Author Archive

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Guest blog by Yolande Mamacos via StyleScoop.co.za
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For those of you ladies, plaining in a summer wedding, I’ve been looking at the international and local wedding trends, and found that creativity is the new word in weddings.

Being different is key to this seasons’ trends. Here is some inspiration that I found.

Proposals and rings:

Using Youtube, Facebook, blogs and wedding web pages are hot for keeping your family, bridesmaids and friends updated on the planing. They are also a fun way to involve them with the wedding.

Passing down a family ring seems hot on the celebrity scene, Alicia Silverstone married Chris Jarecki, wearing a ring made from his great-great granmother’s ring. And, Jennifer Love Hewitt wore a 100 year old heirloom ring from fiance Ross McCall’s family.

Hair :

Brides go double take during the wedding, by doing a quick change of hair after the ceremony, or changing dresses up to 3 times, during the day.

Cakes :

Include summer fruits into your wedding cake. Add chocolate cherry ganache as a filling or raspberry puree.

Make sure the colour is deliciously summery, you can add sugar versions of your wedding day flowers to your’ cake, or have the baker add a few large graphic sugar peonies on each tier.

Consider a white cake stacked with subtle, soft hydrangeas, with just a hint of blue or green. If you prefer a more classic wedding cake, opt for adding some seasonal flavour to the cake by serving it with fruit flavoured ice cream or chocolate covered strawberry’s.

Dynamic Colors :

Sophisticated bright hues are popular choices. Pick two hues by using a colour wheel. The most complimentary colour can be found opposite each other on a colour wheel. Eg : purple and yellow.

Music :

The one thing that got my wedding going was making sure I had some upbeat lounge music playing when the guests arrived, this sets the mood, and relaxes everyone.

Theme :

Think or your favorite summer hangouts when planning your theme. Find inspiration in your or your grooms interests or hobby’s.

Invites :

Reverse the typical invitation colour scheme. Instead of printing Fuchsia on cream, print the cream on a fuchsia paper, or print your invite on fabric.

Centerpieces :

Try natural fruits as centerpieces instead of flowers. Get your florist to cut and hollow a watermelon as a centerpiece container. Or pick wooden vases or pedestals with grass or moss to add texture.

Wine Smoothies

They’re cold, frosty and pack less of an alcoholic punch, and they will cool down your guests. Make them with fruity wine (rose), blended with ice and fruits of your choice. Garnish them with a couple of berries or sliced fruits.

Favours :

Go Eco-friendly, by giving guests herbs in recyclable glass. Dress them up with a poem about love, and a fancy ribbon in your wedding colours.

Giving your guest disposable video cameras on there tables, will allow for them to play paparazzi and document some footage of the day.

* Photo by Robbie Owen-Wahl

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Guest blogged by Wendy M

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Although my wedding day is a whole 7 months away, I am an avid perfectionist and organiser who likes to get things done right, and get them done early! My planning began a few days after our engagement and now I look at a checklist which, to my disappointment, is halfway complete! I have loved every minute of my wedding planning and have found great enjoyment searching the net and reading through magazines for inspiration and ideas. I log onto Brides Buzzing every day to read through the latest blogs and have subscribed to about 10 different wedding newsletters, including a daily countdown!

My latest dilemma though, comes in the form of the wedding favour and I have to *guiltily* admit that it is not my favourite wedding subject!!!

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Guest blog by Tarryn C
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 I never dreamed what my wedding would be like when I was a little girl. I spent my time climbing trees and racing on my red bmx. What I did do occasionally was to ‘wear’ my mom’s net curtains over my head like a veil, and tried to see the world through that. I also walked in mom’s high heel shoes to feel what it would feel like to be grown up. Now, at 25, it’s finally happening to me – I guess since I didn’t have ‘wedding dreams’ I didn’t give it much thought. I wanted something non traditional, and no part of the song Here Comes The Bride. What I discovered is that planning your wedding is a mammoth task. Just when I think I’ve thought something else pops up. He wanted a beac wedding, and I didn’t know what I wanted.

