currently. As the pandemic continues, couples have to be selective with their guests and are opting for smaller weddings.

If you’re struggling to find an appropriate venue or simply want to stay closer to home, your backyard might just be the perfect place to say ‘I do’. You’ll be in pretty good company with this choice. Celebs like Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, and Beyonce and Jay-Z all tied the knot in their homes.

There are so many benefits to holding your wedding at home, but also drawbacks. Here’s what you need to consider.

Flexibility:

By picking your home as your wedding venue, you have the choice of any wedding date. You don’t have to hope your venue is available on a certain day or settle for another.

Beyond this, you can work with your guests availability. Now that most people are working from home, they are likely to be a lot more lenient with their schedules.

Cutting costs:

With your backyard as your wedding venue, there is no need to rent out a spot. You also save on transport to and from the venue. This can save quite a few thousands that you can put towards something else like your food, decor or outfits for your big day. You also avoid extra costs like corkage fees, cleaning up afterwards and possible fines if your wedding is too loud or runs overtime.

At the same time, you might have extra costs you wouldn’t have to consider with a traditional venue. You will have to cover the costs of renting seating, cutlery and crockery. You may also need extra lighting installed.

Rules and regulations:

Most venues have rules on what decorations you may put up, when your music must end and how many guests you may cater for. By hosting your big day in your backyard, you eliminate these concerns.

However, you do have to consider zoning regulations to make sure you’re even allowed to hold a wedding in your home. You’re also working with a smaller space and may have to trim your guest list to accommodate this. Bathrooms may be in short supply, as weddings typically require one bathroom per 50 people.

The parking situation will be a major drawback, as you need a place for your guests to leave their cars that does not inconvenience neighbours. You could arrange for them to park at a nearby park or church and then bus them to your home, but this will be an extra cost.

Feature image: Unsplash

Most wedding cakes are similar, no matter the style you go for. They often give off the same vibe. However, with a peekaboo wedding cake, you can get the best of both worlds.

Two-sided wedding cakes, otherwise known as peekaboo cakes, allow for the elegance and decadence of a normal wedding cake, with the added splash of personality and pizazz of extra decorations. You could add an interest or hobby that you share as a couple, or simply have one side be showier than the other.

Whichever option you decide on, a two-sided cake will add a personal touch to any dessert table and will stand out from all other wedding cakes. Your cake will be remembered for years to come.

Here are some two-sided cakes, to inspire you:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4AEznmlSum/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDX2lvPBBeB/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4AYsb8BTMc/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzaHZQqjE49/

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByN–RFFu3G/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BygKr-QiBdJ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx0amxAB10u/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu-xCDqAD_X/

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

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

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

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

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

Image: Unsplash

In light of the national night-time curfew from 10pm to 4am during lockdown, wedding celebrations are looking a bit different. Even though large gatherings are not permitted yet, couples may be legally married at the Magistrate’s Office and then usually have a small intimate celebration with their immediate families.

If you don’t want to worry about breaking curfew, have a lunch celebration. Spring is drawing near which means lovely outdoor weather, perfect for a day time feast. Here are our top tips on how to pull it off.

Decide on indoor or outdoor

For a daytime wedding, both outdoor and indoor venues will work. Decide which you prefer, taking into consideration the season and the climate, as well as factors like space and accessibility for your guests. If you live in a very windy city, an outdoor option might not work if the area is not protected from wind. However, if you’re planning a summer wedding in an area with good weather, an outdoor venue will be exquisite.

Have a fabulous drinks station

Even though we are still under an alcohol ban, there’s no excuse for skimping on the drinks station. As the season’s change, cater appropriate drinks. Fresh fruit juices and cold ice teas are vital on a hot summer’s day, while coffee and tea are a much-needed comfort during winter.

Replace the dancing 

Since the wedding will happen during the afternoon, your guests likely won’t be strutting their dance moves while the sun is still out. Instead, have fun games to entertain guests, like croquet, giant Jenga, giant Scrabble, or ring toss. If games are not your vibe, add a fun element with karaoke, or provide tables with board and card games.

Consider the weather

Depending on the season and what part of the country you live in, the weather probably differs throughout the day. Even in summer, late afternoons can get chilly, especially for older guests. Provide blankets, just in case. Similarly, if it’s very hot and an outdoor wedding, provide fabric umbrellas or Chinese fans for guests to cool down with. Take into account whether or not it is likely to rain and make sure there is a cover, if so.

Images: Pinterest

Featured image: Unsplash

Guest lists will have to be smaller for the foreseeable future amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as weddings are allowed to continue again, we predict there will be a strict limit on how many people may gather.

As a result, couples will have to be extra cautious when determining who will attend their wedding. Beyond this, your guest list size is also a key issue because it will largely affect the total cost of your wedding.

Here are some tips for creating a list and sticking to it.

Decide who plans the list:

In most cases, you, your fiance, and both of your families will each have their own idea about who should be invited.  While everyone can share how they feel, it’s key to discuss beforehand who has the final say on the list.

