Why not be a Bride with a Brooch?

We’re always excited to feature wedding vendors with a creative edge. Today we bring you Tarien, a Pretoria-based art teacher by day and a self-confessed crafster by night. She loves creating beautiful wedding brooches and alternative corsages, tailor made specifically for each wedding or party. These quirky accessories can be either for the bride, bridesmaids, groomsmen or guests to wear. Her items are available to buy at Fient Gallery in Duncan Yard (also home to our favourite vintage decor rental place and shoppie Moi Decor), so you don’t just need to be a bride in order to get your hands on one of these cuties.

These brooches make wonderful gifts for your retinue and are a great keepsake too. Visit her blog, An Artist in Never Poor, for more.


Photo credits: {anartistisneverpoor.blogspot.com}

Got something of yours you would like to see on our blog? Email us at teapotsandtulle@gmail.com to get featured!

Last Summer Tuesday Shoesday for 2012

Celebrating the last Tuesday Shoesday for Summer 2011/2012 (*sad face*), we decided to give you something pretty and floral. Au revoir dear Summer... Oh, how you will be missed!



Photo credit: {loveybride.com}

Which Oscars dress is your fav?

The Oscars is fashions’ biggest night and is a rightful excuse to fantasize about what we would wear (you know, if “we” were mega-rich starlets or a wives of a movie titans etc.). Here’s our roundup of the trends from last night...and our favourite dress of the evening.

Long white Mermaid gowns


Left to right: Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward; Rooney Mara in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci; Li Bing Bing. PHOTOS: Getty/AFP

Long white Futuristic gowns


Left to right: Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford; Charlene, Princess of Monaco in Akris; Shailene Woodley in Valentino Haute Couture. PHOTOS: Getty

Red gowns


Left to right: Livia Firth in Valentino; Natalie Portman in vintage Christian Dior; Jane Seymour. Photos: Getty

Old Hollywood Glamour gowns


Left to right: Bérénice Bejo in Elie Saab couture; Penelope Cruz in Giorgio Armani; Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab. PHOTOS: Getty

Vamp gowns


Left to right: Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad; Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace; Glenn Close in Zac Posen. PHOTOS: Getty

Personally, we’re a big fan of Elie Saab and are thrilled that 3 of her dresses made the red carpet (2 are featured in Hollywood Glam above). We love her ethereal style and her beaded detail. Milla's dress is our absolute fav! Of course, Angelina comes a close second...

Which dress was your fav?

Photo credits: {fashion.telegraph.uk}

Budget beating tips for your FAB wedding

So, in the spirit of yesterday’s budget speech, we’ve decided to give you a list that can help you save some cash when it comes to planning your big day. It’s champagne taste on a beer budget all the way, baby!

* Have your wedding in winter. South African winters are actually lovely – it doesn’t rain, the sun shines and it isn’t totally freezing all the time, so you can get away with a sleeveless dress for most of the event.

* Have your wedding in the week or on a Sunday. This is actually quite popular nowadays, so it is not totally out of the norm anymore.

* Shop around for a good photographer that doesn’t cost the earth. They do exist (examples: the ones featured on this here blog). And nowadays they usually blog their work, so it’s not a hard task.

* Trim the guest list. And stick to it!

* Choose a non-traditional venue (or a new wedding venue that is still trying to establish itself). Less expensive options include restaurants, grand ol’ libraries or your parents' backyard. Just make sure you calculate the costs for items you'll need to bring in, such as porty loos and tables etc.

* Rent your wedding dress or find ones on sale. It’s really only for one day, so spending tons of thousands on one garment that you're going to wear for one day is a bit crazy if you think about it. Rationally.

* Save paper (and money) by doing an e-invite.

* Write your menu on a large chalkboard instead of printing menus for each person/table.

* Instead of getting a catering company to do your wedding, get a few speciality food trucks to serve your guests.

* Make your own favours or skip them all together.

* Use seasonal flowers and re-use your bridesmaids bouquets for your centrepieces. Or use things like fresh wheat (yes, wheat - see picture board below).

