My ♥ stopped when I saw these short dresses for bridesmaids.

Back in the day it was always an unsaid rule that bridesmaids should look hideous on the wedding day, so as to not 'outshine' the bride. But that was back in the day. I think bridesmaids should be gorgeous, they are after all the special people in your life. I have chosen short dresses for my pretty girls and although simple, the dresses are chic and sexy. The irony is this: when you make your girls look terrible (fuchsia ruffles come to mind) you draw attention to them rather than detract. Your entire wedding party should look amazing, because when bridesmaids feel amazing, they'll be more inclined to want to help with your 'bride-zilla' demands. I'm talking about me, can you tell?

(Pic source)

My ♥ stopped when I saw these hairstyles.

Any of these would make a great wedding hairstyle don't you think? 

My ♥ stopped when I saw this wedding mood board.

When you start planning your wedding, make a mood board. This won't seem important to you at the time, but its importance will become clear as you go along. Don't be THAT person who changes their mind at the last minute. I say this because I am THAT person. I am lucky enough to have a wedding planner, who sources all the lovely things that I want for the day, but this poor, tenacious lady has been sent on a wild goose chase by me. Since our first meeting I've changed: The cake (about 4 times), the decor (going on about 11 times), the COLOURS (this is a biggie), the 'theme' (huge!) and the numbers (which I forgive myself for). And I can say with 100% clarity that this would have been avoided through the proper construction of a mood board. By doing one, you begin to see which things 'don't really work' fairly quickly. And if you have a wedding planner, they can source things you wouldn't have thought of because they understand the overall feel of the day. I am, by my own admission, a bride-zilla. 

My ♥ stopped when I saw the bride wear black.

Sometimes when you do something unconventional, the world gives you a standing ovation. Or just I do :) This bride wore black and she looks sensational. I love the little details; the ruffles, the headband, the beautiful little boy (he's just edible don't you think?)


From the bride: Kevin and I never dreamed when we met that our relationship would be anything short of temporary. He was 7 years my JR. and I was 28 with the intention of settling down and having a family by the age of 30. We just couldn’t fathom that our paths would ever meet in the middle. As it turns out, love had very different plans for us. After 3 months of avoidance we wound up talking for hours, instantly became the best of friends, fell in love, bought a house and 3 years later started a family.


What a story. You get that goose-bumpy feeling reading it, like you're looking into someone's dreams.


My favourite moment? Despite all the details, people, and entertainment, my favourite moment was a stolen couple of minutes on a bench behind the tent, hidden away from everyone else with my new husband while we sat, hand in hand and looked at the stars.


Incredible, the only word I can think of. I love that she talks about their 'moment', hidden from the world, owned only by two people taking a giant leap of faith. The whole thing is completely dreamy.


(Pics and story from here)

My ♥ stopped when I saw this wedding.

I woke up feeling excited about the wedding. The excitement creeps in when you least expect it to. When you plan your wedding a year after your engagement you go through 12 months of varying enthusiasm (I am discovering this). Obviously the 1st two or three months are pure elation and you (literally) can't stop thinking about every little detail. You rush (as you should in Cape Town)to book the BEST venue and the BEST photographer, and by my own admission you get very caught up in the aesthetics of it all. But then quiet descends for a bit. You have a few weeks/months of calm (necessary for your health me thinks) and you put the idea at the back of your mind, not out of mind, but not centre stage. And then one day in the middle of it all, you wake up with butterflies in your tummy, and you're not entirely sure why, and then you realise you're getting married, in 6 months and it's soon! You reflect on the last 6 months and realise how fast they've flown, and wish you could do them again. 


Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations. 
 ~Faith Baldwin


I wish I could stop the train, pause everything for a while. Take it all in a little more. My heart is singing today. 


Pics from here.

My ♥ stopped when I saw these wedding shoes.

My number priority with wedding shoes is that they need to be ultra comfortable. I can't imagine anything worse than that 'my toes are gonna pop' feeling in the middle of the first dance. My second priority is that they are gorgeous, like the ones above. The first pic is my favourite, they look so romantic! The funny thing is, most people won't see them, because the dress usually covers them quite a bit, but you'll see them, and love them, and that's the point. What do you think, wedding shoes an important feature? 


Dreamy pics found at Perfectbound.

My ♥ stopped when I saw this tee.

The reason I love this so much has something to do with the heartwarming story behind it. It's made my photographer Bryan Johnson. But here's the thing: after a year-long, grueling process, Bryan and his wife are finally adopting a child, a little girl from China to be exact :)

This slogan was started by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce in the 1960's. It will truly be nice to have our new little girl in Birmingham! All shirts are American Apparel and the proceeds will go towards our family's travel to China!


My heart melts:)Check out Bryan's EXQUISITE wedding photies here.

My ♥ stopped when I saw these pics.

There are no words for how cute this is...

The last picture makes me think of my upcoming wedding. I don't think anyone can prepare you for all the planning that goes into one day. I always said I wouldn't be 'one of those girls' and I'm afraid to admit I might just be (one of those girls). It's so easy to get caught up in it. The emotion of it. There only a handful of really significant things that happen in this lifetime, and this for me is one of them. This is what I tell myself when trying to unpack why it is so important to get everything right. 

I love this photo, especially those gumboots. This pic tells the story of a wedding that probably didn't go as planned. But did. Those gumboots are superb. Because she is cool enough to wear them and love it. 


Two roads diverged in a wood and I
I took the one less travelled by
and that has made all the difference

After all, you are not the dress you wear on the day...

You are not the amount of guests you invite...

You are all the moments in-between. 


Pics from here.