So I decided to turn to the cyber space for help with ideas. 0.21 seconds later, I was given more than enough inspiration. Actually, from just one website alone. http://www.e-weddingbands.com/store/engravefav.html

These are the ones I like, and some that are just too funny not to post…

Read the rest of this entry »

On 12 September, Toadbury Hall hosted an Open Day. Prospective brides and grooms were invited to view the venue, sample delicious treats, ask questions and get an idea what a wedding at Toadbury Hall would be like.

The staff of Toadbury Hall was available to answer all questions and even provided wedding planning tips.

The brides were invited to visit the Bridal Library and gather information about the leading wedding service providers.

“Splendid Affairs” had the privilege of setting up the Toad Hall. Various table settings were created to show case the versatility of the Toad Hall. The brides had the opportunity to image decor possibilities.The table seating were ranging from sleek, crisp whites and greens, to the bold and the beautiful red and yellows, and even a secret garden theme. “Trendy Settings” and “Cor De Rosa” were also present.

If you missed it, you can always make an appointment for the viewing , go to www.toadbury.co.za for contact details.

For flower queries contact “Splendid Affairs” info@splendidaffairs.co.za

Besides our day being perfect and honestly I can say I would hardly have changed a thing, there are still lessons to be learnt once you’ve gone through it all yourself.  Here are a couple of things I’ll share with you which may help with your planning:

1. Really!  Don’t sweat the small stuff!  People don’t even notice.  I spent hours and hours painting and spray painting our centrepieces.  I didn’t want any of the twig’s colour coming through so I made sure I touched up every little spot.  No one noticed!  I spent weeks and weeks trying to come up with different centrepiece ideas, decor ideas, etc and although you don’t want a slap dash wedding you also don’t want to drain yourself by putting together 50 ideas and not being happy with one.  Don’t worry about what people will think, just do what YOU want to do and what suits YOUR style.  If it isn’t there, people don’t even know the difference.

2. Make sure you’re happy with your hair and makeup. I thought my hair and makeup trials were stunning but deep down they weren’t really what I would have gone for first time.  I ended up changing my hair and makeup on the actual day.  Just remember, you still have to be YOU.  You don’t want to look at your wedding pics and think “who on earth is that?”!

3. You don’t need alcoholic welcome drinks.  They are so expensive and a refreshing fruit punch or mint water is good enough.  We save R1500 on our welcome drinks just from excluding the alcohol. Read the rest of this entry »

Naughty, naughty me.  I’ve totally neglected my blogs but for good reason.  We’ve had a rollercoaster few weeks and I’m still holding my breath that nothing more happens (besides some good luck).  With my mom and I being in hospital, to having so many friends and family here from overseas and then my car being stolen it’s just been crazy.

I am however now officially Mrz Style and so proud to be!  We made it official on Saturday 29th August at Ingwenya Country Estate.  For some reason I was completely calm on the day, although admittedly when I saw the white chairs laid out so beautifully in the garden my stomach turned.  I pulled myself together as best I could and thought to myself “there is no point getting worked up and nervous as you don’t want to waste the day on worrying about things that you cannot fully control”.  I totally relaxed after that (with the help of Rescue Remedy and champagne which I highly recommend!) and just enjoyed getting ready and being pampered.  The hairstylist and makeup artist said I was probably the most calm bride they’d ever come across so I knew the pills (and champagne) were paying off. 

The honeymoon suite was above the ceremony so I had the advantage of watching everyone arrive and watch how nervous Mr Style was getting.  When it was time to put on my dress and get going I finally gave in to the nerves.  I literally thought I was going to hyperventilate.  I had the added worry that Baby Style, who is 3 and was walking me down the aisle, wouldn’t go through with it and would run the other way!  I however had someone very close to me in the family on standby to take over should Baby Style do this.  As my stunning bridesmaids walked ahead I waited a while, prepping Baby Style on what we had to do.  Needless to say my little boy pulled through for me.  He held my hand, even slowed down so I could walk properly and on seeing us Mr Style could not hold back his tears so I just kept looking down so I didn’t break down.

I can truly say that the minute I took Mr Style’s hand I was ok.  It all felt right and I kept telling myself that if things didn’t go 100% right on this day, would it be such a huge deal?  We were all there for the best reason ever and whatever happened, wrong or right, would give it even more character and give us lots to talk about later!  These are pics taken by our brother-in-law but I’ll be sure to post more from the photographer when we get them.

There is so much that I learnt from planning my own wedding and now actually having been through it.  I will dedicate that though to a seperate blog as I’d love this one to just be about the big day.

So what was happening whilst we girls were primping, prettifying and posing?

The chapel was looking just beautiful:

The pens were waiting to sign the register:

The tissues I’d set out for my weepy family were in place:

The Mother/Father of the Bride/Groom signs looked great:

My petal cones, filled by Sister, BFF and Aunt Ruby Slippers were waiting in the entranceway:

Meanwhile, Mr Ruby Slippers greeted his two bosses with the proper decorum. The one on the right with his glasses on his head is marrying the girl Mr RS is about to hug . I really hope we’re invited. I haven’t been to a wedding since April 2006. Not including ours, obviously. And I luurve weddings.

