A Wedding in the Family

In September of last year, my mom announced that she would be marrying her long-time boyfriend, Clive. Everyone on both sides knew that it would eventually happen, but that doesn't mean we're any less excited! My sister-from-another-mister Nats (who is, incidentally, Clive's daughter) and I are not only the two bridesmaids, but have been tasked with putting the whole shindig together. So for the last four months we have been diligently scouring Pinterest for inspiration and ideas to make this thing happen. You can check out the board here.

The couple have chosen a regal palette of deep red, black and champagne, and our brief was straightforward.

Keep it classy, keep it natural, keep it simple.

And that is just what we've done.

They've settled on a small wedding and a short outdoor ceremony, using nature as their decor. Because of their shared love of nature I decided to use birds as a theme running through all the stationery. Soft, romantic and slightly rustic. Programs printed on paper bags holding confetti could add a nice touch to the proceedings - I just have to convince my mom!

The reception, leading us into the evening, is a slightly more serious affair with it's rich colour and abundant candlelight. Table decor is kept simple with an emphasis on candles over flowers. Little touches tie the whole affair together - CD favours of the couple's soundtrack, good and hearty food, and, of course, a gorgeous red velvet wedding cake!

We've decided to go the DIY route for much of the wedding. I've designed the stationery and Nats will be helping me with the hard labour of printing and assembling invitations. We've enlisted the help of my aunt to set up the reception decor on the day, and we three ladies of the bridal party will be getting together the day before the wedding to make our bouquets and bond over cups of tea. It really is a family affair!

Still seven months to go, but anyone who has ever been involved in planning a wedding can tell you how time flies! I'll share a few snaps of the day to show you how it turned out, but until then this mood board can inspire you.

Peace and Love!

Vida and Nic {A Rustic Affair}

When I stepped into the reception at Vida and Nic's beautiful rustic wedding this past September, I knew I wanted to feature their day here on Jade & Jasmine. The oversized centrepieces, the burlap-and-ribbon-wrapped jars holding the most delicately-coloured blooms, the Mediterranean touches hearkening back to Vida's mixed Lebanese and Jewish heritage... It was simply beautiful! I was overjoyed when Vida agreed to share their love story with us. The very next day I posted some Instagram snaps I had taken to whet your appetites, but I am eclipsed. It has been a long wait, but there is no rushing perfection. And that is what these beautiful images by Andywayne Photography are - utter perfection!

There was no doubt that Vida would be a beautiful bride. But, resplendent in her ivory gown and surrounded by the beauty of nature, she took our breath away as she floated down the aisle at their garden ceremony. It is no surprise then that she has chosen to put her name in the hat for the title of SA Weddings Bride of the Year 2013. 

{You can check out Vida's entry here and vote for her by texting 30074 to 36697}

But before I am run away with my emotions, here is the lovely Vida to share their story.

A Rustic Spring Affair

With the first rains of the season finally gracing us and the scent of jasmine in the air, spring is officially upon us! And with spring comes the wedding season.  This past Thursday hubby and I spent the afternoon at The Moon and Sixpence in Muldersdrift to celebrate the union of his cousin Vida and her long-time beau, Nic, in a short and sweet outdoor ceremony followed by a pretty, rustic reception that saw us into the evening.  Vida has promised to share their special day with us once they are back from their Cape honeymoon and the professional pics are in, but for now here are a few pics snapped by yours truly to whet your appetites!  I'm a bit of an Instagram whore, so if the filters seem a bit familiar, you're not imagining it!

Enjoy!

My sister-in-law Terri - the proud matron of honour

Wedding Album Proofs - Two Years Later!

It's been a bit of a while since I last posted, since around the discovery of fire, it seems!  But I have had the best reason.  This gorgeous little man has been keeping me busy for the last five months.

Ricky at 3 days, 3 months and 5 months

Something else that's been keeping me out of mischief is the design of our wedding album!  It's been nearly two years since hubby and I said our I Dos, and I've taken my sweet time finalising the design and layout of our album.  I, like every other bride out there, wanted it to be perfect, and I am finally happy with the outcome!  Originally I wanted to scrapbook our wedding album - I went that route with our honeymoon pics and had a ton of fun doing it, and it looks great!  But, when I started calculating the cost of photo printing and buying the necessary supplies, I realised that it was way more cost effective to get a photo book printed. Besides, it's a wedding album, it's got to look good!  A friend recommended the Picasso Photo Books software from QPhoto - it's free, it's easy and it's surprisingly inexpensive as far as albums go!  I chose a leatherette cover lay-flat photo book with extra pages and it clocked in under R1,000!  Bargain!

{Guest Post} Wedding Photography: How To Choose a Professional and Get Value For Money

Hello lovelies!

Yes, I know, it has been a looooooong time! And, admittedly, I have no socially valid excuse for not writing anything for the last *cough* three months *cough*; so let's skip past that particular elephant in the room and get down to business!

Today's post is a guest post from fellow blogger, Maria Benson.  Maria is a professional blogger interested in finance and politics, having written several articles on such categories. She enjoys researching financial products and services and writing reviews on them. During her free time her hobbies include painting and reading. She is currently working on PPI claims and she is looking forward to posting a few articles on the subject. 

And so, over to Maria for a few tips on getting the most out of your wedding photographer!