Photograph by Kat Forsyth

I can’t believe that its been nearly two years since I got married, and I still remember the fun and excitement of planning my big day. It’s great to look back on the blog and re-live those experiences, and it is so great to be able to share them with so many new brides, who are also enjoying this special time in their lives.

I’d like to thank all you gorgeous readers as well as our past and present bloggers for all your support and for making Bridesbuzzing part of your special day!

And with that, my gift to you… I’ve revamped and freshened up the look of Bridesbuzzing so you can enjoy the same helpful content, but with a fresh new look! Enjoy

xoxo

* Photo by Mahno

I am of course talking size of wedding! Now sometimes this can be quite simple, your Prince Charming rescued you from a castle tower, where your evil stepmother was holding you ransom for the keys to the Kingdom, which is rightfully yours. He then throws you over his shoulder, or back, depending on upper body strength as he maneuvers his way carefully down the slippery castle wall, which is overlooking treacherous and stormy waters down below, which means sudden death with the first wrong step. But down below, a sail boat awaits, which is pulled by Felix, his magical sea horse, hey, this is my hypothetical situation, so yes, a magical seahorse then pulls them to the safety and seclusion of a tropical island where they are united as one, with only the seagulls and Felix as witness to their love… Sigh… But then again, when are things ever this easy?

Nope, in real life, our damsel in distress, Imogen, was doing the seating chart as Prince Eduardo was carting her to safety… Because even though she and her step mom were no longer on speaking terms, after the whole locking her in a tower for years, obviously, she really did enjoy the company of her step aunt Moira and her Uncle Joe, yes, everyone has an uncle Joe, really always is the life of any party… Because for us girls, it’s not just about who you choose to share the most beautiful day of your life with, it’s also just as important that the right people see you on your most beautiful…

You know what I’m talking about, even though you’re not 14 anymore and you’d like to believe your above such petty things, it still feels good to know that your “best friend” in high school, Amy, who used to call you fat and kiss your boyfriends behind your back, is now dating your second cousin, twice removed… and what is a wedding without good old Harvey, I mean Henry… I mean family is family. So of course she’s invited! And the fact that you’ve since lost the baby fat, chucked the Jelly shoes and realized oversized T-shirts saying “Move Or Die”, really only is for black rappers, you’re actually quite excited that she gets to see you on this, your most beautiful day!

But you know what I mean? How do you decide who gets to be invited?

Ok, let’s take my sister, she’s getting married in April, at this venue in Namibia…

Wolwedans

View at Wolwedans

Just another night at Wolwedans...

Jip, even from the photo, it’s safe to say she won’t be doing the congo line with 200 guests… So she had to choose, venue of her dreams and 14, yes only 14 guests, or somewhere closer, more affordable with more guests. Her choice was simple she says, why invite 80-100 people, of which probably only 30 of those you actually really want there? So, she’s compromising. She’s decided to organize, with her best friends, an awesome weekend away for 40 of her closest people, to just bond and have the most fun ever! That way, they get to feel included, and she gets to have her dream wedding, plus all the gifts! Win/win!

Another aspect to consider when getting married at a venue that allows only a certain amount of people, like our venue that can accommodate only 60 max, and that’s going to be tight, is where DO you draw the line? When is it ok for friends to trump family? Who gets to decide how important it is that aunts and uncles get invited? I mean it’s not like you meet up once a week to go for coffee, but they are your dad’s brother or sister, and he is in fact paying for the wedding… So where does that leave you?

My fiancé, John Dough, and I decided that if we have 60 spots, we’ll keep it simple, he gets to invite 29, and I get to invite 29, and we’re not allowed to judge or comment on the other person’s choices, although I think we both secretively took a peek and thought, really, her? But so it goes. Like life and a marriage, the wedding has to be a partnership, and each person has to feel that they have room to maneuver and make their own choices, even if you don’t get how he can actually give up one of the sacred 58 spots to Jake, his friend who constantly looks stoned, and who thinks “your mama” jokes are hilarious and insists on telling them whenever he has an audience…

I guess I think the most important thing to remember is, you’re getting married! To the love of your life. So as long as he shows up, and you have your closest people there, yes, the ones who actually call you to check up on the wedding progress and who goes dress shopping with you and who gets that cream and off white are definitely not the same color, your day WILL be special. And if the remaining spots are people you never would’ve missed, just think – More gifts!