With a tight budget, eventually my fiancé and I agreed we would be married in my home town – Oudtshoorn – which is in the little karoo. Plus I have family there to watch over the plans. He said I should just phone and book any church, and we can confirm after my trip in June. So I arrived on Sunday, 22nd June – and early Monday morning my grandmother said I should go and see her church and minister before I confirm the other church. We phoned the minister at 09h30 and went to meet her and see the church at 10h00.

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Guest blog by Tammy S
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The last wedding I went to before I started planning my own was like walking into a dream. The food was great, the decor was beautiful, the speeches were funny and short and sweet. Including the bridal party there were just over 50 people there, all laughing and chatting, dancing to the sounds of a jazz band wafting around Durban’s Mitchell Park. It was, in a word, sublime.  I knew that I wanted the same kind of vibe – a gentle, cosy atmosphere where people could enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the love between the bride and groom. Lovely stuff.

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Guest blog by Joletta-Luise from Designer RE-Sale
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Every bride deserves to walk down the aisle in an amazing dress on her wedding day.  Sadly not everyone can afford the crazy prices that most of the best designers and wedding dress boutiques offer.
Until now…

Recently I launched a new concept with regards to “previously owned” wedding dresses for sale ‘privately’.

I have noticed how many brides try to sell their dresses after they have worn them once to try and get some of their money back, most are unsuccessful as there is just not enough time to put into marketing the dress properly + most potential buyers are wary of a private sale – not to mention the safety concerns.

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Guest blog by Wendy M (Durban)
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I am not a traditionalist and many of the events at my wedding will be unusual and fun. One thing I am in debate about is throwing the bouquet. I, personally, despise this tradition and when called to “crowd around the dance floor” in an attempt to wrestle a fellow guest to the floor in the hunt for the “lucky” bouquet, I always find myself taking a step back and wondering why these girls do it!

Image courtesey: Peter and Estie Lupton – Soleil Studios – 083 306 4777

I will not have many single women at my wedding (5-10 at maximum) so I dont think this tradition is necessary – does any one have any suggestions to an alternate? I was thinking of asking all the married women to gather around, and, as they will be a little older, perhaps there will not be any jumping or pushing involved?? Help!!

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I received this really great guest blog from wedding planner Nici Bailes from the Marriage Meander
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Just take a minute to think about the time, effort and money that you are putting into planning your wedding. It is such an exciting time and once you have had your fairy tale wedding you will have perfect memories of a very special day.

 

But what then? Many couples will have had some spiritual counselling in preparation for the Marriage ceremony but what preparation have you done for your life together as a couple? You are no doubt an expert on all aspects of weddings, but what plan have you instituted for your Marriage?

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Check out our first guest blog posted by Amanda J
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My engagement ring is still sparkling on my left hand, and my little head is full of ideas for my wedding.  My fiance and I have not yet set a date (blush), but we have started weighing our options.

We are both pretty keen on the idea of having a weekend wedding, you know the kind of wedding that starts on a Friday morning and ends on the Sunday evening.  I have always loved those American flicks where the whole family gets together, and they play a game of American football or croquet before the wedding.  Is it just a nice, fancy dream, or can we really pull it off as well as Tinseltown?

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Were on the hunt for talented, witty and interesting half-time, social bloggers (aka writers) to contribute their creativity to the Brides Buzzing network.  If you think you have what it takes, send us your post and who knows, we may even use it.

While we already have a real wedding section, guest blogs from real brides about their special day are great reads.  Whether you’re a bride-to-bee or a happily married Mrz, we want to hear what you have to buzz about.Posts can be on anything relating to the wedding industry.  Some ideas and suggestions include;

• Inspiration boards and colour schemes/ themes
• Wedding decor ideas
• Wedding budget blow-outs or real budget submissions
• Useful information that will benefit our brides-to-bee
• Great finds you’ve come across (while we want to hear it, please no mass marketing excessive punting posts will be published)
• Fun and creative DIY projects
• Photos, Photos, and more Photos

Im keen, what now?

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