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Weddings

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Not one for the club scene? That’s perfectly acceptable. With all the stress of wedding planning, a nice relaxing weekend with your best girls is a great way to calm your nerves.

Low-key brides wanting to do something a little different to the traditional bachelorette rager can opt for more serene experiences designed to soothe those frazzled nerves and get you ready for your big day. Here are a few fun activities to consider.

Spa Day:

Who doesn’t love a spa day? A fresh set of nails, a massage and a facial can do wonders, especially when you’re feeling tense from wedding planning.

You can arrange for a group spa day at a local beauty salon or wellness centre, or you could even have them come to you. Allow your guests to pick from an assortment of treatments, and throw in some delicious light snacks and infused water to complete the vibe.

 

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Yoga:

Feeling tense? Maybe you need to work out those muscles! Yoga is a great way to ease stress and get your body moving in a low impact workout that will leave you feeling calm.

You can have a yoga instructor come to you to host a yoga class, complete with breathing exercises, and guided meditation. If you want to add a unique element, you could even try goat yoga!

 

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Staycation:

Live the life of luxury without even leaving your city. There are so many incredibly Airbnb listings across South Africa, allowing people to book out entire villas overlooking mesmerising views.

All your guests can pool together to book a place with enough space for everyone in a central area. You can spend the weekend chilling poolside, cooking up meals with your besties, and bonding.

Wine tasting:

Wine tasting is a national sport in the Western Cape. With so many wineries to choose from, locals are truly spoilt for choice.

For a safe experience, we suggest taking a trip on the Franschhoek wine tram, a hop-on-hop-off service connecting you to six wine estates in the Franschhoek Valley.

 

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Yacht life:

What’s more luxurious than lounging on a luxury yacht? Spend the day cruising away with 360° views and sunshine warming you up.

You don’t need a specific destination, a local cruise is perfect. Most boats are equipped with sound systems so you can DJ the day while you work on your tan, and menu and bar options are typically available as well.

 

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Across the world, countries are enforcing social distancing rules and regulations to protect citizens amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In Queensland, one of their rules for social distancing is currently specifying that you can have a public or private gathering of up to 40 people.

According to a Snapchat story that is now circulating online, two friends came up with an idea to abide by the rules and still party, and it appears that they legally tied the knot so that they could party with 100 of their friends.

Two pictures from the big day were posted on Brown Cardigan’s Facebook page, showing one attendee of the wedding who couldn’t believe they were actually witnessing a legal wedding.

The two men held hands during the ceremony as a the officiant conducted the ceremony. What happened before and after this image remains a mystery.

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Both Moët & Chandon champagne and the tradition of weddings have stood the test of time. Moët & Chandon has created magical moments for more than 270 years, toasting the most glamorous of royal weddings in history and delighting couples and their guests worldwide with grand gestures in the celebration of love.

When it comes to life’s most precious memories a wedding day is one to cherish forever but as we all well know by now, 2020 has been far from a normal year. The pandemic and the resultant social-distancing policies have effectively ruled out all large-scale wedding celebrations which has been heartbreaking for many marrying couples.

With large ceremonies unlikely to take place for the foreseeable future, couples are now seeking alternative ways to tie the proverbial knot. Indeed, many couples are already embracing the concept of ‘minimonies’ in an attempt to still experience the magic of their wedding day but in keeping with the new reality we find ourselves in.

Which is exactly why the world’s most loved champagne brand, Moët & Chandon, is thrilled to inspire couples with their Moët Minimony experience, in conjunction with, and more importantly in support of Appointed Events, some of South Africa’s most sought-after wedding suppliers.

“With a Moët Minimony experience our wish is to offer couples the opportunity to celebrate in style, with those they love, without having to compromise on luxury or the glamour they were hoping for. Indeed, despite the times we find ourselves living through, elevating life’s meaningful moments with elegance, glamour and generosity remains at the heart of Moët & Chandon’s promise to brides and grooms worldwide,” says Pascal Asin, Moët & Chandon Managing Director Africa and Middle East.