* Have a daytime / cocktail reception.

* Simplify your decor requirements and go for items that offer maximum impact with minimum expense such as candles, tasteful balloons and fairy lights.

* Serve signature cocktails and or limit the open bar to just wine and beer.

* Add the finishing touches to a cake yourself (like pretty ribbons or candies) or opt for a smaller cake.



Photo credits:
{pinterest.com}{catchasingrainbows.tumblr.com}{dollarstorecrafts.com} {www.younghouselove.com} {www.oopsicraftmypants.net} {www.100layercake.com}{emmalinebride.com}

Oh My Sweet Love ~ Dessert Table Styling

We are always on the lookout for wedding vendors with a difference and we have the perfect one to *sweeten* your Monday!

Oh My Sweet Love is a Gauteng based dessert styling company owned and run by Elmarie Van Der Westhuijzen. With a passion for styling and a keen eye for detail, coupled with a design background, she decided to focus her styling love towards weddings. Not only does she style; she bakes cookies, cupcakes and is also a whizz at making refreshments for refreshment stands (think homemade lemonades, crushes, coolers and cordials in an array of flavours...yum!).

With flexibility being her mantra, she accommodates her brides’ ideas to the best of her ability and believes in going the extra mile (even doing weddings in other provinces). Her most popular colours are soft pinks and sorbet pastels. In her opinion many brides have moved away from the one-accent colour towards a pastel palette, which would normally include: pinks, apricots, dirty faded yellows, lavender and duck egg blue.


Photo credits: {ohmysweetlove}

Elmarie usually works with a mood board to pinpoint her client’s needs, thereby showing them images that portray elegance, romanticism, vintage or even neutral colour schemes. In this way she gives the client a visual representation of what they want which she is 100% clear on too. Having studied design, it gives her an edge when it comes to consulting and executing her stunningly co-ordinated tables.


Photo credits: {stylemepretty.com} {kissthegroom} {theprettyblog}

Elmarie’s tips for brides:
* Make sure your colours represent the type of mood you want to display at your wedding
* Get reliable people/vendors for your wedding. You don't need people that have an attitude or don't return your calls... no need to add stress on your big day!
* Label and brand your wedding and have it reflect your personal style.
* Have FUN! Incorporate a photo-booth, have fun snacks and a dessert treat table with bags to fill as party favours.
* It’s your day so let no one make decisions for you, or bully you into it!

Feel free to contact Elmarie for a quote or for more info:
082 8259 375 / msl_mysweetlove@yahoo.com

Perfect wedding at Imperfect Perfection

Terry has to be one of the most featured brides on this here blog. (We covered her E-session and Bridal shower and now we're covering her wedding). Being my sister's best friend, we've seen her plan her perfect day from the moment Erin popped the question. There is nothing better than reliving the fruits of her efforts with these stunning pics of her big day from Laura Jane Photography. Terry is a detail orientated kinda gal and decided to theme her wedding around the concept of trees which worked so well from her invitations, to her motifs used on the tables. She handmade her runners and bouquets and, being the owner of Ribbon Design Stationary, created all the invitation and menus etc.

The result was a wonderfully personal wedding, sprinkled with all the touches a savvy DIY bride would wish for, especially since everything looked so polished and professionally put together.

View more of this beautiful wedding here.













Photo credits: {www.laurajanephotography.co.za}

Be kind to your Flower Budget with Babys Breath

With the cost of flowers soaring year on year (which is really due the increasing petrol price), many brides are looking at other options when it comes to wedding flowers. Budget beating trends for flowers in 2012 include:

Faux Flowers
Non Floral bridal bouquets are trendy - click here to see a post we did on a bouquet made entirely of brooches.

Bridesmaids Bouquets
Using these bouquets as your centerpiece flowers means you get a two for one deal! Clever and so practical...

Opting for Babys Breath
This type of foilage is very affordable and done correctly, can look totally stunning. Carla from Moi Decor did a post on this for Lovilee and provided some inspiration on how you can use this flower on your wedding day...



