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!

I've Done It Again...

Oh sigh, I've been a bad, bad blogger of late! I promised myself that as soon as I returned from hiatus I would resume my blogging schedule but, alas, that has not happened. I wish I could give a good reason, and I suppose if I used the old noggin I could come up with a plausible story, but I'm not even going to insult you by trying. I've simply been busy and lazy - a terrible combination!

The Shangri-La Matric dance is now only 8 days away, and it's crunch time! Just as soon as I think I have everything I need, I run out of printer ink! So off I go to buy more, only to discover a mere four hours later that I somehow have miscalculated / misplaced a pack of paper - so off I go to buy more! Up and down and on and on it goes!

This is one ridiculously busy month for me, so I solemnly swear that as soon as November rolls around I'll be back to my usual posting schedule! I hope!

But just in case that turns out to be a lie, here's an awesome picture of ninjas to keep you company!

FABULOUS!

Until next time!

Peace and Love!

{Video} Tamlyn & Rodney Teaser Trailer

While on hiatus, it occurred to me that I had never shared our wedding video teaser trailer!! I've wanted to share this for a while to showcase an amazing talent! It looks phenomenal! Elsa from Mona Lisa Productions did an amazing job of making us all look like rock stars! Hope you enjoy!

{Please note: The picture resolution of this video has been compressed in order to make the file small enough for internet viewing and downloading}

Until next time!
Peace and Love!

{Inspiration} Deep Purple

Since I was a child I've been in love with deep purple! It is a colour filled with richness and mystery, a perfectly regal colour fit for any occasion! Here I've combined it with a hint of silvery hues, creamy white and basic black to compliment the deep complexity of the colour. Keep it unfussy!  I'm really enjoying the trend brides are following of wearing coloured shoes with their gowns, keeping it fun, so it's no surprise then that I adore these purple satin peep-toes! The same can be said for this twist on the traditional bridal garter - how gorgeous is this creation!? To round off this look, deck the tables with exquisite purple, crystal-cut glasses, Tiffany chairs and masses of Picasso calla lilies. Seldom have I seen a more beautiful flower, or one so well-suited to this look! And how stunning are these plywood Picasso calla wedding invitations? I love a twist on the traditional, and these are perfect while still maintaining the level of class you'd expect to accompany this colour. I'm in love!

Spring Bouquet Inspiration!

Now that spring is here to stay and wedding season is firmly upon us, I thought I'd share some spring wedding bouquet inspiration to get those creative juices flowing! Any bride would be lucky to be carrying one of these beautiful bouquets down the aisle to the man of their dreams! Keeping colours bright and cheerful, and textures soft and feminine, I've chosen ten bouquets that will blow you away! Feast with your eyes!

And I'm Back!

Hello lovelies!

So it's been a little over a month since I packed my metaphorical bags for a trip to the land of couch and period films, but that doesn't mean it's been a quiet month! This blogger has a few news items that I'm quite excited to share with you all!

Firstly, a big thank you to my faithful readers - in my absence Jade & Jasmine has received over 600 page views, putting the total number well above 2,500 page views since I started in January. It's great to see that you enjoyed the classics while I was away! Readership is growing in leaps and bounds, with people checking in from all corners of the globe! Why not join the site and stay up to date with what we're up to? I love making new friends!

Taking a Break - But I'll Be Back!

A few things you can expect in the future

* More wedding bouquet inspiration

* My favourite picks of this wedding season's bridal fashions

* A gorgeous deep purple wedding inspiration board

* My DIY wine bottle table numbers - finally complete!

* Tips on how to be the perfect bridesmaid

* And more!

Until the 11th, lovelies!

Peace and Love!

{Photo Challenge} Strangers

When I woke up this morning and looked out my window, one thought crossed my mind - "I'll be damned if I'm going outside in this weather in search of a few strangers to photograph!" So, admittedly, this is an old photo - taken in May of last year.

While I was in wedding school, our class hosted a comedy evening at Montecasino in Fourways to raise funds for the Wedding Wish. The ladies in this photograph, while members of my class, are complete strangers to me - I don't know their names, where they live, what music they like, or even why they were at wedding school - and I never asked. One could argue that this makes me antisocial, but I wholeheartedly doubt that they know any of these things about me either, and they never asked. I'm not one to roll with the crowd, preferring the company of a few select individuals instead, so the fault lies with no one.

It is fortunate for me, though, that on this cold, grey day I happened across this photo - a photo I nearly deleted a number of times. My hand was only stayed because, believe it or not, I'm hopelessly sentimental.
I'm also tickled by the irony of this photo - such happy looking individuals hosting a comedy evening. I chuckle inside.

Tomorrow I promise a brand new photo, not one rescued from the archives.

