Wedding Traditions In Sunny South Africa

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If tradition is important to you, you will probably try and incorporate as much of it as you can into your wedding day. Traditions help to create imperishable memories which will make your wedding day one you can share with everyone around you.

One of the most perfect settings for a traditional wedding is a Gauteng wedding venue. Gauteng offers some of the most beautiful, professional and tradition-savvy venues which will help you make your wedding day absolutely unique and perfect.

Be sure to tell the venue staff or coordinators of the traditions you plan to implement during your wedding ceremony and reception.

Something New, Something Borrowed And Something Blue

Most of us get exposed to this tradition by watching soppy girl flicks. But wearing something blue, borrowed and new happens in real life as well. Most brides choose to add as much luck as possible to their weddings and this tradition makes the experience of being a bride a lot more personal and fun.

Preferably the things you add to your look on your wedding day should come from those close to you like your mother, best friends and siblings; the items given are usually things that were worn on their wedding days as well.

The Father Daughter Dance

This dance is a way of paying tribute to the man who reared you into the woman you are, and the beautiful woman you will be on your wedding day.

While some brides choose not to have a father-daughter dance you will greatly benefit from giving your dad a special place in your big day.

Throwing The Bouquet

This is a very old and popular tradition that needs no kind of explaining. The problem that does arise with the bouquet tossing though is that brides spend so much money and time on designing their bouquets; they find it extremely painful to simply throw it to someone else.

This problem can easily be solved by using one of your bridesmaid’s bouquets, or simply making another smaller bouquet to throw into the eager hands of the unmarried ladies.

The Garter

Having your new husband put his hand under your dress and removing an item of clothing might seem a little risky and embarrassing but it actually creates a fun and humorous atmosphere at the reception. You can expect a lot of whistles, jokes and laughter which will be another fun filled memory you can stick down into your wedding album.

Cutting The Cake

The tradition of the bride and groom cutting the cake and smearing it all over each other’s faces probably leaves you filled with horror as you picture your perfectly applied make-up and hair covered in chocolate icing.

Luckily very few couples actually choose to go down the messy route. Just cutting the cake is enough, but if you want you can feed each other a small piece without having your whole face covered.

Incorporating tradition into your wedding will help create an atmosphere of unity, understanding and history which can be shared between you and all of the guests you chose to be a part of your special day.

Find The Perfect Wedding Dress For Your Body Type

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If you are on a mission to plan your big day, you probably have thousands of ideas regarding the type of dress you want. One of the greatest pleasures regarding wedding planning is trying on dozens of dresses while your family sits around and comments on how beautiful you look.

Another great pleasure would be to go venue shopping. You get to see dozens of beautiful places and pick the best one! A Gauteng wedding venue would be a great pick for your big day with all of the beautiful sceneries and the sunny weather.

But let’s get back to the dress. Every bride wants to look absolutely breath taking on her wedding day and of course has to be the most beautiful person at her wedding. Finding the perfect wedding dress is definitely possible, all you need to do is find a dress that flatters and accentuates your shape.

What Kind Of Dress Will Fit Your Body?

Wedding gowns come in various shapes and sizes and so does the female body. No matter what your shape or size, you can and will be able to find a dress that looks absolutely flattering and breathtaking.

Finding the perfect dress starts with your body type:

Pear Shaped Figure

If you have a pear shaped body, your hips and shoulders are bigger than the rest of your body and your legs are full or muscular. Princess gowns that are lined are perfect for pear shaped figures. Also wear a long chapel veil to emphasise and balance your curves.

Hourglass Figure

An hourglass body is accentuated by its small slender waist while the rest of the body is in line. This body type looks gorgeous in a two piece wedding dress or a ball gown as it compliments and emphasises the tiny waist.

Boyish Figure

Boyish figures are very slender and lack the curves that pear-shaped and hourglass figures have. Wearing big puffy ball gowns is a definite no for boyish figured women as this can make it look like you’re trying to hide behind your wedding dress.

