Thank you SA WEDDINGS for the wonderful feature on your blog.

If you have never seen this website, you are missing out! We love love love the inspiration and styled shoots. They seem to always be on-trend and better yet, making trends and finding the BEST suppliers.  You can plan your wedding in one shot!

Here is a little more about SA Weddings & the team:

Welcome to the official SA Weddings Blog, where our dedicated content team lives and breathes all things wedding. It is no secret that this fabulous trio are head over heels and truly in love with weddings (duh) and naturally, this blog baby was born. We believe that there is no right way of doing a wedding and each one has their own special blend of magic which makes them truly remarkable. But with so many ideas available and the ever-changing trends, how do you turn your wedding dreams into wedding reality?

Luckily you have us! Here at SA Weddings HQ, it is our goal to put you in touch with the right service providers to turn your ideas into tangible things. Our blog will put you at the forefront of what is happening in the wedding industry, and how you can apply it to your own celebration! Filled with amazing photography, tips and tricks, advice, planning processes, styled shoots, real-life features, and more – the SA Weddings Blog is the perfect planning partner for any bride-to-be.

Even better, our blog will be your saving grace both pre and post-wedding and provide you with the best tips and ideas as you make the graceful transition into wife life. It is our mission to ensure that the magic of planning your BIG never fades, and with our dedicated beauty and lifestyle categories, there is a little something for everyone!

Here is the link below about what we have to say… planning the perfect proposal, hot tips, and our story.

Enjoy 🙂

https://www.saweddings.co.za/blog/the-perfect-proposal/

Look at our other media coverage here.

XOXO

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https://www.dearrae.co.za/2020/04/01/but-what-about-my-wedding-changing-your-wedding-plans-during-the-covid19-pandemic/

We love writing articles for our suppliers, Dear Rae, is one of our favourites. We chat about COVID19 and you wedding plans! Dear Rae COVID19 article was written for all the brides in need of guidance during this tough time. If you are looking for extra assistance with your wedding or need an expert wedding planner, please contact us.

Nothing like a global lockdown to mess with your perfectly planned wedding, right? If you’re nodding your head reading this, stick around. We asked our good friend Pippa Lund, founder and owner of The Perfect Proposal, to share some insights and advice on how to adapt your wedding plans during the pandemic. Pippa touches on some important points and provides helpful tips, should you be experiencing a case of the big day blues. 

Date change? Feeling scared? Make the best of your situation. The unknown is too big at this stage to waste your energy worrying. The situation is, unfortunately, bigger than your wedding right now and it’s completely out of your control – so try not to stress about it and rather focus on other things in your life. Be calm and positive about your situation, and believe that everything will work out in the end.  

Inform your suppliers about your postponement or date change. This will allow them to check or suggest availability for new dates. Please be aware of annual increases with most venues and suppliers, should you move your wedding to 2021. Have a chat with them about the situation and see if you can reach a compromise.  

Accept current travel limitations. At this stage, your international guests won’t be able to travel for the foreseeable future. This means you need to inform suppliers about your final number. The positive side of this is that you will save on costs, should there be a large drop-off.  

If your wedding is cancelled, we suggest checking the terms and conditions of your suppliers. We have found that most suppliers are being very understanding during these tough times we’re facing and that partial refunds, if not full, are being offered.

If you are in the very beginning stages of your wedding planning, take this time to reflect on what really matters. Time is on your side, so enjoy the process fully. Listen to music and choose your first dance song, together. Practice your first dance around the living room. Take this time to enjoy your partner without the added wedding stress.  

We always give this advice to our brides-to-be: Create one night a week that is dedicated to wedding planning. Open some bubbly, sit down together and discuss your wedding dreams. Answer questions that require attention and make decisions together. Especially during this time of quarantine, it’s important ant to heed this advice. Try not to discuss your wedding 24/7 or you might start going wedding crazy! Now is not the greatest time for bride- and groomzillas to emerge.

Enjoy the smaller celebrations of life. This really is a wonderful time to reflect and chat about your future together. Keep it light, keep it lovely and keep it kind.

Dear Rae COVID19 article – read here.