Photo credits: {Etsy.com}
{Weddingbee.com} {Stylemepretty.com} {Bellethemagazine.com} {Becomingthemrs.com}{Ruffledblog.com}{79ideas.org}{Frenchlarkspur.blogspot.com}
{Moi-decor.blogspot.com}

Wedding Hair Trends 2012

With 2012 in full swing, it’s a good idea to keep abreast of the wedding hair trends for your big day.

Plaits:
With the emphasis on detail, plaits are in and can be executed in a myriad of ways in a way that adds volume. It can be the central point of your hairstyle or just an added detail on the side, combined with your chosen style of choice, like a messy bun. Play with the idea of loose plaits, fishtail braids etc. as well as extensions.

Photo credit: paigeandchris.com

Asymmetry: This is big, especially when incorporated with a plait or loose curls.

Photo credit: projectwedding.com

Vintage:
We’re loving the soft, wavy look for brides for hair both long and short. Either with accessories (birdcage veil, sparklies or feathers) which can complement the look, or combined with the asymmetrical trend, vintage hair styles are lovely...and timeless, even for a trend.

Photo credit: greenweddingshoes.com

Loose curls/waves:
There is something so feminine and youthful about this look, especially when it's a parted style. It should'nt be too perfect either...a little messy and the slightly 'just got outta bed' vibe is perfect for this hair!

Photo credit: news.instyle.com

Red HOT Valentines inspiration this Tuesday Shoesday

Love these shoes by Miu Miu! They may be chunky on the heel, but we bet that adds to the comfort...not your most predictable wedding shoe but that's why we like it! You would probably wear them more than once in any case.

Photo credit: {bridalmusings.com}

Very vintage wedding by Tyme Photography

We just have to share this beautiful wedding by Tyme Photography we came across. They shot these nuptials at River Place (Hennops River) in October last year and we just love ALL the vintage detail! The blue of the bridesmaids dresses; the pops of yellow in the bridal bouquet; the lace used for the seating charts; the grooms badge; the fairy lights that peppered the reception area ... not to mention the bunting, the bunnies, the vintage car, the lemonade bottles! The venue also lent itself to the shabby chic feel of the wedding. For more on this post, click here.











Photo credits: {tyme.co.za}

A 50s housewife bridal shower

My sister Nicci is a bridesmaid for an upcoming wedding (we featured the e-session here: Terry + Erin) and decided to throw a 50s housewife themed bridal shower for the bride. What a cute idea! We love the pretty pastels, her 50s cut out glasses and curlers and the baby blue Vespa parked in the garden. She even designed cute vintage style invites and tags for the lucky packets! Nicci’s tips for perfecting this look:
* polka dot wrapping paper is a must for a 50s houswife theme and you can use it in a myriad of ways, such as a tablecloth held down with tablecloth weights
* old school Frankie’s cooldrinks (she loved the Lemonade one)
* edible sweetie necklaces and bracelets
* old school props such as the scales, hatbox and glass beverage dispenser she got from Moi Decor
* add some bunting and balloons for to get a festive look
The whole shower came together so nicely. Well done sis x0x0

Whimsical Farmstyle Venue for Weddings

I love profiling venues that are slightly off the “wedding beaten track” here in Gauteng...especially venues with character and wonderful photo opportunities. One such venue I have been dying to blog about (but really couldn't find worthwhile pics to go with it – until now thanks to Melanie Wessels Photography) is Jan Harmsgat, a guesthouse Cullinan ( a small diamond mining town north of Pretoria). What makes this venue one of a kind is that you can hire vintage cars from them too. Admittedly, the style of this venue isn’t for everyone, but if you’re going for a whimsical/vintage, farm inspired look, then it'll complement it wonderfully. Melanie, who second shot for Laura Jane Photography on this particular wedding, took some great pics and captured the essence of this quirky venue beautifully. The couple got married in a Sir Herbert Baker chapel before proceeding to the venue. To view more of this fantastic post, click here.








Photo credits: {melaniewessels.com}