Instead opt for dresses that will help create curves along your body like a sleek princess gown or look for something that is lined and beaded across the lines of your body.

Apple Figure

Apple figured women have full chests with little or no waist and this is why it is very important to dress this body in a wedding gown that will help create the illusion of a tiny waist.

Dresses with v-shaped necks and A-line skirts will help to accentuate the apple shapes chest and create a tiny slender waist. You can also opt for a corset which is a great and easy way of making your waist as tiny as possible.

Column Figure

Column width figures tend to be the same shape across the vertical length of their body which creates a column like effect. Women who have column shaped figures are usually very tall and skinny and are also referred to as a pencil shape.

A skirt with tiered layers and a sleek top would look perfect on a pencil body type. There are various different kinds of dresses for this body type and most of them try to create a fuller chest with a long sleek and neat look along the length of the body.

No matter what the shape or size of your body, there definitely is a beautiful dress out there for you, which will make you look and feel like the bride you’ve always dreamed of being.

Tips to Choosing the Wedding Cake for You

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There are many choices out there when it comes to making decisions about your wedding. Tradition still has its place but there are many modern elements that can make organizing your wedding thrilling or daunting. When it comes to planning and deciding upon your wedding cake it is important to do this advance.

 

A traditional wedding cake

 

A traditional wedding cake usually consists of two or three tiers either circular or square in shape and consisting of fruit cake and marzipan and decorated with royal icing. However, fondant icing is become much more widely used and is not limited there. Should couples refer, they can also choose chocolate or other adequately decorated sponge cake – the choices are numerous! Added to this the decorating style of the cake can also be tailored to your wishes; be it flowers made out of sugar, real flowers, coloured icing sugar piping, figures representing the bride and groom or perhaps a horseshoe instead to symbol good luck.

Where is a wedding cake ordered from?

 

If you want to find a professional for your wedding cake then the first place to go is to find your local specialist confectioner. These confectioners will usually have a brochure displaying all the cakes they are able to make and in what way you can have your wedding cake customized. This is a good place to begin especially if you have no idea what you want. A confectioner can lay out what options you have that will form the foundation of your wedding cake and then you can work through decorating it how you want to with the decorating and style choices they have on offer. A good point for you to remember is that the better confectioners will have cake sample for you to taste. Not only should your wedding cake look great but it should taste scrumptious too.

 

What size should the wedding cake be?

 

The size is also a personal choice but remember that you want to have enough cake to not only go round but also give to anyone that was unable to attend. Another traditional note is that the top tier is usually reserved for the first wedding anniversary or the christening of your first child.

When should the wedding cake be ordered?

 

Believe it or not the wedding cake should be ordered at least three month in advance. The fact that the wedding cake can be baked so far in advance also gives the option for one to be baked at home if the desire and time allows for it. Also, if you are keen to bake your own wedding cake but would rather not trust your decorating skills, there are many confectioners that offer a decorating service as well – this allows you to bring you in your baked wedding cake to be decorated professionally.

 

Wedding cakes can be expensive so be sure to shop around before deciding on one particular confectioner. If you are within a budget, baking one yourself but having your cake decorated will help to save on the pennies. Also, be aware going overboard with decorations as this can become pricey too. Work out your wedding cake budget, do your research to figure out what you want and shop around to make sure you get the best deal possible.

 

 

 

 

The Role of a Bridesmaid at a Wedding

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Weddings are intricate affairs that involve many different aspects that help to piece the day together perfectly. One such element that is both traditional and an important part of any wedding is the bridesmaid. Bridesmaids play vital roles both before, during and after the wedding day itself. Being a bridesmaid encompasses many responsibilities that we shall focus on below.