Indeed, the Moët Minimony is curated to both surprise and delight guests and add Moët & Chandon’s unique touch of sparkle and glamour for every couples’ special day. Moët minis, complete with a stylish customisable neck tag, will allow the couple to add their initials and the date of their wedding, ensuring the day’s celebrations begin in personalised champagne style.

A Moët Minimony allows couples to celebrate the magic of their wedding day but in keeping with the new reality we find ourselves in. In the spirit of generosity, couples can also custom design mini-wedding cakes and mini-bouquets – a glamorous new take on traditional wedding elements and perfect keepsakes for each guest too. The days of uneaten multi-tiered wedding cakes and carpets of flowers left on tables are well and truly over! And what better way to mark this milestone for the bride & groom than with a personalised Moët & Chandon Jeroboam for guests to sign as a glamorous guest book.

Whether couples are tying the knot at home or at an intimate gathering, they can now celebrate knowing each and every detail has been considered.  The Moët Minimony is a dazzling way to toast to your future and the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable wedding experience.

 “I do” … but only if it’s with Moët & Chandon!

Contact: [email protected] for further information about the customisable Moët Minimony and further information about local suppliers.

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A wedding is a happy, fabulous and colourful time and nothing reflects joy as well as cupcakes. You don’t have to have a wedding cake if that is not your jam.

Cupcakes are easy, more practical and might be preferable for those who would like to take them home. It also makes more sense in a COVID-19-era to offer guests individual desserts they can pick by hand instead of all sharing from one cake.

Here are some delightful cupcake-inspirations to get your mouth watering.

 

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?? ???? ??????????? ?????? – Happy Sunday everyone! Here’s a soothing set on a weekend, how do you like this soft colors? Makes me feel like wedding ? . ?Gold Mini Sprinkles, White Sparking Sugar and White Pearlescent Polish Rods by @sprinkly_uk – 15% discount using my code “SEEYENBAKES15” With a mix of LUX metallic sprinkles by @sweetapolita and Gold Small Chocolate Balls by @happysprinkles from @the_cake_decorating_co . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Rosette Edge painted using @sweetsticksau a mix of Pink Diamond & Glamorous Gold Metallic Lustre Dust inspired by @zibakeriz . ? Rose Gold Prism Powder by @fancysprinkles . ⭐Nozzle 1M, 1B, 4B, 104 and 6B by @wilton_uk @wiltoncakes . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ?Wilton Color Right by @wiltoncakes with my Swiss Meringue Buttercream ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #floralcupcakes#seeyenbakes #wiltonuk #cakeinspo #cakeinspiration #cupcakegrid #cupcakeinspo #bakersspotlight #cupcakedesign #cupcakequeen #floralcupcakes #cupcakestyles #cupcakefordays #cupcakeproject #cakesbae #weddingcupcakes #cupcaketime #cupcakeoftheday #cupcakedecorating #wiltoncakes #cupcake #cupcakeofinstagram #cupcakelove #flatlaytoday #buttercream #cupcakes #cakestagram #cakeporn #instacake #cupcakestagram #swissmeringuebuttercream

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Happy Birthday Tiffany @cloudsandcreamco ????!! I am so glad to have met you on here where we bonded over asian bakes & flavours, all the rants and chats throughout the covid period has brought us closer – thank you so much for the friendship ? I hope that your hand is under recovery so you could return to the baking world soon. Dedicating this ???? ???? ??????????? ?????? to you for #tiffanysbirthdaycollab on your special day as we figured that soft blue seems to be one of your favourite ?? i hope you are having a blast on your special day! . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And in reality, this set has been gifted to a friend for a farewell as he is leaving Edinburgh to further down south in UK for good; to pursue his dreams in culinary & baking. This is to wish him all the best and hope he will succeed in doing what he is passionate in. . ?White 100s 1000s, White Sparking Sugar, Turqoise Glimmer Pearls and Baby Blue Pearlescent Polish Rods by @sprinkly_uk – 15% discount using my code “SEEYENBAKES15” . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⭐Nozzle 1M, 4B, 104 and 6B by @wilton_uk @wiltoncakes . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ?Colors by @americolor and @wiltoncakes with my Swiss Meringue Buttercream ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #fallcupcakes #seeyenbakes #cakeinspo #cakeinspiration #cupcakegrid #cupcakeinspo #bakersspotlight #cupcakedesign #cupcakequeen #cupcakestyles #cupcakefordays #cupcakeproject #weddingcupcakes #cupcaketime #cupcakeoftheday #cupcakedecorating #wiltoncakes #cupcake #cupcakeofinstagram #cupcakelove #flatlaytoday #buttercream #cupcakes #cakestagram #cakeporn #instacake #cupcakestagram #swissmeringuebuttercream #floralcupcakes