I have to say that this is one part of the day that I, of course, missed entirely, and I’m kind of sad about that. Granted, the “are you nervous?” comments and “It’s not too late to back out now!” jokes might have annoyed me, but mostly I would just have loved to be there and see everyone arrive and chat to them and mingle and share my excitement. Still, it’s the price you pay for a Big Reveal.

Here Sister-in-Law Ruby Slippers, her friend Jen, and MIL-Ruby Slippers enjoy the free welcome drinks outside the chapel. I missed those, too. But they did send sandwiches to my room, and we had complimentary orange juice, champagne and tea and coffee!

And then they waited…

And waited…

And looked nervous:

Everyone was ushered inside somewhere around this point, so that when we arrived outside, the only people waiting were my Dad, his friend Rick (with the camera) and our officiant (in the black vest thingy):

I have no idea what my Dad is doing here; maybe he’s going to pretend to steal my nose and make me cry?

And of course they had to fix my veil back over my face, like the proper, demure bride I was:

Did I mention how much I loved my veil??

Meanwhile, my Dad shows off his “Father of the Bride” cufflinks that my cousins gave him before my sister’s wedding in 2003.

Me with my Dad. I’m so happy:

My Dad looks so cute here:

And then it was (BREATHE) time to line up and go in! Here are the girls lining up outside the church (yes, all two of them can line up, if I say so!):

And…they’re in!

Next time you might actually get to see me walking into a chapel in my wedding dress… :-)

This exciting event is taking place on 12-13 September 2009 and a must for the Gauteng Bride!

For more information you can contact each venue directly or simply follow the map and take a fantastic journey around the Gauteng Primer Wedding Venues- such as  Toadbury Hall, Casalinga, Oakfield Farm, Moon & Sixpence and Avianto. You will have a great opportunity to meet leading suppliers in the wedding industry, as well and have a chat about your upcoming wedding.

Special offers are being prepared for  to the attending brides, so do not miss out!

I love “Toadbury Hall”, not only for it’s breathtaking beauty and magnificent grounds. I love “Toadbury Hall” for its creative, talented and attentive staff. “Toadbury Hall” is renown for their service excellence.

Everyone works harmoniously together to allow the bride to have a quality wedding that is stress-free. The staff at “Toadbury Hall” will work hard at making a bride and her family feel like a royal family, whist making sure their guests are well taken care off.

“Toadbury Hall” is the perfect country wedding venue.
Located on the Beyers Naude extension just beyond Muldersdrift, in the world renowned Cradle of Humankind lies this spectacular venue on the banks of the Crocodile river.

Founded in 1997, Toadbury hall was developed to provide an exclusive country house which offered the finest cuisine and outstanding service in an immaculate country garden setting. It was not long thereafter that the venue became sought after as an exclusive and intimate venue for wedding celebrations.

“Toadbury Hall” has since established itself as Gauteng’s finest wedding venue with a continued focus on exclusivity and high service standards- their five star rating is a proof of this.

Come and meet the incredible team of “Toadbury Hall” at the Wedding Expo 2009. You can find out more about their services, rates and special offers.

www.toadbury.co.za

Mr Wonderland and I decided to go wedding band shopping last week. Typical male, he found, tried on and paid for his ring in 15 minutes, at the second shop we went to. (For the record, the Jewellery Design Company in Sandton City has lovely service and competitive prices. The cheap-looking store just a floor down, however, not so nice and the same ring cost more!) The quest to find my perfect wedding band is another blog altogether, I’ll just get to the point of this one: The engraving inside the ring.

What do you write in there? This message has to remain relevent for at least 50 years. The obvious ones like “yours always”, “I love you”, “Together forever” seem so generic. Do I just put the date of the wedding? It seems a bit vague (although, on the plus side, he’ll never forget our anniversary). Or do I engrave a super-personal message… there’s the danger of curious friends and family reading it out loud at social functions (Ooh! Look what I found in the bathroom… it says ‘together down every rabbit hole’ HA HA HA, down where?! *roaring laughter*). No, super-personal messages are risky.

So I’m still thinking. And very much clueless. Maybe engraving the ring is overrated…

Just a quick note to let you know that the annual Spring Fair at Rhodes Park in Kensington is taking place this Sunday, 6th September. I love these flea markets where you can browse through other people’s junk and many surprisingly grotesque wares. But as a bride-to-be, I am hoping to find some cheap ceramic pieces for my Alice-in-Wonderland décor. I saw this idea on Realsimple.com of using an old soup tureen for the flowers, and I just love it! I’m also going to be on the look-out for old teacups and saucers… Why not go have a browse yourself?

Take a look:  http://www.kensington.org.za/spring_fair_kensington.htm