Follow these very easy steps to create this gorgeous rose box which can become a centerpiece, or a gifts table decoration, or even a ring pillow!

For more inspirational ideas flip through the digital pages of Splendid Affairs February Issue.

(You may need to wire the rose head so it can fit in beautifully between the corners of the arrangement)

This month’s bridal fashion shoot took place at Shepstone Gardens, featuring bridal wear by Dimity and Wedding Connexion. Sam Scaife of Lashline exercised her make-up artistry on our models, whilst  Kat Forsyth’s photographic talent can be seen throughout the pages of this digital magazine.

This wedding magazine is put together by Evegenia Poplett of Splendid Affairs Wedding Planning Company.

Click here to read it.

]]> http://www.bridesbuzzing.com/2010/02/03/splendid-affairs-february-issue-is-out-now/feed/ 0 http://www.bridesbuzzing.com/2010/01/18/beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/ http://www.bridesbuzzing.com/2010/01/18/beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:59:10 +0000 Mizz Jane Dough http://www.bridesbuzzing.com/?p=3570 I don’t think so… Seems to me beauty is very much in the eye of the photographer, brilliant editing, and a little gift called Photoshop…

So I’m super excited, have all my bridal magazines with post-it’s sticking out at every venue with a view, and I am ready to start clicking my way to my perfect venue… Or so I thought.

The first page opens with scenes of dewdrops, glistening on a leaf, the sun behind it, getting ready to burst from its cocoon of night… And I’m thinking, yes but where would we have the reception? Surely they don’t expect me to fly all the way to Cape Town, for a more serious look, based on a beautifully decorated biscuit, sitting snuggly next to its teacup? I get it, you serve tea in pretty nice cups, but what does the room look like where we will spend our first night as Mr. & Mrs. together?

Sometimes I think they like getting us all excited, making us believe that there really are wild horses roaming the rugged mountainside, and when you ask about them, the owner says: “Oh that? No that was just the photo we thought captured the essence of our magical venue. Now, if you won’t mind turning left at the chicken coop, I’ll take you out back, show you where we normally set up the shade netting for the reception, oh, and the chicken on the menu is all organic!”

It’s just so disappointing, getting your hopes up, and then being met by gothic looking rooms that have not seen a ray of light since it’s been built, and having to walk over children’s toys, as they show you the honeymoon suite, because they forgot you were coming… Well at least we could enjoy the experience. I’m telling you, my 4-year drama degree came in handy when I had to, in all earnestness ask about the menu options and accommodation, over a stuffed Kudu head that apparently brought luck…

So next time you see photo’s on websites, where dolphins squirt you with water, while you lounge away in the eternity pool, make sure you ask them if these dolphins are included with the price, or merely there to symbolize your union…

But amidst all the mud squishing, as my fiancée had to help me across the “mystical forest floor” aka their backyard, and my heels test was being failed miserably*, we also found some gems! Three to be exact, and of course the crowning glory, my venue!

*The heels test is simple, and I’m sure a lot of you out there do exactly the same thing – you have to wear heels, of exactly the same height and heel dimension when venue hunting, to see if walking down a cobblestone aisle is an option or not…

And the second runner up was this – Beautiful, Plettenberg Park

A view to remember...

What we loved about it, was the view, and my word, what a view. There, you can literally get married on a mountain, or on your own private beach. They have their very own spa, and an awesome library, that would definitely see me curling up with a good book, on their comfy couches, if it wasn’t my wedding of course… So, what we liked about it: Views, library, spa, feeling of being on holiday the moment you step in there and, well, look at it! What we didn’t like about it: If the wind is too strong, and from the wrong direction, no amount of sea view can keep the cold away. Also, I’m not too keen on all the extra-added costs; they could sneak up on you and give you a nasty little surprise. But driving away, we knew we had a strong contender!