 

Bridesmaid responsibilities from a traditional viewpoint

 

Looking back at history to when bridesmaid first come into the picture, the story is in fact quite interesting. Bridesmaids were introduced into weddings to help drive evil-spirits away by looking similar to the bride. Nowadays being superstitious is not the forefront behind the role of a bridesmaid (although who knows) but rather carries out many other traditional roles as well as any added requests from the bride and groom. While bridesmaid duties can be a lot to handle it is also heaps of fun and a treasure to be part of a bride and groom journey into wedding bliss. Some of the more traditional duties will include the following;

 

  • Be there for anything your bride needs. From dressing fits, accessorizing, bridesmaid dresses (even if these aren’t to your liking).
  • Going to the wedding rehearsal and ensuring that everything that needs doing is done and ready.
  • Traveling with the other bridesmaids, page boys, flower girls and mother of the bride to the wedding reception.
  • At the wedding ceremony the bridesmaid is expected to walk down the aisle preceding the bride and afterwards following the bride and groom out of the ceremony venue.

 

Additional bridesmaid responsibilities

 

Alongside the above conventional bridesmaid duties, there are some modern-day additions that most bridesmaids will attend to. The first and foremost of these is the Hen night. This is the duty of the maid-of-honor rather then the junior bridesmaids. Any wedding details to be organized are generally overseen by the bridesmaid as well, especially in the beginning when suppliers, product service companies etc need to be hunted down and decided upon. The bridesmaid usually follows up on these requests to make sure the suppliers are doing what needs to be done. Helping to write and send of the wedding invitations is also a common duty. More importantly, the role of a bridesmaid is to keep the bride-to-be relaxed and calm leading up to her wedding day. The stress of organizing a wedding and being boggled by the volume of details can cause any bride to develop frazzled nerves. The bridesmaid needs to be able to shoulder this stress for the bride to ensure that the road to her wedding day becomes an exciting anticipation of what is to come. Also, after the wedding the bridesmaid helps to organize the collection of disposable cameras so that the photos can be developed by the time the couples return from their honeymoon.

 

Being a bridesmaid is an honor as you get to share in the couple’s journey towards celebrating their commitment to each other. So while your priority is to ensure the bride has a blissful wedding, so you too need to have fun and enjoy the experience!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Not to Do Before Your Wedding

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Most brides have dreamed about their wedding day since they were five years old. The perfection of that day is held clearly in their minds eye. However, in reality such perfection does require hard work and careful planning. To ensure that your wedding day goes off without a hitch there are certain things that should not be done. We’ve listed some of these no-no’s to help you have the wedding day you have always dreamed of.

Do not plan your wedding without knowing your budget

Weddings do not come cheap and it is important to know exactly what your budget is. One of the most stressful parts that come with having a wedding is the cost of it. By knowing straight off where you are with your money and how much you are able to spend, you will be able to work out what kind of wedding works within your means. It won’t do you and your wedding any favours to build castles in the air only to find out that it won’t be a possibility in reality. By knowing your budget you can work out how big your wedding can be, what kind of flowers and catering options are open to you. Whether you want your wedding at a church or another venue, all the details of planning a wedding will boil down to how much you can spend; whether you need to plan it yourself or if you can afford to hire a wedding planner.

Do not go crazy with wedding expenditures

While everyone wants their wedding day to be perfect it is important to remember that it is only one day and there is a whole exciting life waiting to be explored after the actual day. Once you have worked out your wedding budget, it is important to stick to it. You do not wan to be crippled with debt when your life together as a married couple has barely begun.

Do not plan your wedding alone – ask for help!

Planning a wedding can be a fulltime job – literally! This is why there was such a niche for wedding planners. Do not try to organize everything on your own as you will only end up with frazzled nerves. Delegate as much as you can. Weddings are such joyous affairs that most people are more than happy to dive right in and help out.  Work out what you would rather do yourself and what you won’t mind delegating to others.

Do not go crazy with the idea of ‘perfection’ for your wedding day

It can become so easy to become niggled at every little detail. Try to keep the balance between creating the wedding of your choice while not loading unnecessary stress on yourself because you cannot decide between baby-pink or rose coloured ribbons. Try not to let the details of the wedding override the pure joy of anticipating your wedding day with the person that you are committing to for the rest of your life. Enjoy the journey so that on your wedding day instead of panicking over what has or has not been done, you are focused on one simple fact – that you are marrying the person of your dreams.

