Your nails may seem insignificant compared to your wedding dress but they still need to stand out. Your hands will be on show, from guests wanting to have a look at the shiny new rock to the photographer capturing different angles of it.
Nail designs have come along way in the last few years. From single to multi-colours, various finishes and nail art, some brides opt for the classic French tip look but you don’t have to stick to the norm.
Simple with a twist
If you want to maintain a simple look, what about a neutral colour with a touch of nail art? It still looks elegant but includes a fun element.
Don’t be scared of length
Long claw-like nails are in and look great. If you’re unsure on what shape to get, ask your nail technician to shape the nails according to your hands.
Glitter for days
Looking for more of a sparkle for your wedding claws. You can get glitter on one nail or a few, a strip of shine or go for a glitter ombre technique.
Have fun with finishings
If you’re not one to experiment with colour, how about changing the finishings. Try a matte, metallic, sheer, textured or pearl finish. Make sure to ask your nail salon what they offer because a lot of the time it’s not on display.
Artsy nails
Wanting to showcase the creative side? Add some nail art or pattern on your nuptial nails.
Special tips
How about plain nails with a funky tip. Opt for various patterns, colours or (don’t forget the) finishes.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match, there is really no reason to play by the rules.
Picture: Pexels
By Larissa Vermeulen A wedding theme is the golden thread running through your occasion, connecting every element, from the venue to the tiniest detail. Because the theme is…
By Mariska van Zyl
Step aside bride, it’s important for the groom to look sharp on his wedding day too. Here are our 5 fashion rules no groom should break on their wedding day:
The perfect fit
Even the most expensive suit can make you feel and look uncomfortable on your wedding day, so getting the perfect fit is key. The hem of the suit jacket sleeve should fall on the wristband. The bottom hem of the jacket should cover your pants pockets and the vents should remain closed. Your trousers must be comfortable when standing and sitting down. The hem of the trousers should just hit the top of your shoes. Whether you are buying or hiring a suit, get it properly measured and make sure the suit is altered to fit.
Coordinate with your bride
Inevitably, the bride’s outfit will be the one everyone is looking at, so your outfit should compliment rather than compete with hers. Here are some ways you can match your bride:
• If she is wearing a ball gown, you should compliment her by wearing a black tuxedo
• An off-white lace dress pairs well with a tailored tan suit
• If she is wearing a minimalistic, elegant gown, a slim-cut grey suit will do the trick
Less is more
When it comes to groom’s fashion, you don’t want to upstage the bride, but you don’t want to fade away either. Stick to the basics but change the little details – a patterned pocket square, cufflinks, a tie pin and fun socks can add tons of detail without going over the top.
Groomed to perfection
Just because your everyday grooming routine takes less than 10 minutes, doesn’t mean your wedding day should be the same. Take some time on the day to properly groom and pamper yourself to make sure you look your absolute best. And remember, you‘re going to want to look like the best version of yourself so avoid trying out any new grooming trends on the day or the days leading up to it.
Stick to the theme and season
While your go-to idea might be to reach straight for that tuxedo, the colour and style of the suit needs to match the look and feel of your wedding. The time and place of your wedding will also play a big role – morning vs evening and indoor vs outdoor. For daytime or outdoor weddings you might want to consider a lighter shade suit, while darker hues will work best for more formal evening ceremonies. If your wedding is in winter, you can get a bit playful with rich colours and textures, whereas for a summer wedding it’s best to keep it cool by wearing light-weight fabrics.
Image: Pixabay
Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz wed for the second time in a beautiful ceremony in Italy on a yacht off the picturesque coast of Capri. The couple have…
Shopping for your wedding dress is a significant part of your wedding journey. For some brides, this is the time when it all starts to feel real, so make sure your experience is as good as it can possibly get:
1. Take your time
Don’t rush the process. Book an appointment to go look at dresses and try them on, but don’t think of it as something you can do over lunch. You need at least two to three hours to try on as many dresses as you wish, to take your time to look at them properly and consider what they feel like. You’ll most probably be spending a large amount of money on your gown, so take your time to make a proper decision that you won’t regret.