Featured image from the wedding of Bryni and Keane captured by Dearheart Photos

XOXO

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We were asked by THE LITTLE PINK BOOK to write an article on Ways to announce you are engaged, here is it: https://pink-book.co.za/wedding-tips-ideas/5-ways-to-announce-you-are-engaged/

You have just been asked the big question…” Will you Marry Me?” and, you’ve said YES! You laughed, cried happy tears, kissed, hugged and admired your exquisite new engagement ring, toasted the occasion with your favourite champagne and then stared at your ring once again. What is the best way to announce this incredible piece of news to the world? Well, this is The Perfect Proposal‘s advice of how to share that happy moment.

1.Family first

There is no doubt that getting engaged is a massive milestone in one’s life and you will certainly want to share this exciting news immediately. Before you rush to do so, we think it’s best to consider your family first. Parents and siblings are your tribe and they will appreciate being told rather than seeing your news on social media. Pick up the phone and video call them to share this special moment. The next to tell are your besties, as their reactions will be remembered for a long time! Placing an image on social media should be the last move as you do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

2.Plan an Engagement party

As a couple, invite your friends and family over for a dinner party and make the announcement by bringing out a cake and on top is a custom-made cake topper saying; “we’re engaged”. Another idea is to announce the engagement by throwing a surprise party, going straight from the proposal to see your friends. Celebrate in style at your favourite place with your loved ones. A surprise for the bride-to-be after your engagement is one of our favourites but ensure they are up for it as you want them to feel fabulous for the announcement.

3.Capture the moment; A picture is worth a thousand words

Our personal favourite would be to hire a professional photographer for your proposal, they capture your initial reactions and romance of the day. You would share these images on social media as a way to announce your engagement, showing beautiful raw emotions of “the moment”. You could get really creative with the photoshoot and add in that personal touch. For instance, if the proposal takes place on the beach you can write in the sand or on a stone. If it happens at home, you can include your pets or kids, the photographer can add in text to any photo to make it unique.

4.Save the date Video

Something for those obsessive diary planners is to announce your engagement by sending out a “save the date”. Share a video and at the end it would announce your wedding date thus it’s a double surprise with an engagement announcement and wedding info. There are wonderful videographers who offer this service, you book a couples photoshoot, they then edit that video to be a save the date for your wedding. We just love this idea but it only works if you know your wedding plans early on.

5.Dare to be creative

Incorporate your favourite item or something you share together; for example using a prop to tell your news. We are going to list the items we love best: chalk boards, ‘I said yes’ signs, writing on your hand, shouting from the rooftops and taking a video, cake toppers, holding big ring balloons, using food to spell “we are engaged”. The options to personalise an engagement photo are endless, we dare you to be creative. Once you make the announcement on social media, remember to include a relevant and personal hashtag that you can use in all future posts leading up to your incredible wedding. If you are against social media posts then our last idea is to buy those sweets which look like a diamond rings, place them in pretty packets and hand them out to friends when visiting. Play a game to see how long it takes for them to guess your news.

Finally, once your announcement is out there, it is wise to go offline for a while as you wait for all the well wishes to come pouring in. Use this time to bask in the excitement of the moment because the whirlwind of wedding planning is next on the agenda!

XOXO

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We wrote this article below for The Little Pink Book, thank you for featuring us on your blog.

Unique Proposal Ideas from The Perfect Proposal

It’s the month of LOVE and how better to celebrate it than to propose to your partner! The Perfect Proposal specialises in event planning for marriage proposals and have done over 800 unique proposal ideas across South Africa – and the answer is always a resounding YES! Below are some unique proposal ideas to sweep your loved one off their feet – and if it seems too overwhelming to organise a proposal by yourself, then give them a call 😊

Art Gallery Proposal

Does your partner love art and all things sophisticated? Nothing will take them more by surprise then getting them all dressed up for an art gallery or a special art unveiling, and the art is actually a proposal! Art galleries are usually quiet and not too crowded so you won’t have too many onlookers. Arrange with the gallery beforehand to place a picture of the two of you, or a picture saying their name and “will you marry me” on an easel in a room in the gallery. As you approach it, you can drop to one knee in front of it- it makes for a great picture to be framed too!