 

 

 

 

How to Save on Wedding Costs

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Planning a wedding involves a lot of detail and can also involve a lot of money. Weddings have become a lucrative industry nowadays and every aspect can break the bank on its own. However, if you have a limited budget and need a few ideas on how to save on wedding costs then read on!

There are many ways in which money can be stretched from the wedding dress, flowers, cake to the wedding invitations. First off, one of the initial decisions you will make as a couple is where you want your wedding to take place. If you are on a budget then this decision can save you a lot of money. Destination weddings can be more costly in one sense, but also may not involve all the same details as a local wedding might. Consider what is important to you and if you want all the trimmings that come with a wedding or whether you would rather have a more simple, destination wedding instead. If you are booking a venue then consider the time of year. High season, usually over the summer months, will be much more costly than if you were to get married in the middle of the tear instead.

How to save on your wedding dress

You have imagined as a little girl the perfect wedding dress from head to toe. However, this perfect wedding dress is also your entire bank account. A good compromise is to consider renting a dress instead. A wedding dress is never worn again and only hangs in one’s cupboard to get dusty over time. A rented wedding dress allows you to wear a gorgeous gown of your choice at a fraction of the cost. If having your own wedding dress is important to you, then consider different fabrics as apposed to the traditional, yet equally expensive silk gowns. Polyester blends can look just as beautiful, won’t wrinkle as much and are much easier to clean. Also, remember that the more beading on a wedding gown, the more expensive it’ll be. Your groom’s tuxedo can be equally rented out and when it comes to considering your bridesmaid – there’s no golden rule that states bridesmaid’s dresses need to be purchased from a wedding shop. If you look elsewhere the prices will be considerable cheaper.

How to compromise with your flower choices

Consider using silk flowers instead of fresh ones as they will not only save you a lot of money but are also already preserved. While the bride herself should have fresh flowers, not every centre piece on each table needs to be such as well. This way, the flower arrangements can be kept and re-used at other special occasions.

How to send beautiful yet cost-effect wedding invitations

The best way to save money on your wedding invitations but still have beautifully created cards is to do them yourself. This will add the personal touch and put a lot more meaning into your invitations.  There are many craft shops and online stores that offer a wonderful array of choices to help you make fantastic looking invitation cards with your own personal touch.

So there are some on the way on how to save on wedding costs. Once you start realizing that you can cut costs in so many ways, you will start saving substantially.

 

 

How to Choose the Theme of your Wedding

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You are giddy with excitement at the thought of your upcoming wedding. You and your partner have discussed when you want your wedding to be so now all that is left it actually organizing it! First things first however, and that is deciding what theme you want for your wedding. With endless possibilities, this task can appear somewhat daunting. Weddings can incorporate so many different elements that will need thinking about from what kind of music you would like. Are you religious or spiritual in any way? Modern weddings no longer restrict couples to the classic white wedding dress and this allows for people to adapt their wedding to suit their own desires. A good place to start when deciding upon a theme is for you and your partner to discuss what you both want depending on your beliefs and personality. Figure out what you don’t like as well as this will help to narrow down your possibilities considerably! Consider asking yourself some of the question to help you gauge better what you want;

What do you like about the restaurants you enjoy going to?

A good way to start working out what you like is to think about the restaurants you enjoy going to. These places will generally have a good balance between atmosphere, theme and food. Think about the décor, the ambience, the lighting. What about the food – is a specific cuisine such as French or Asian? When you order dessert what do you generally go for – do you have a sweet tooth for chocolate desserts or more cakes? What about drinks – are you more a cocktail person or perhaps an avid wine drinker?

