It’s often said that the photos, dress and invites are the only things left after your wedding… but there’s another keepsake from your wedding day to put some thought into: a wedding guestbook. You can opt for a traditional personalised guestbook that ties into your wedding day stationery, pick something a little more alternative, or find…
The bulk of weddings serve alcohol, and it’s often assumed it’ll be free. If you’re serving alcohol but expecting guests to pay for their own drinks, that is your decision. For many brides and grooms, the bar tab takes up a notable portion of a wedding budget. If you’re on a tight budget, an open…
Wedding dress code wording can have you scratching your head and wondering, what do the dress codes mean? A wedding is usually a pretty fancy affair, and it makes sense that you dress formally and in your best clothes. However, formal attire is a very broad term and there are many other dress codes that…
If you don’t wear a lot of makeup – or any at all – the thought of getting dolled up, slapping on a ton of foundation and hiring a makeup artist for your wedding can be daunting. You might want to wear a little bit of makeup (after all, you’re paying enough for photos and…
Christmas is not just creeping upon us, it’s barreling towards us. So what better to blog about than some seriously excellent Christmas gift ideas for the bride-to-be in your life? Okay, okay… YOU might be the bride-to-be – in which case, you need to share your favorites off this list with your partner-in-crime ASAP. Christmas Gift Ideas for…
Planning a big event, like a wedding, comes with lots of paperwork. Whether it’s contracts, price lists, samples or just business cards… you can quickly get overwhelmed by the vast quantity of paper that comes your way. And since here at Southern Bride we’re all about reducing overwhelm and making things easier, we are giving you…
How many wedding speeches should be given at a wedding? This is a common question, and like it is with much of the wedding planning process, it is up to the happy couple. A wedding toast or speech is given by family and friends. It’s a chance for others to express their joy and best…
A successful wedding MC has everything under control. They know who’s doing what and when, where they’re supposed to be, and the order of events. You’ve been given the honor of being a Master of Ceremonies. Congratulations! It’s one of the most important roles you can play at a person’s wedding. Sure, you’ve probably got…
The horseshoe wedding tradition is one as old as time. When I was a bridesmaid earlier last year, I found myself trying to coordinate when a guest with children needed to pass over the traditional horseshoe. I managed to sneak a quick conversation with the celebrant, and could text the friend with the appropriate cue,…
Getting married is exciting, and it’s not just the wedding that you have to look forward to. Your loved ones tend to go nuts on showering you with gifts – they’re pleased for you and want to celebrate you both. Of course, these gifts can come in handy for many younger couples who are establishing…
More and more people are asking the question – “how do I tell parents that we don’t want their children at our wedding?” The reality is that more and more brides, and grooms as well, do not like the idea that children will be coming to their weddings. And that’s okay. Here at Southern Bride…
I’ve mentioned before that looking for bridesmaid dresses stressed me the hell out. There wasn’t a ton of online shops about when I got hitched, and my attempt at online bridesmaid dress shopping was a disaster – my “pink” bridesmaid dresses from Trade Me were most definitely, incredibly PURPLE. So when the “where can I find…
If you’re waiting for your wedding day to come around, time is probably dragging. But for us old-married-people, time goes freaking fast. Wasn’t I just married a couple of months ago?! Hitting the 1 year married milestone is exciting. You’re officially not-newlyweds, you’ve settled into married life (hopefully) and the future has lots of possibilities….
Yay! Time for another present roundup post. I love producing gift guides, because it means I head out on a virtual shopping spree, finding cool ideas and unique presents for your loved ones – without smashing my wallet. We’ve covered off anniversary gifts for your first year of marriage, and for your second anniversary, so…
Many couples now request money or gift vouchers in lieu of receiving multiple platters, toasters and vases as a wedding gift. More and more couples are already living together, so don’t need the assistance in establishing a household that couples once did. Instead, they’d prefer help to go on a honeymoon, to purchase their first home,…
Giving guests a gift for coming to your wedding might seem a little odd at first – they’re supposed to be celebrating you and giving you presents, not the other way round, right? But wedding favours are a nice way to say thank you for coming and express your gratitude for your wedding guest’s attending……
I remember sitting down to write first wedding thank you card full of excitement and old-fashioned glee. And then I wrote a few… after maybe 6, I became so disenchanted by the whole process. The thing is, sure, you are incredibly excited, and grateful, and overwhelmed by your generous friends and family… but after writing the same…
Once your wedding has been and gone, the next milestone to look forward to is your first wedding anniversary! Your wedding anniversary is a great chance to reflect back on how quickly life moves, how much has happened since your big day, and of course, to celebrate your relationship together. It can be tricky to come up…
When it comes to alcohol, hiring a wedding venue that’s BYO alcohol friendly sounds like a great idea. You can purchase your own alcohol in the quantities you will need. Plus, you can hunt around for the alcohol at the best prices too! But if you are considering using a wedding BYO alcohol-friendly venue, there…
When I go to a wedding, I’m there to have a good time. I don’t want worries about something relatively fixable to keep me away from celebrating with a Sav Blanc or two. Because of this, I’m one of those overpackers. My clutch is stuffed full of eyelash glue, a needle & thread, spare batteries and…
Finding a wedding venue is one of the first things that you need to do when planning your wedding. The wedding ceremony site and reception venue is the foundation for your wedding celebrations, so it’s important to pick a site that fits you, your budget and the day you have dreamed of. Finding the perfect…
It’s fair to say my love language is gift giving. I get so excited about my loved ones birthdays and Christmases… and my own wedding anniversary. Finding the perfect present for your wedding anniversary can be tricky though. Often people will just head out and buy something they like. It makes it hard to think…
Wedding planning can be overwhelming. You’ve got a million different things to do – it can be stressful! One of the very first things you should do (and I don’t say you “should do” things often) is get yourself a wedding planning to do list… and luckily, today I have a free one for you! A Wedding…
They’ve been your right-hand-ladies, threw an amazing hen’s night and scrub up alright… so you want to treat your Maid of Honour and Bridesmaids with a present to say thank you. But the wedding budget is getting tight. What do you do? No stress – we’ve collated some great bridesmaid gift ideas for under $25…