Scavenger hunt

We love this proposal as it requires lots of thought and effort and will always make your partner feel truly special. You can lead them around the house to where you will be waiting for them on one knee with candles and fairy lights (and don’t forget their favourite flowers) or you can lead them around your town to finally meet you somewhere that means something to you both (back to the place of your first date perhaps). We recommend keeping the clues simple so that they don’t have to contact you to find out where to go next. It is also nice to include a photo, flower or memento with each clue.

Edible Proposal

What better way to propose than with something delicious, especially if it is your partner’s favourite! Be it cupcakes, donuts or chocolates – use them to spell out the big question. You can even plant the ring in its box in amongst the treats. Or wake up on a Saturday morning with breakfast in bed and a cup of coffee. Write “Will you marry me?” at the bottom of the coffee cup and watch their face as they take their last sip 😊

Movie Proposal

Does your partner have an all-time favourite movie or series? Recreate a scene from it for their dream proposal! From the iconic Friend’s theme song setting to the awesome and romantic UP movie (and all things Disney), it is easy to transport them to their much loved big screen place. They may even love the idea of Sweet Home Alabama’s proposal inside a jewellery store in which case we recommend heading back to the jewellery store where you picked out their ring to pop the question. If they love all movies in general, then set up your garden with a projector and turn it into a romantic, blanket-filled outdoor cinema to propose in.

Binocs in the Bush

There is something so romantic about the African bushveld. Nowadays 5-star treatment doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and a weekend away to propose under the stars is such a great idea if your partner loves the outdoors. You will need to get creative for this one and make a giant MARRY ME sign (A1 white card for each letter works well). Work closely with the lodge and arrange for them to put the letters up somewhere that your partner will be able to see them with binoculars from the deck of your lodge or room. Then you can jump up from lounging by the pool to shout that you have seen a lion! Hand them the binoculars, point them in the direction of the sign and get down on one knee. Celebrate your engagement with a romantic outdoor dinner for two.

Beach Proposal

There is something so romantic about the sun, sea and sand. The ideas for a beach proposal are endless with a beautiful picnic set up for two, a romantic stop along a beach walk or saying it with an awesome sand sculpture.

Helicopter Proposal 

While certain provinces don’t have a beach, it does have an awesome cityscape and some wide open, mountainous spaces. If your partner loves a thrill, then why not propose at 10 000ft above the ground before landing for a romantic picnic or a glass of bubbly on top of a mountain?

Family Proposal 

Make it a family affair and get the whole family involved! If your partner is close to their family or your friends are just dying to witness the proposal, then we recommend including them in the big moment. If they are great dancers, convince them to even be part of a family flash mob 😊A family member can either hold a letter each or a full word. Make sure you have someone to capture the moment too.

https://pink-book.co.za/wedding-inspiration/unique-proposal-ideas-for-the-month-of-love/

XOXO

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The rise of the proposal planner: ‘It’s not enough to get down on one knee any more’

You have found the man or woman of your dreams and are ready to pop the question. But where and how? Meet the professionals who can make the moment truly memorable.

Inspired by her experience of planning her brother’s engagement, Amodio noticed a gap in the market. “It’s been getting more and more popular recently, in tandem with the rise in social media,” she says. “People want epic photos or videos to show their friends or maybe their kids in the future. They don’t just want to get down on one knee at sunset on holiday. They want something bigger, they want a story to tell.”

Her company’s most expensive proposal cost £800,000. “For that, we hired all of Disneyland Paris; we had fireworks and a boat go through Paris, too. The couple then hired a private jet to Canada and he popped the question in front of Niagara Falls,” Amodio says. That proposal took three months of planning, but Amodio says most are done in a matter of weeks. “We just had a call to do a proposal on Tower Bridge the next day,” she says. “It’s intense but we get it done.”

For Parmar, the service was worth every penny. “I had bought this beautiful six-carat diamond ring and it started burning a hole in my pocket as I didn’t know how to go about the proposal,” he says. “I realised the end result would be a thousand times better if I worked with professionals. They kept it a total surprise – my fiancee had no idea it was coming.”