 

Think about your favourite things

 

Planning the theme of your wedding is a good way to know yourself better. As you want your wedding to be not only beautiful but a reflection of you and your partner, it does require some delving into what you enjoy and what speaks to you. Walk around gardens and florists to see what flowers you like the most. What kind of music speaks to you the most when considering this special time in your life? Are you a country bumpkin or a city slicker? Is there are specific element that you want to incorporate into your wedding that is a particular hobby of yours such as wines for example, or salsa music? Talk about what kind of designs you like – do you prefer more classic and elegant designs or do bolder styles speak to you the most? Also, importantly, you need to factor in when in the day you would prefer your wedding to be and what season – which part of the day and year connects with you the most?

 

The theme of the wedding should be an extension of you and your partner – it should almost tell a story of who you are as individuals and how beautifully it comes together as a couple. From the flowers, to food to the wedding invitations – the theme should flow synonymously throughout every detail so that the collection of everything together symbolizes the unity that the two of you are – together.

 

 

How to Keep the Groom Involved in the Wedding Preparations

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Women are well tuned to the meaning of weddings. How many times have you heard a woman say, ‘I’ve dreamed of this day my entire life’? You will be hard bound to find a guy who has said that. Weddings have always seemed to focus more on the women as they generally appear to be the more willing participant in ensuring that everything is perfect on the day. However, be all this as it may weddings are a joint commitment and the day is about the groom as much as the bride. While the bride can easily become swept away with the romantic details of setting up a wedding, it is important not to ignore or disregard what the groom might think. And when asked, grooms will certainly have their opinion too!

 

Keeping the groom involved in the wedding preparations – what to do first

 

First of all, sit down with your fiancé and chat about what you both want for the wedding. Involving him from the beginning is important – this won’t harm his ego and will also keep him excited about the journey towards to big day knowing that it is a partnership. Find out what your groom-to-be envisaged when it comes to the day. Many might not have much of an opinion as they might just feel marrying you is the important part. However, when you get down to the details such as marrying in a church, or on a wine farm for example, be sure that it is something both of you want. It has been tradition certainly for the bride to organize and plan the wedding while the groom simply ‘shows up’, but times have changed. What perfect way to start your life together than planning and making your wedding a reality, together?

Keeping the groom involved in the wedding preparations – make it special for both of you

 

The idea behind keeping the groom involved in the wedding preparations is so that the day becomes a special moment in time for the both of you in more ways than one. Even if you find he does not mind whether you use baby blue ribbons or rose coloured flowers, and you may feel continuously frustrated at the nonchalant replies, ask him anyway. By doing this, you will be giving your man the reassurance that this wedding is about him too.  However, try not to become frustrated if he is no help at all in making the decisions and don’t assume this to be a sign that he cares any less about it – it is simply that he is happy to leave the details up to you. Which secretly you prefer anyway!

 

Remember too, that when there is a part of the wedding your groom does have an opinion on – listen to him and be willing to compromise. Compromise is important so that both you and your groom-to-be remember that not only is the day about the both of you, but that the most important detail is that you are marrying each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Choose Between Doing-It-Yourself and Hiring a Wedding Planner

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Choosing a wedding planner versus organizing your wedding yourself is a personal decision that no one can make for you. However, we can help you decide what to do by describing some of the pro’s and con’s of each after which you will hopefully have an better idea of what to go for.

 

Organizing your wedding yourself

 

When it comes to planning your wedding there is a lot to consider and take into account. While on the one hand it can become nerve wrecking organizing and chasing after very little detail, it can also be fun to partake in the planning leading up to the wedding. Weddings are such joyous occasions that most family members and close friends are more than willing to help out. If you have contacts to help you with the different aspects involved in making your wedding day, from the dress, to florists, caterers etc then you may find doing-it-yourself to be easier and an extra saving. Depending how well you know where to get what and how to get the best deals (depending on your budget) will influence how stressful the planning will be and hence whether you can manage doing-it-yourself or not. It is important to consider your wellbeing, time availability, budget and most of all your nerves so that you do not end up compromising on your feelings of bliss and contentment.  However, if wedding planning is not your forte or you are completely new to how it works then hiring a wedding planner might prove to be a better option for you.