Until then!
Peace and Love!

{Photo Challenge} A Street

Not just a street - my street. I know I said I'd start this challenge tomorrow, and I had every intention of doing just that, but... It snowed in Joburg today, for those of you who haven't seen the million and one posts on Facebook, and I was hoping to catch a few snowflakes falling. Alas... It didn't snow where I stay. Still, the lighting was interesting, kind of moody, and I don't think this turned out too badly! Of course, I tweaked it slightly - what photographer doesn't - but it's not far from the original. 

Now I go eat lunch, my tummy calls!

Until tomorrow!
Peace and Love!

Another Challenge! {Copious Amounts of Non-Sarcastic Applause}

I know how much I enjoyed my 30 Day Challenge, and you all seemed to as well, judging by the number of people stopping by for some light reading! I miss writing everyday, and having the topic laid out before me - sometimes the creative brain just refuses to co-operate! - and so I'm at it again. This time though, the challenge is photography!

I came across this challenge on, you guessed it, Pinterest, and I'm keen to give it a shot (see what I did there?)! It can't hurt to improve upon my (greatly limited) photographic skills, who knows when I'll need to take my own photos in a pinch?

{DISCLAIMER: I possess only a simple point-and-shoot, so don't expect the world from me! I hear from pro photographers that one can learn to work magic with these casual toys if one just learns the basics, so let's hope I learn something over the next 31 days!}

Kicking off tomorrow, so stay in the loop!

Until then!

Peace and Love!

{Inspiration} Black & Lime

Gearing up for a spring wedding in the city? Why not go for a bright and beautiful combo of black and lime? Go mad with colour and throw in a signature cocktail to refresh your guests while they mingle. Simple and sublime!

{News} Overhauling the Brand!

For those of you who have been following this blog, you'll have noticed that I'm not one to sit still and be happy with the general aesthetics of my baby! Over the last few months, I've been constantly been upgrading  banners and colours and logos and just about everything else, trying to find that look that to my eyes is perfect. I'm a hard one to please, and I'm especially critical of my own work, so just when I think I've found something that I can live with, something catches my eye as out of place and I change it again!

But finally, yes FINALLY, I think I am happy! I've been searching for a look that conveys exactly what it is that Jade & Jasmine is about - a blend of professionalism, elegance and fun! All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy indeed! I have been on the hunt for that special something that gives the elegant air I so desire without being stiff and inaccessible - something to appeal to people from all walks of life. Like I've said before, beautiful events are not, in my opinion, the sole quarter of the rich and famous - everyone deserves their slice of perfection - and I want a look that conveys that philosophy. A tall order perhaps, but I'm delighted at the outcome!

{Conversations With a Pro} Makeup By Pam

Image by Ryan Parker Photo

Makeup artist Pamela Pierce is a superb talent. Putting the "Pam" back in "pamper" since 2009, she has had many a satisfied, no, make that deliriously overjoyed, bride wearing her art on their wedding day! When I first met Pam, I had zero intention of hiring a makeup artist for my own wedding, but just chatting to her and witnessing her passion and enthusiasm for her craft changed my mind completely! Needless to say, I chose to hire Pam to make me gorgeous for my Big Day - and didn't she make me feel like a queen and look even better! I can now safely say, with absolutely no bias, that when it comes to makeup, I will use no other! And never again will I consider doing my own makeup for a special event. I am officially converted!

I've asked Pam to share a little about herself and her business with me, with us, so enjoy!

{Inspiration} Cotton Candy

We all know that a wedding is about the bride - if a groom manages to get his say in at all, he's learned the noble art of making his wife-to-be believe something is her idea! And so, this is a board for the girly girls out there! A soft palette of pastel pinks and purples and blues and greens to make any girl swoon and make any groom feel like he's fallen into a barrel of cotton candy! This uber-feminine palette is complimented by a gorgeously frilly cake, shabby chic bunting and soft, floaty bridesmaids dresses that any girl would be dying to put on! Add in a few fun elements, like twine-wrapped champagne glasses and cotton candy for dessert and you're sure to have a hit event!

The Perfect Bridal Shower: {Part 3} For the Fun-Loving Bride

Wrapping up this (albeit short) series of posts, let us not forget our friends who love a good party! Many brides out there would love to dispense with the formalities of a sit-down lunch and rather let loose with their girls and just have FUN without having to worry about offending Aunt Maude. If this is an option for your bestie (I know it wasn't for me - God forbid if I'd chosen to exclude the older generation!), here are a few ideas to give her a send off that will thrill her!

{Luau Party}

15 Superbly Elegant Centrepieces

I'm not going to say too much... Have some wedding centrepiece inspiration!