“I was completely shocked,” Elisia says. “Looking back at the moment on camera, there’s this hilarious and surprised look on my face. I am a bit of a hopeless romantic. I had always dreamed of meeting the right guy who would create a unique proposal, and so it was creative and smart of Justus to plan the proposal professionally. Sometimes when you have a grand idea it takes more than one person to make it happen.”

Others would rather keep their need for help a secret. Stephen (not his real name) decided he wanted to marry his girlfriend after only six months of dating, but he was unsure whether she would say yes. “I completely fell for her and I knew that if I didn’t ask her to marry me, I might lose her,” he says. “So I had to do something big to prove my love.” He recruited a planner in the US, where he lives, and they arranged for a proposal at the end of a hike, complete with a picnic and a banner asking the question. “She said yes and was so surprised and in awe of what I’d managed to do, I never told her that I’d had help. I wanted to enjoy the moment,” he says. He has no plans to tell her in the future.

“Not all guys are creative,” says the South African proposal planner Pippa Lund. “We’re here to translate their romance into a reality. Then all they have to think about is getting down on one knee and what to say.”

Planners witness a lot of proposals. So, have any of them ever seen a “no”? “The day someone says no is the day I quit,” Lund laughs. Others have had close calls. Rob Anderson, a magician who specialises in magic-trick proposals in Las Vegas, remembers: “There was a couple who were arguing and it got so bad that the guy called off the proposal discreetly with me just before I was about to perform. I’ve also had a couple break up the day before the proposal, and I’ve had at least one couple break up within a few hours of the proposal. But so far I’ve yet to have a straight no.”

Even in places where proposals tend to be more modest, planning is taking off. Pailin Thipayarat, the founder of the Singaporean firm Lynx Proposals, started her business in 2014. “In the first year, there was no one,” she says. “People here would normally propose quietly over dinner or have their parents talk to one another and arrange the wedding that way.” But, with the rise of social media, western ideas began to seep through Singaporean culture. “This new generation is willing to spend on something that will give them an experience for the rest of their life,” Thipayarat says. “They want to catalogue their memories above all else.”

Some traditions are slow to vanish, however: all the planners say their clientele is almost exclusively male. “The man asking the woman is ingrained in many traditions, and it’s something a lot of people like,” says Anderson. “Most women want the man to ask them and initiate the marriage.” Amodio agrees: “Only six women have approached us – only one to a man on a leap year, while the rest have been same-sex. I don’t know why more aren’t coming forward, but I’m holding out for a change.”

The planners’ own proposals were noticeably more subdued than those of their clients. “We just went for a walk,” Lund recalls. “He set up a little surprise with champagne and my favourite food. It was perfect.” Amodio’s was a similarly private affair in the flat she shared with her boyfriend. “Some people just want something small and elegant, which we can provide, or they might want to do it all themselves,” she says. “And then we’ve had one guy who had to have everything be about cats, so we hired a cat cafe and they were all dressed as cats and even sang a song. We’ve had a fake drug arrest and a fake interview, too. Some people are crazy – but each to their own.”

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/sep/17/the-rise-of-the-proposal-planner-its-not-enough-to-get-down-on-one-knee-any-more

For our proposal packages click here.

XOXO

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We were approached by TYD MET ALEIT, to put together Baby Reveal Party Ideas. This is a huge trend at the moment and so much fun! We loved this concept so we said yes! After gathering a few suppliers who we know & love to add that sparkle, we were all set. We gave our suppliers the ideas and they produced AMAZING work – thank you!!

Basically, a Baby Reveal Party is when you invite all your family & friends to a party to reveal the gender of your unborn child. Either the parents-to-be tell the guests and it’s a huge surprise or no-one knows and its set-up by a planner (like us). It’s basically telling your guests if its a BOY or GIRL. There are SO many ideas out there on how to “reveal” the gender but we only had time to show a few. These were the following ideas which will be seen on the show tonight:

• Gin cocktails that change colour
• Cutting a cake to reveal coloured sweets
• Hitting a pinata
• Boy or Girl Box that drops confetti

On the day of shooting, we brought all the props and accessories, which included about 200 balloons, to set-up. The theme we were going for was green & gold, another big trend at the moment. We had so much fun putting it all together, creating a vibrant space for the “mother to be”.  We even got Lezanne to create games for the “mother to be to play with the guests. This is a great way to include the guests on the day and add to the ‘reveal’ element. Your guests have to guess if it’s a boy or girl. The team at TYD MET ALEIT are just wonderful, we thank them for a fun day of filming. We are honoured for being included in this awesome show, which is already in season 2.