 

Hiring a wedding planner

 

While some might assume that hiring a wedding planner to be a luxury for the wealthy that is not necessarily the case. If you have budgeted for the planning component of your wedding, then there is real added cost to hiring a wedding planner. When doing–it-yourself a lot of extra time and money is involved aside from any added stress, however while hiring a wedding planner does cost, it also saves you time as well as other savings as wedding planners have the right contacts to get you the best deals. Wedding planners are proficient in everything there is do with a wedding. Every little detail that needs attending to your wedding planner will make sure it is followed through exactly how you want it to be. There is no hassle or stress because your wedding planner will shoulder all for you. They will also know what should and should not be done. Wedding planners will have many contacts with other wedding professionals, otherwise known as wedding vendors – and these can be numerous ranging to about twenty-five at times! They will be able to advise you on to get the most out of your budget and will be able to make wonderfully savings purely due to the contacts that they have – which would be more difficult to obtain if your were doing –it-yourself.

 

So when it comes to deciding between doing-it-yourself and hiring a wedding planner, think about your budget, how much support you have from friends and family, how well you understand the wedding industry and how much time you have available. If you feel you would rather be involved in the planning of your wedding and make it a fun project with which to involve your friends and family then great, as long as you are realistic about the hiccups that come along when it comes to planning anything as elaborate as a wedding. If you feel your time is too limited and you would really rather not worry about all the details then hiring a wedding planner could be the best decision you ever made.

 

 

 

 

 

Deciding between a destination or at-home wedding

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Getting married is one of the singularly most memorable time in any couples life and getting the details of the wedding right is very important. For the bride particularly, it has been a dream in the making for more than likely most of her life. One of the first considerations of a wedding that couples need to decide upon is where in fact they want to get married. Nowadays, there is a modern spin on what is or is not allowed at weddings and these days the restrictions are not as limiting as they may have been in the past. Coupes today are able to get married in any way they choose from flying to a destination to get married on the beach, or booking at a local church. The world is literally one’s oyster! However, this can make deciding even more difficult. To help figure out what you want and what you can practically afford, we have set out some factors that you should keep in mind when making your decision.

How much time to you have to plan your wedding?

How much time you have to plan your wedding will largely decide whether your wedding will be at home or at a desired destination. As a guideline if you have more than nine months to plan a wedding, you can more than easily organize a wedding at your preferred destination. However, if you have six months for example, then planning a wedding at home would be the better option to help guard against unnecessary hiccups along the way. Remember, than organizing a wedding can be more complex than you first imagine it to be so give yourself as much time and the easiest route possible so that you not only have the wedding of you dreams but you enjoy the journey to your wedding day as stress-free as possible.

What is your budget for your wedding?

Financial limitations will also largely decide where your wedding will be. If you do have a limited budget then a small wedding at home would be the more sensible choice – and by no means less amazing! A wedding at home can have a lot of personal meaning and also enables most people you hold dear to be involved right up to the day.

How big or small do you want your wedding to be?

Who you want to attend your wedding will also be a factor to keep in consideration when deciding where you want your wedding to be. A destination wedding might be what you have always dreamed of, but also keep in mind who you want to be there and how many of them will be able to make the trip with you, especially if the destination wedding is abroad. If you do not want a big wedding only a select few will attend then organizing a destination wedding might be perfect for you!

Consider what you and your partner wants

Consider the wants of both yourself and your partner. Are you both of the romantic thought or would you both prefer something more formal and traditional? It is important to keep in mind what both of you want so that the wedding theme reflects the personality of both you and your partner.

Choosing where you want your wedding to be – at a destination or at home – is a personal choice and there is no right or wrong answer. While there are certainly wedding hotspots and fashion year in and year out will highlight certain ideas, it is important to keep true to what you both want and follow your hearts desire alongside practical possibilities.