Archive for the ‘Guest Blogs’ Category

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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 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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One of our regular site viewers has the most amazing (and downright cutest) wedding gift idea for her hubby to be  …. It involves a beautiful smell and balloons…prepare for goosebumps galore!

She bought her hubby-to-be a new cologne as pre-wedding gift, which she will sending down with one of her friends on the morning of the wedding.  Sweet, but here’s the cutest part.  Attached to the cologne, she’s adding 9 helium balloons and attaching a little note saying “see you on cloud nine” – How adorable! **dammit, I just got those goosebumps again**

Im sure he’s going to love it and probably shed a few tears! I hope you take lots of pics “Mizz L” – send them to us, we can’t wait to see!

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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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