We won’t give too many secrets away, so we urge you to watch the Tyd Met Aleit TV show tonight (28th Feb) at 17h30 on KYKYNET (144). Is it a girl or boy, all will be revealed later today!

Thanks to the following for being involved.

• Lezanne Designs – Stationery
• Birdcage Tea Bar – Cake
• Fable Lifestyle & Baby – Belly baskets
• aCreate – Furniture
• The Souk Event Decor – Gold accessories
• Okasie – Trees

XOXO

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Cape Talk Radio chat with John Maytham

We just love our job! Celebrating what you do today with a little chat to John Maytham on 567, Cape Talk Radio. Proposal Planning is very important for many reasons; the most important one is to stress less on the day. We do the set-up before you arrive so the secret is kept safe. We know all the great locations, suppliers and venues that would make your proposal perfect.

We are your go-to girls when it comes to popping the question. If you have an idea or need one we can assist you with both aspects. We can also give you guidance and tips on how to plan it correctly.

Listen to hear more about The Perfect Proposal.

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We have been very busy this year with helping couples tie the knot and make dreams come true. In between all the events, we managed to fit in a styled shoot. Tania from Neverending Magic Photographer got in touch with us as she wanted to do a shoot in Cape Town.

More about Tania:

“I’m Tania, a Europe-based destination wedding photographer. I live between Amsterdam and Florence and travel around Europe to photograph pretty elopements and exciting love-stories. Apart from that, I spend a huge part of the year in South Africa. Since I was a little child I’ve always loved several things: reading fairy-tales, watching happy people and traveling. As I grew older I found my passion for wedding photography which interestingly enough has united all these loved activities. So here I am, wandering the world and taking photographs of sparkling eyes, blissful smiles and happy moments.”

We are so excited to share some of the photographs that were captured. More to follow soon.

Thanks to Janita Toerien for the dresses & hair and make-up by Almari.

XOXO

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We are very proud to be featured on TOP BILLING for Travis and Zaylin’s wedding.

“Bulls winger Travis and his fiancé Zaylin have a huge appetite for life and they’re each other’s best motivation. Alongside his rugby career, both are studying, they’re raising a stunning daughter together and they recently got married.

Six years before this magical day near Paarl, Travis and Zaylin were at school, he had no plans for pro rugby, both were single – but all that was about to change. Travis’ first attempt to propose was interrupted by a rugby tour. Subsequent attempts also hit obstacles until, on his fourth try, he asked and she accepted.

What brought them through a distance romance is trust and putting in as much work on their relationship as went into Zaylin’s dress. Travis was flanked by some fine groomsmen, with Springbok player Rudy Paige, Reagan Ismaiel and Owen Jansen. Travis’ request for the reception was that there be plenty to eat and Pippa Lund made sure of that. ‘Elegance’ was the couple’s brief to floral designer Liz Puccini.

It was an especially moving day for Zaylin as her father Winston Smith, unexpectedly passed away after the wedding. She was fortunate to have him walk her down the aisle and dance with her on her special day. Now that Zaylin’s father has given Travis his daughter’s hand in marriage, the young couple will live and dance on in celebration of his life.”

Travis and Zaylin wedding on Top Billing was a highlight of our year. The full video coming out soon…

For more read here.

XOXO

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We are very proud to say we are now a Cape Town Tourism Member.

“Cape Town Tourism is a source of relevant business information, a vehicle to provide representation to all tourism businesses, large or small, allowing access to promotion and tourism programmes, and importantly, a platform to put visitors in touch with the remarkable experiences offered by members of Cape Town Tourism.

This dynamic partnership allows us to deliver and exceed upon the expectations of visitors, whether local, national or international, whilst showing a real return on investment to stakeholders.”

For more info click here.

XOXO

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