Popping shades of Purple

I was part of Nicola and Yuri’s wedding planning from day one. Nicola found me via an ad on Gumtree and we had a great year of planning together! Enjoy the beautiful pictures. Comments on the pictures follow below

The bride decided on a beautiful array of flowers in different shades of pastel colours

with every seaside wedding, always remember to factor in the wind. I loved that the groom here plays with his brides hair while the wind whips at it

The Brides mother, Juliet Wilson (who makes the most delicious cake pops for any occasion atCreative Cakepops (www.cake-pop.co.za) was very hands on in the DIY section of the big day. this beautiful ball which lined the isle at the ceremony was made of cupcake liners!

The creative talents runs in the family with Nicola’s sister, Candice, designing and making the bridesmaids dresses

this gorgeous cake made by Maggie of Edible Art Cakes (www.edible-art-cakes.co.za)  also features sugar flowers. Each tier of the cake was also a delicious different flavor. The candles places at each side were to be used at the ceremony during the lighting of the candle, but the wind did not play along. This part of the ceremony was then made part of the reception

the couple made use of a wish tree where guests could sign and hang their wishes on 

 

 

 

to end of this post feast your eyes on the dessert table the bride’s mom set up for the couple.

 

Greens and Browns galore

Meagan and Randall’s story is one that has to be told here. Randall was  on his way back home after thinking that things in the fairest Cape didn’t work too well for him. But before embarking on his trip home, he stopped by Facebook! And on this day, the beautiful Meagan had sent him a message. Mind you, Facebook suggested they be friends (since they have a mutual friend). And the rest they say, is history. Meagan I only knew through a mutual friendship. But once she asked me to coordinate their big day,a  just-knowing-each-other, became being- good-friends.

Mr and Mrs Saayman’s beautiful day unfolded on the 28th of January 2012. the colour scheme was creams, greens and chocolatey browns, and not a tinge of white!

the day was particularly windy! my dear brides and grooms, embrace the weather that was given, it will make your pictures look natural, as these two here. A lounger was brought onto the beach for a different kind of wedding beach photo. another au naturel photo taken hereunder…

do not be afraid to think outside of the box for confetti ideas. The bridal couple made  use of colourful streamers. Just be sure to check with the venue whether a specific type of confetti may be used!

each guest name and table number was printed on leaves and added to the apples at the entrance of the venue. Brides and grooms, if you have a coordinator doing your big day, make sure to go through the guest list one last time with him/her. Point out which if the guest can be easily seated with someone else, etc. This will also eliminate any double names  printed.

the couple’s venue had salmon pink walls on the day they decided to book it. And with that, also booked drapings to be hung over it. Wasnt it the best surprised when we found that the walls had been painted chocolate brown before the wedding! Brides and grooms, be sure to do a final check of the venue before the big day. It could save you tons, or be very costly, should any changes of the venue itself occur.

the bridal couple had a very unique and exciting first dance. It started off slow…

then some jazz…..

adding a good measure of kwaito and RnB! They ended it off with a slow song!

Dear brides and grooms, if you are planning on doing something out of the ordinary, make sure that the MC and wedding planner knows about this, especially if you would like to keep it secret from your guests. This is the only way you will not have guests interfering with your very special ensemble. Do also dance the entire song as the newly wed couple by yourself. It your very first dance as the Mr and Mrs. Your parents and in-laws and anyone else can join on the second dance. Make sure your MC/Dj announces this, to keep your guests in the loop.

Awesome vendors who made this day special:

• Melissa of Play by Photo (www.playbyphoto.co.za)
• Function Flowers in Somerset West
• The events team of the Villa Via Hotel in Gordons Bay

Black (and yellow) is beautiful

Kim and Shane’s big day on 17 December 2011 was my first ever wedding as a coordinator! I’ve known Kim since our nappy days and when she contacted me to coordinate for her I was elated!

Kim wore two dresses on her big day. the left vintage style dress was worn at ceremony and the dress on the right was worn at the reception. Both dresses were made for her.

One shoulder dresses are absolutely beautiful and show off a bride’s shoulders. Word of caution dear brides: make sure you do not have tan lines showing and acne back problems are a thing of the past on your big day.

The bridesmaids wore black dresses, in different styles, each fitting her body just perfectly. The flowergirl wore a sun yellow dress and had golden plaits wrapped around her feet and a rose ball as her accessories.

the table cloths at the reception was pitch black with an embossed velvet design on it. Do not attempt adding too many accessories on top of a table cloth this beautiful. This single sunflower adds just enough punch

Their wedding cake was a gift from a family member, and so was the beautiful lampshades hanging from the ceiling. The cake was a special made order for the groom who loves carrot cake and the lampshades were made especially for them by the bride’s brother in law.

Awesome vendors who made this day very special:

• The fantastic events team at The Stellenbosch Golf Club
• Melissa of Play by Photo (www.playbyphoto.co.za)

 

 

 

 

 

Prenuptial agreements

Prenuptial agreement (antenuptial agreement) –  a written contract between two people who are about to marry, setting out the terms of possession of assets, treatment of future earnings, control of the property of each, and potential division if the marriage is later dissolved. These agreements are fairly common if either or both parties have substantial assets, children from a prior marriage, potential inheritances, high incomes, or have been “taken” by a prior spouse.

