Cape Town - You've accepted the marriage proposal and that first wave of euphoria has passed.
Now comes the least glamorous part of any wedding - the planning. From the perfect cake, flowers and invitations to decorations, everything comes with a price tag.
One of South Africa's premier bridal events, The Wedding Expo takes place this weekend (June 11 and 12) at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and will be focusing on different aspects of wedding planning, including planning your Big Day on a budget.
Matrimony trends to watch
A wedding has it all - fabulous dresses, a wonderful venue, a celebratory cake and beautiful flowers, all of which combine to make it the best party you can dream of. But for every season, there is a hot new trend to embrace. Wedding Inspirations Magazine has the skinny on what's hot right now.
Make me a princess
The big trend in wedding gowns has always been embellishment, but this year, 3D cut-out floral embellishment is the hottest of hot trends. Whether it's an overlay on your gown, floral embroidery paired with an illusion neckline or laser-cut detailing sprinkled along your hemline, it's a fantastic way to make a romantic look more modern, says Wedding Inspirations editor Julia Boltt.
Flavour's in favour
Delicious, scrumptious flavours are definitely a big hit for 2016. “We've seen the naked cake and buttercream cake as big trends in 2015, we're still seeing lots of these being ordered for 2016, but now these trends are oozing with yumminess. We're adding lots of chocolate, strawberry or caramel drizzle to the naked and buttercream cakes as well as berries, fudge, Oreos, meringues, caramel popcorn etc. as decorations,” says Wedding Inspirations contributor Maggi Badenhorst of Edible Art Cakes (www.edible-art-cakes.co.za).
Metallic moment
Whether it's in stationery, decor, flowers or even in a daring dress detail, metallics are the hottest trend of 2016, and while no one is forgetting the classics, gold and silver, it's the softer tones of copper and bronze that are making a splash.
“These softer tones lend themselves to a romantic, free-spirited and dreamy look. Metallics are really fun to use and old pots can easily be sprayed to create an interesting centrepiece,” notes Wedding Inspirations contributor, photographer Debbie Lourens (www.debbielourens.com).
Romantic rose gold is often combined with Pantone Colour of the Year 2016 Rose Quartz for a flattering and gentle, yet contemporary palette that suits every bride.
Paper play
Personalised stationery is making a splash, with watercolour invitations decorated with beautiful floral patterns and soft natural hues proving hugely popular.
“We are also moving away from detailed vintage designs and towards more simplistic invitations embellished with geometric shapes, big and bold calligraphic names and a touch of gold, silver and even bronze. Light shades of blue are becoming very popular, especially duck egg blue, and it is easy to see why. This stunning colour will keep the groom happy, while the muted tones make the design soft, elegant and romantic. This is an enchanting and versatile colour that is not restricted to a single season or style,” says Wedding Inspirations contributor and stationery designer Bianca from Pistachio Designs.
All about us
Another trend is personalisation, with couples putting their individual stamp on ceremonies and receptions. All the details speak to who the couple are.
Whether it's creating a unique monogram, hand-written thank you notes to guests or including details that reflect their journey as a couple, it's a trend that makes a special day more meaningful.
Decor
Wedding decor: A financial bottomless pit where the cost of flowers will make your eyes water. How do you save money and still have a beautiful wedding?
* Candles: Group different sized candles together instead of flowers as your centrepiece. Infinitely cheaper and usually more striking, too.
* Less is more: Think of the decor as make-up for your venue. You wouldn't wear blue eye shadow, dark eyeliner and red lips (we hope), so don't overdress your venue either. It's not necessary to have the floating chandeliers, Chinese lanterns, bunting and 5 000 fairy lights. Pare it back and be amazed at how much you can save.
* Be creative: Don't just browse “wedding flowers”. Look at design blogs and draw inspiration from all around you. Keep it simple. There are few things more stunning in a vase than a solitary palm leaf.
Wedding bar guide
The bar bill can be one of the most pricey elements to a wedding, and it's incredibly difficult trying to guess what it may amount to in advance. Play it safe by following these top tips.
* Opening times: You want to have an open bar but you don't want to have to remortgage your house? No problem. Just open the bar after dinner has been served instead of having it open all day. Serve bubbles and beers until after the speeches, and then you can treat your guests to the more costly spirits. (Or, dare we say it? Don't serve spirits at all!)
* Give them what they want, not what you think they want! There's no point in pouring champagne for toasts if your guests would rather drink wine or beer. Have waiters ask before they pour.
What to wear on a budget
* Dress: How much can one dress really cost?! The answer is a lot. Depending on whether it is store bought or designed specifically for you, what fabrics are used, and what detailing there is, you can expect to pay anywhere between R10 000 and R100 000. Far be it for us to play the dress down, but the truth is you really are only going to wear it for a maximum of 12 hours (yes, we know it will be captured in photographs forever). Consider buying a previously owned dress and having it altered to fit. It's the best of both worlds, a perfectly tailored dress just for you at afraction of the cost. Check out Stillwhite.co.za for a huge selection of previously owned dresses.
* Groom's suit: This is a no-brainer. Hire the groom's and the groomsman's suits. There is no need to buy new.
* The entourage: Think outside the box for bridesmaids' dresses. Look to stores for cheaper alternatives. Also remember that the fewer the bridesmaids, the fewer dresses/shoes/thank you gifts you need to buy, so keep the entourage small.
Stationery
Move with the times: It's 2016; it's time to move online. Unless stationery is an absolute priority for you, do not spend thousands of rand on bespoke invitations. Create a wedding website and include all the details that your guests need (from accommodation suggestions to registry details).
Food
How often do you eat a three-course meal? It's a redundant tradition. Give your guests a fantastic main course and serve wedding cake as your dessert. Also, lay off on all the stations: a cheese station, sweetie table and hot dog stand is overkill. This is your wedding, not a food festival. (Francesca Bourke for Wedding Inspirations magazine)
* More budget advice in the Autumn 2016 issue of Wedding Inspirations magazine on sale now.
* Compiled by Nontando Mposo
Five reasons why you should go to the Wedding Expo
1South Africa is one of the world's trendsetters when it comes to weddings and the event offers a pool of the country's top wedding specialists.
2 If you're looking for creative ways to save money, the expo will have a range of specials on offer.
3 The Fashion Theatre is a new attraction which replaces the traditional runway show. Here a selection of wedding gowns will be on display and designers and fashion experts will be at hand offering advice on how to shop for your gown.
4 The “Make Me a Bride” makeover will be the ultimate opportunity to experience what your magical day could be like. Volunteers will be chosen for a makeover and will have an opportunity to try on a wedding gown.
5 The SA School of Weddings will arrange 19 beautifully decorated tables showcasing the hottest trends in wedding and events decor.
Follow the magic
For more information, follow The Wedding Expo on:
Facebook (theweddingexposa)
Twitter (@weddingexposa)
Instagram (The_Wedding_Expo)
Pinterest (TheWeddingExpo).
* See their website at www.wedding-expo.co.za