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Throwback to our last wedding of 2020 this fall – so thrilled we got to be a part of Chelsea + Paul’s big day ✨

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Wedding treat for the happy couple #weddingcupcakes #cupcakesofinstagram #cupcakedecorating #cupcakes #cupcakestagram #fondantcupcakes

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All white ?

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Something blue… Beautiful vanilla cupcakes for a wedding. ??

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All our cupcake orders come in crisp white presentation boxes. We do batches of 4, 6 and 12 ???

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You never know how a wedding will affect you until you plan your own. Even the calmest and collected people can turn into bridezillas when the stress hits.

Everyone is bound to be overwhelmed in the months and days leading up to their big day. For those who believe in the astrological powers of the zodiac, their signs might have a big impact on how you behave come wedding day.

Here is what kind of bride you’ll be based on your zodiac sign.

Aries (March 21–April 19)

No one is more trendy than an Aries individual. As the first sign of the zodiac, they love to lead the way and be trailblazers, so nothing normal can be predicted with them

The Aries bride will opt for an unusual element to give their big day a talking point, like arriving on a balloon ride or by skydiving. However, like the ram it is symbolised by, Arians tend to have quick tempers you don’t want to be caught up in. They are also overly competitive, so the Aries bride will work extra hard to have the best wedding ever just for the bragging rights.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Practical yet stubborn, Taureans are classic Earth signs. They tend to be perfectionists, but are also traditionalists at heart.

This sign likes things in order, and will likely hire a wedding planner to make sure all goes to plan. They hate being rushed, so avoid putting any unnecessary pressure on them so that they don’t explode. They can also be very set in their ways, so trying to convince them otherwise is a mission in itself.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Gemini’s can be hard to pin down. They are indecisive in nature, intelligent and outgoing yet impulsive and unreliable. They are also ruled by Mercury, the planet of communications.

The Gemini bride is all over the place. Gemini changes their minds in a heartbeat, causing them to make reckless decisions. Because of this, they can be quite unreliable so it’s fair to say that this bride will infuriate others as she flips flops on wedding plans.

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

Highly emotional and introverted, Cancers are known for being one with their feelings. They are incredibly loyal and caring, so having their love means you will always be protected.

Being so emotional, the Cancer bride will focus on family on their big day. Their something borrowed will be extra special, and they will carry out traditions to honour their loved ones. However, Cancer signs can be quite moody and overly sensitive, so this bride will have quite a few swings as she prepares for her big day.

Leo (July 23–August 22)

Much like the king of the jungle, Leos are passionate and confident beings. They are bold personalities who like to make a statement. These trendsetters like to lead the way and would opt for something unique and daring on their big day.

The Leo bride is determined to have her way and will surprise her guests with something different. However, she is also stubborn and struggles to accept criticism because of her over-confidence, so she might not be very receptive to alternative suggestions.

Virgo (August 23–September 22)

Virgos are practical perfectionists. Logical and dependable, this Earth sign is known for taking a systematic approach to life. Their style tends to be modest, simple, and polished, just like they are.

The Virgo bride’s wedding will be just like her: perfect. Every hair will be in place because she managed down to every fine detail. She is on top of everything and anticipates issues before they even arise. However, Virgo’s also tend to be very picky and overthink everything, making settling on ideas much harder.

Libra (September 23–October 22)

Like Taureans, Libras are also ruled by Venus, the planet that governs love, beauty, and money. Fun, caring, and fair, they make for excellent friends.

As a natural peacemaker, the Libra bride will be incredibly tactful and diplomatic when working with others to plan their big day. However, their indecisiveness and inability to confront situations may cause their dream wedding to slip away as they work to please everyone else.

Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

Scorpios tend to be very private in nature and hate to be the centre of attention. However, as the most passionate signs of the zodiac, they love to express their feelings and give in to pleasure.

Intensely goal-oriented and brave, the Scorpio bride will not hold back if they want something. However, this sign also tends to be jealous, stubborn, and controlling, so anyone trying to interfere with their plans will face their vicious sting.

Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

Of all the zodiac signs, Sagittarius individuals are usually the most fun. Free-spirited and independent, they love to roam free and explore the various facets of the world and life.

While their independence is what makes them so lovable, it is also their greatest weakness. Sagittarians get bored easily and like to do things their own way. They are also prone to egotism, so the Sag bride can easily get frustrated if someone is not in support of their unusual ideas.

Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

Capricorns are the classy sign. They are typically very grounded and thoughtful, preferring the simpler things in life. They are also incredibly hardworking

Being the independent and determined type, the Capricorn bride will not rest until she has reached her goal, or in this case her dream wedding. She will meticulously plan everything and will expect just as much from those around her because of her high standards.

Aquarius (January 20–February 18)

Unique, artistic, and idealistic, Aquarians seem to always be lost in their thoughts. Represented by the water bearer, the mystical healer who bestows water, or life upon the land, they are easy-going and fun yet graceful and bold.

With their progressive nature, the aquarian bride will do something different for her big day. This unique gesture will be incredibly thought out and symbolic, but their love of thinking outside of the box might lead to an idea too big to execute in reality. Aquarians also tend to have quick tempers, so this might cause them to snap easily if things don’t work out.

Pisces (February 19–March 20)

Pisces individuals are dreamers, often at odds with fantasy and reality. Those with this complex sign tend to be empathetic, compassionate, and sensitive but also overly emotional, impressionable, and closed off.

Approach this bride with caution. She will want something unique for her big day, and to incorporate everyone because of her generous and compassionate nature. However, she is easily swayed which can overwhelm her, causing her to get upset and shut down.

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Weddings are pretty cut and dry with their general structure, so why not cut loose and do something different where you can? While a small part of your overall day, your escort cards can bring an event to life.

Escort cards are small items designed to lead your guests to their tables. Traditionally, a simple name card would suffice but many modern couples are looking to inject their personality and humour into their big day.

Get creative and offer something to remember with your escort cards. These days, anything and everything could work. From miniature skateboards to coffee cups and even dinosaur figurines, the possibilities are truly endless.

Here are a few fun and funky escort cards we’ve found:

 

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Love a fun escort card situation so naturally we were wild about these gold party animals! ?

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In previous decades, living together before marriage was a big taboo and completely unheard of. Following the sexual revolution of the 1960s and the growth of women’s autonomy, many couples choose to move in together as a step before marriage.

While some believe that moving in is a logical step before marriage is even considered, others still stand firm that it can hurt a relationship more than it can help. Here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to move in.

Pros 

– It is a good way to test a relationship

-You get to know your partner incredibly intimately

-It can be a step towards marriage if that is what you’re discussing

-Helps financially so you can split living costs

Cons 

-It sometimes confuses the situation as one partner may expect it to mean marriage while the other just sees it as the next step

-It can break your relationship if you’re not ready

-It takes a little shine off the newlywed sparkle since you’ve already experienced living together

So? Should you do it? 

While there are studies regarding the statistics on whether couples who move in make it, there is no real way to quantify or decide for each couple. A couple who has never moved in together could get married and realise they can’t stand living together just as easily as a couple could move in, get married later and live happily ever after. It is really about the two individuals and their relationship.

If you’re concerned, ask the following questions regarding the move before making the leap:

  1. Why do you want to move in with your partner now?
  2. If you don’t, consider asking yourself why not
  3. Have you discussed what moving in signifies to each of you?
  4. Are you prepared for the possibility that you may break-up even after moving in?
  5. What are some deal-breakers you need to discuss before making this decision?

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Parenthood doesn’t require DNA and some people already have children, either from a previous relationship or before marriage. When they decide to marry other people and bring their families together, they create a blended family.

Bringing your families together and including them in your big day is a sweet way to honour them. Here are some ways to do it, and make sure no one feels neglected or left out.