The prenup is an important part of the married couple’s life. But there are certain myths underlying this important legal issue:

1. it is only for the rich and gold-diggers must beware! (as taught to us by movies)

2. it creates that idea that you are providing to divorce before you even got married!

3. or my all time favourite from the old people: oh, so you dont love each other!

But, the prenup is important in aspects like:

1. your spouse is declared bankrupt. If you are married in community, both assets will be used to pay out to your creditors. If you signed a prenup in which finances are declared, the spouse who is not bankrupt can still uphold the household food and pay kids’ tuition, etc.

2. you remarry and you have kids with another. In prenups decision are made regarding your kids’ finances as well.

Do not overlook these important aspects of the biggest day of your life!

 

The emergency kit

ever heard of one? yes! the emergency kit! stocked with super items that will indeed come handy on your big day.

Always have someone close to hold the kit for you if you have not asked your maid of honor to do this. You can also task the maid of honor to make up a kit for you. If you have a wedding planner, she should have one with her on your big day.

the following list is a combined list of some of the blogs and websites I have read:

• Sewing Kit, including safety pins and small scissors
• Clear nail polish (helpful for stocking runs)
• Nail file
• Nail polish in the bride’s shade
• Makeup (you’ll probably have this there anyway!)
• Straws (for drinking without messing up lipstick)
• Extra stockings
• Hairspray
• Brush and comb
• Bobbypins and hair elastics
• Tissues
• Earring backs
• Baby powder (also useful for getting out last-minute spills on a white dress. Do this by gently blotting the spot with a semi-wet cloth. lightly sprinkle ontop. As seen on The Style Network!)
• Eye-drops (look for redness reducing)
• Acid relief
• Antacid
• Mints
• Tampons and pads
• Headache medicine (bring two different kinds in case one of the bridal party is allergic)
• Band-Aids
• Rescue Remedy (for any nervous bridal party)
• Sunscreen (especially for the South African sun. Buy one that does not make the skin white. The Shzen sunscreen range is also fantastic)

DIY Save the Date

Save the dates are usually sent at the 6 month mark prior to your big day.

Save money and time by posting an electronic Save the Date to your guests.

Go to www.picnik.com, upload your pic, play around and voila!

Have fun!

Tradition nr 2: the origin of the bridesmaid

While in modern times a bridesmaid is expected to assist with anything the bride requests or needs, apparently her duties were of a more serious, if not at least supernatural, nature in earlier days. A custom once existed where maidens dressed similarly to the bride would accompany her as her protectors on her way to the groom’s village. This would deflect spurned suitors from kidnapping the bride or from stealing her dowry. Roman law once required witnesses to come to weddings in order to confuse evil spirits as to the identity of the bride and groom. This meant that female wedding attendants came to a marriage ceremony in garments akin to the bride’s, while male wedding attendants–the forebears of ushers–wore attire that resembled the groom’s own clothing. This supposedly threw off bad luck that could be directed towards an easily identifiable bride and groom.

Luckily for us, those superstitious days are gone. (for most parts of the world). The function of bridesmaids are now to aide the bride in whatever it is that she needs!

Free Wedding Planning Workbook

Hi there everyone

Nobody loves anything more than freebies! so in honor of all things good and free, I attach a Wedding_Planning_Workbook courtesy of the amazing www.elegala.com

Mwah!

Tradition number 1: the white wedding dress

“because you have to” says your mother with a stiff upper lip. And here is the reason why white became a custom colour way back in the day:

Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress when she got married to Prince Albert in 1840!

Royal brides before Victoria did not typically wear white, instead choosing “heavy brocaded gowns embroidered with white and silver thread,” with red being a particularly popular color in Western Europe more generally. European and American brides had been wearing a plethora of colors, including blue, yellow, and practical colors like black, brown, or gray. At the time of Victoria’s wedding, white was considered the color of mourning, and inappropriate for a wedding.As accounts of Victoria’s wedding spread across the Atlantic and throughout Europe elites followed her lead. Because of the limitations of laundering techniques, white dresses provided an opportunity for conspicuous consumption. They were favored primarily as a way to show the world that the bride’s family was so wealthy and so firmly part of the leisure class that the bride would choose an elaborate dress that could be ruined by any sort of work or spill.

Now, white is a beautiful colour, dont get me wrong. But decide on the colour of your dress, because that’s what you want!

Happy hunting dear brides 🙂

E-shoot

I met Melissa of Play by Photo photography a while back when she posted free photography sessions on a popular website! (needless to say, I adore photography). Melissa, like myself, had just started out and needed to build her portfolio. She did this Autumn e-shoot session with adorable couple Greshne and Jacques in the heart of Stellenbosch.

Tip for e-shoots: Dont be afraid of using the venue, or bringing along some funky props!