Our first runner up is pretty much every girl’s dream – The Pezula Private Castle! Sigh…

Seriously, which girl does not dream of being a true princess on the most beautiful day of her life, and to get married at a castle?! I promise you, as we were being shown around, I kind of expected my fiancée, to come galloping up to us, across the beach, swooping me up in one swift move, as we gallop off into the sunset…

What we liked about it: Well, it’s a castle!!! Feeling like royalty the moment you step in there, walking into the honeymoon castle, and yes, there is a honeymoon castle for only the two of you, and imagining, for one night, this could be yours! Another huge plus is the fact that it is Pezula owned, which means pretty much the best service and food in the world! What we didn’t like about it, except the steep price, which is definitely to be expected, is the fact that the beaches in front of the castles are public property, which means that while you walk around naked, wearing heels, eating your wedding cake, someone else might be having their cake and eating it too! But I promise you; it is definitely worth the drive out!

And then, the place that puts a smile on my face every time it crosses my mind, and gets opened on my screen, which is pretty often I admit… I don’t even think I have the words that could do this justice… So I can simply leave you with this, and let the beauty and magic speak for itself… My Wedding Venue – Tintswalo Atlantic! (http://www.tintswalo.com/Atlantic/about_hotel.html)

This brilliant wedding magazine is FREE and packed with great advice for brides palnning their own wedding.

Great professional advice, real weddings, stationery ideas, wedding flowers and decor and much more!

Click HERE to view it

But now what? Where do you start with something so big? I mean, movies have been made, books have been written, fairy tales have been told and retold a million times over. Someone feeling a little bit of pressure? I mean, it is, after all, my wedding day! The day little girls across the world dream of, the day I get to be a queen the entire day, and in my books, the 3 weeks leading up to it as well, I mean you have to milk it a bit… The day I have to plan?

I mean if this day is filled with so much magic, and centers around me, why do I have to do all the work? All the stressing? All the planning and crying? But alas, such is life. So I put on some comfort pants and march determinedly to my mountains of bridal magazines, some sadly dating back to 2003… pages of saved bookmarks on my laptop, and the voices of advice of every friend of mine that’s walked this slippery slope. But I am filled with hope, because no matter what, on 30 October 2010, I get to walk down the aisle, be it beach, church, desert or town hall, and marry the love of my life.

So where is the beginning for me? The venue.

My requirements? I want outside, but not to be totally left to the mercy of the elements. There’s nothing like forced cheeriness from guests shivering in sundresses while the storms of the oceans splash them with fury, and I won’t allow anyone to leave because if I said I’m having a beach wedding, we will stay on the beach the entire time and have a beach wedding!

I want a beach wedding, but I want to wear heels. No barefoot, being one with nature for me, thank you very much. I don’t want the wind to blow too much, because I cannot stand sand being blown against me or my hair being blown into my lip gloss, because we all know when they say all day gloss, they mean all day gloss, the sun can’t shine too fiercely, as my squint is not the most attractive thing to see, and there’s just something about staring deep into your beloveds eyes, and saying: Hold on, let me just grab my sunnies…

So, where do I find such a perfect space and harmony of the elements? Probably only in my dreams, but that doesn’t mean I won’t go searching…

So hold on to your handbags ladies, I’m going venue hunting!

“I just wanted to share some pics of my amazing day with all the other brides out there. I planned a lot and found it difficult to find good inspiration out there with wedding mags being so expensive. I got married at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg with By Word of Mouth doing my food, flowers and decor.” Michelle

Photographs by Patrick Furter

Unfortunately this misuse of our blog and comments has forced us to moderate all comments before approving them.

We do understand that many of you have problems with venues, and we encourage you to take them up with the venue or post on a website like hellopeter.com.