Have a unity Ceremony

Unity ceremonies are meaningful rituals performed during your wedding to represent becoming a union and the joining of lives, families and communities. Being highly symbolic, there are multiple ways you can do this, which can be personalised to your new family. One idea is to write meaningful letters to each other and read them out during the ceremony, then put them in a jar to keep as a family symbol.

Give them roles

Another way you can include your blended family is by assigning them roles. From a ring bearer to a flower girl, the possibilities are endless. This is guaranteed to make them feel included in the ceremony and when you are all looking at the wedding album, they will be delighted to see themselves featured and having participated.

Give them gift

Gifting is one of the five universal love languages, it shows the next person that you have thought of them and value them enough to gift them. Give them the same or similar gifts to your biological kids, or get them something they have always wanted.

Presenting something special to your new child/children is a wonderful gesture to symbolise that they are an important part of this new family.

Include them in the planning 

Kids love doing exciting things, to them everything is playtime and by including them in the planning process, you get the chance to bond with them. Let them participate in everything from cake tasting to licking invitation envelopes.

Encourage them to invite a few of their best friends and their family members to the wedding so that they have familiar faces apart from you.

Have a family dance 

After the first dance, invite the kids to come out and join you on the dance floor to their favourite tune. It would be extra fun and special if you practiced a dance prior to the wedding. You can even give them the task of coming up with the steps to our dance routine as the kids of the family.

Picture: Unsplash

Times have changed and so have traditions. There’s no need for anything to be done simply because that’s the way it has always been done.

On your wedding and the days leading up to it, you want someone close to you to help you out. Whether it’s the planning, running errands on the day, organising a stellar bachelorette or simply getting excited with you, your bestie has got your back.

Your bestie may or may not be a man. No rule says your best friend needs to be the same gender as you.

In modern times, it’s completely acceptable for men and women to be good friends with members of the opposite sex, without being romantically involved. A mature relationship can handle each other’s friends without getting jealous.

So, if you’re tying the knot but you don’t feel you have a girlfriend that you are necessarily close to, why not ask your male friend to be your ‘man of honour’?

There’s no reason he can’t take you dress shopping, cake tasting or throw an epic kitchen tea. If you do, here are some things to keep in mind:

– Your partner comes first

Hopefully, your partner is also good friends with your best friend and respects your decision, as you will respect theirs. However, insisting on asking a friend that your partner may not get along with might hurt them. If there is a history between you and the male friend, for example, your partner might not like the idea of him sharing these personal moments with you. It would be wise to be open and honest with your partner before asking the friend.

– Your male best friend’s comfort comes second

Even if your partner is completely comfortable with the idea, your friend might not be. They may be more or less at ease with spending time discussing intimate details surrounding the dress, hair and makeup, the honeymoon etc. Or they might simply not enjoy doing those things, they could end up being bored and you will end up feeling neglected. Have a casual chat with them to test the waters before the big ask, unless you know them well enough to know they will say yes –  and have fun doing it too.

– Your family’s opinions should not influence you

Oftentimes, our family’s opinions tend to shape our decisions, even as adults. Your family might be more traditional than you, and it’s important to treat them with respect. However, this is your day and the way you choose to do things are up to you and your partner. So, if they frown upon your decision, either have an open discussion with them or ignore their input, but don’t change your mind for their sake. You deserve to be happy at this very special time in your life.

Picture: Pixabay

Your bridesmaid is usually responsible for making sure you have your bouquet and keeping a makeup bag handy. Not this bridesmaid though. She arranged an actress to come and prank the groom during the ceremony by pretending to be a pregnant lover.

A video currently trending online shows a ‘pregnant’ woman wearing a prosthetic pregnancy vest before crashing the private ceremony. In the prank, the actress accused the groom of getting her pregnant.

 

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#PressPlay

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The bride was shocked but she kept calm, and when the pregnant lover went into ‘labour’ she called for help.

The actress then pulled out her fake stomach and they told the couple it was just a prank. Both bride and groom were stunned by the drama, until all of them burst into laughter.

Now, that’s one way to have a memorable wedding.

Picture: Unsplash