2. Enjoy the attention
With everybody’s eyes fixed on you and all the ooh-ing and aah-ing, it can get a little overwhelming. Don’t see this as a time to feel pressured or under scrutiny, but rather as an opportunity to be spoiled and admired. And who doesn’t love that!
3. Wear the right underwear
Don’t make the mistake of wearing black underwear or a bra that doesn’t fit properly. You want to be able to see the complete look as it would be on your wedding day. Take a few options along – a strapless bra, something offering a little more support, stickies and seamless nude panties.
4. Do your homework
It’s important to know what you like, but more importantly, what you don’t like, before putting on a dress. Do some research on silhouettes, types of fabrics, lengths, colours and detail beforehand so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by all the options on the day of trying on. That said, be open to suggestions and trying on dresses you’re on the fence about. You might end up loving something you never thought you would.
5. Take your own shoes
You need to be able to walk comfortably while wearing your dress, so if you already have your wedding shoes, take them along. If not, take something with a similar heel and height of the shoe you’d probably go for to get the best idea of what’s going to work. This is also important for making sure the length of the dress is right for you.
6. Be realistic
A multi-layered dress with tons of hand-stitched jewels and paperthin straps might look beautiful on the hanger, but if you’re blessed in the bust department, you may need something with a little more support up top. Be realitic about what fits your body type and will flatter you the most instead of setting your sights on something that just won’t work.
7. Set a budget beforehand
You absolutely need to be clear about what you can afford before even setting foot in the shop. Tell your consultant before he/she makes any suggestions so that they can’t force any higher price on you. This might give you slightly less options, but will avoid you setting your heart on a dress that you just can’t afford. Also, don’t be afraid to negotiate – if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.
8. Don’t bring a crowd
Your entire wedding party and their ancestors don’t have to be at your fitting. Everyone has an opinion, and this will just add fuel to your anxiety fire. Take along a bridesmaid, a family member or a friend who knows you and who’s opinion you trust. You want your confidant(s) to be honest with you, but also respect your wishes.
9. Don’t put pressure on yourself
If you’re wanting to lose weight before your wedding, good on you, but don’t let this drive you insane. Don’t put pressure on yourself to fit into a 6 if you’re normally a 10. You can always have a dress altered to make it smaller, but not vice versa. Also, don’t put pressure on yourself to find something immediately or at the first shop you set foot in. Give yourself ample time to shop around and try out as much as possible.
10. Timing is everything
If you’re getting married in a year, now is the time to start booking appointments. If you want to get a dress custom made, you need to give your designer enough time to make the dress, as well as do any alterations if necessary. If you’re buying off the rack, don’t rush it. Shop around and make sure you’re confident in your decision, but also make provision for any alterations, so that you know your dress will be completely ready a month in advance.
Image: Unsplash
When it’s your big day, you only want the best of the best. Some couples decide to go all out and opt for grand entrances or exits. Arriving…
By Keenan Martin
Traditionally, wearing white to someone else’s wedding would be a definite no-no, but as weddings become more contemporary, modern brides will often not even always wear white themselves, and wearing white if you’re not the bride seems to be less of a taboo, too. With that said, it’s always a good idea to ask the bride for permission, but we know how stressful weddings can be and those daring enough to bother the bride days before her wedding are braver than the marines. So we’ve put together four ways to wear white to someone else’s wedding, tastefully.
Layering
If white is going to be your main colour for your ensemble, try and break it up with some colour-blocked layering. Opt for coloured jackets, coats or shoes so you have something that will draw attention away from the fact that you’re wearing white.
Prints
If a solid-white garment seems too inappropriate, why not opt for a white-based print instead. Bold prints with vivid colours help make the overall whiteness of your ensemble less apparent.
Silhouettes
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It’s slightly easier to get away with wearing white at someone else’s wedding if the silhouettes and fabric of your outfit steer clear of those of traditional dresses, or whatever the bride and bridesmaids might be wearing.
Accessories
Pile on the bold and colourful accessories – and watch your outfit transform as you make your white ensemble the canvas for the main attractions.
Image: Unsplash