To get off on the right foot, have everyone involved submit a list of the people they’d like to attend. They should rank the names in order of importance, starting at the top. Then you and your fiance can compare the lists and cross off any duplications. Add up the numbers that are left to determine how close you are to your estimated count and figure out how many more people you may need to eliminate (or, if you’re lucky, who you can add). Then, have each of the parties involved cut an assigned number of names, starting from the bottom of his or her personal list. This way, both families are treated fairly, while you manage to keep control over the size of the guest list.

Make an A and B List:

While it may sound harsh, there are some guests that are more important than others. Having your parents and best friends present is probably more meaningful than your cousin twice removed. A good idea is to create separate lists: your A and B list.

In list A, include all the essential people you want at your wedding, like your close family and best friends. Anyone you deem non-essential but would be nice to have around should go in your B list. This will include colleagues, distant relatives and neighbours.

Determine budget and venue:

Before going crazy with your list, it’s helpful to know what you can afford and what your budget allows. There is no point in having a long list if your venue can only accommodate 100 people. When venue shopping, keep in mind whether you want a small. medium-sized or large wedding.

Similarly, you need to know that you have the budget to back this up. If you want a big wedding, you need to have the funds or a plan to be able to finance a wedding of this scale before inviting people. You don’t want to have to un-invite people later, or scrimp on other aspects of your big day.

Adults only:

An easy way to limit a guest-list is to go child-free. While it’s cute to have nieces and nephews in your wedding, some decide that no other children who are not in the wedding party may be invited. This also helps to cut down on costs of an on-site babysitter for super small kids, and needing entertainment to prevent tiny tots from boredom.

Feature image: Pexels

The couple’s first dance at a wedding is one of the most memorable moments. All eyes are firmly glued to the newlyweds as they hold each other in a tight embrace and glide across the dance floor. It is a highly anticipated moment at any wedding.

Since it’s such a popular part of the celebration, couples often spend days or even weeks fussing over the perfect song to dance to. Even celebrities ensure that they’ve got the perfect tune to sway to.

Another consideration, of course, is the style of dance. There are so many options it could make your head spin (and that’s before you start practicing). Here are some of the top styles, to help you make your decision:

The Waltz 

Nothing really compares to the classics, and that goes for dance styles too. The Waltz has always been a popular option. There are a few different forms of this style, including American, International, French, and Viennese.

There are some steps you’ll have to learn, of course. A few moves are what make the dance a Waltz. These include box steps and turning patterns.

The Salsa 

Although it is fast-paced and a bit complicated, if you’re willing to learn, the Salsa will definitely add some flavour to your wedding celebration. Its a sensual dance, perfect for newlyweds. You may, however, have to account for a costume change, to allow for extra freedom of movement, if you decided on this style.

The Sway 

This one is for the couples who’d prefer to not spend too much time getting to know the steps of a dance. It’s extremely simple, and even those who claim to have two left feet can easily get the hang of it.

The Swing

For couples who are comfortable with more complex dance moves, and are looking for something more upbeat, the swing is a great option. It fits in with a vintage style, if that’s what you’re going for with your theme, but may require you to ensure that your outfits are more comfortable than the average wedding attire, as jumps, lifts, and kicks are common in this dance style. Of course, you don’t have to add all the theatrics, you could just stick to the basics.

The Foxtrot 

The playful couple would most likely opt for the foxtrot. It’s a medium tempo, and takes a bit of practice, but will be well worth it.

Image: Unsplash

Wedding cakes are a key tradition in most cultures and they can easily rack up quite a heavy cost. This doesn’t have to be the case if you’re clear about what you want and follow these simple tips to help you save on this part of your big day.

Consider a display cake 

A big expense when it comes to cake is getting the amount you need out of a beautifully designed, intricate cake. If you want a cake that can feed all your guests, rather have a smaller, beautiful display cake for cutting and have a simple sheet cake in the kitchen which can be cut up and brought out.

Keep it simple 

This might be the most obvious suggestion, but the more complicated the cake the more expensive it is likely to be. Choosing a cake that will take less time to make means you will be charged less by your baker. Consider what you want in terms of colour, icing and tiers and then make this combination as simple as possible.

Reconsider flowers

Sugar flowers should definitely be reconsidered and replaced by fresh flowers or painted flowers on the cake itself. Sugar flowers are intricate and require a lot of work which adds to the cost.

Consider the cake a party favour 

Instead of having the cake and party favours combine these two parts of the event. Cut the cake right at the end, before everyone begins to leave and offer them slices in takeaway boxes as they go.

Serve smaller slices 

Let’s be honest, most people don’t even eat their entire piece of wedding cake. So save by having a smaller cake with smaller slices. If you’re worried this won’t be enough for guests, combine the smaller piece of cake with cheaper confectionaries like strawberries or chocolates.

User your caterer

Often couples choose a separate baker for their cake but this can add to the cost. If you find out if your caterer would be willing to do the cake as well you can often negotiate a better price.

Consider something other than cake

Cake is the traditional option, but why not offer guests a something different which can also save you some money. Offering cupcakes or cake pops are great alternatives and are likely to be eaten because of their smaller size.

Image: Unsplash