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Article written by Pam Black of Celebration House, Cape Town’s unique wedding information centre. First published in Die Burger Leefstyle newspaper October 2007
At the Cape Town Wedding Festival, which Celebration House hosted recently at the V & A Waterfront, we noticed some significant emerging wedding trends.
Interestingly, the clever use of black and white featured as the most popular colour combination, and indeed the most commented-on table setting in the Festival’s Inspiration Zone was the one titled ‘French Flair’. Its stylish white linen cloth with attractive black stripes certainly caught everyone’s attention! The clever use, too, of stunning silver candelabra minimised the need for elaborate flower arrangements. Table gifts in small black boxes, with the guests’ names stylishly printed on top in white, complemented the scene beautifully. I also liked the use of black ribbon, threaded through a heart to hold the menu and serviette on each side plate. (Photos of the various Inspiration Zone table settings are now on display at Celebration House.)
The style of wedding invitations has changed significantly over the years and they have become far more vibrant and fun. The black-and-white theme is catching on fast and black-and-white invitations with a fleur de lis design are proving to be very popular. According to one stationery expert I spoke to, many couples are now sending out their invitations far in advance of the day; they are opting to have invitations printed with two RSVP dates, so that when guests reply that they are unable to attend, they still have plenty of time to invite others, without them being aware of the fact that they were not on their `A’ list! `Save the day’ cards are still very popular and necessary, especially when inviting guests from overseas who have to book airline tickets.
By all accounts, and judging by the wedding dresses on display at the Wedding Festival, laced-up, figure-hugging bodices are still popular with brides. Dresses with a slightly ruched skirt are also still `in’, but are now more likely to feature a small amount of net underlay exposed on one side. The black-and-white combination is also emerging in wedding dresses, in the form of the addition of a bit of black lace or ribbon. Wide ribbon around the bride’s waist, in a colour complementing the wedding theme, is also still popular. If American trends are anything to go by, more brides are choosing to cover up their arms and opting to have sleeves on their dresses.
While colourful flowers are still chosen by many brides, it is interesting to note that there appears to be a swing back to all-white bouquets and arrangements.
Probably due to the amount of emphasis worldwide on the need to help save the planet, many more couples are taking this into consideration and are looking for tips to help make their wedding day ‘greener’. One solution is to hold the ceremony and reception at the same venue, which immediately cuts down on the amount of travelling guests need to do. Other ways include using locally grown flowers and, in the case of table gifts, finding a local source that will enable you to support a worthy cause.
The wedding cakes at the Festival’s Lindt Chocolate stand demonstrated the clever use of their truffles to create stunning, mouthwatering cakes. Whilst beautiful chocolate creations will always be a winner, the couple opting for a black-and-white theme is more likely to choose a classic, plain white cake decorated with something to tie in with their theme, such as an embossed black-and-white ribbon.
If their popularity at the Festival is anything to go by, Chocolate Fountains are still a big drawcard. Many couples are choosing to combine them with fruit and wedding cake as an ideal dessert. They also make very good icebreakers, as they certainly get guests out of their seats and mingling!
Couples are definitely becoming more aware of the need to plan far in advance of the day. I received a letter recently from a couple who, after reading my book, The really useful WEDDING BOOK for South Africa, had decided to postpone their wedding to a later date, as they suddenly realized all they had to do prior to the event! What I really liked was the fact that they said that by doing so they were having more fun, as they had more time to make important decisions – and they also weren’t running the risk of making the wrong choices.
The most important elements to take into consideration when planning a wedding are your own personal likes and dislikes. Don’t be persuaded to follow the latest trends if they do not reflect your own style and personality. This is especially true of your choice of wedding dress, as it is vital to feel confident, relaxed and special while wearing it. Spend time choosing it – you could find yourself deciding on something completely different to what you had envisaged at the start of your planning.
As a case in point, after our Festival I received an e-mail from a bride who had booked a time slot at our Dressing-up Box, where we offered visitors the opportunity to try on a variety of designer gowns. She remarked: “It was great fun fitting on real designer wedding dresses. And the advice they gave me was awesome, as the wedding dress I had in mind was totally not what they recommended for me!”
Wedding magazines and books offer excellent opportunities to find ideas. At Celebration House, our unique permanent exhibition centre in Protea Road, Claremont (near Cavendish Square), we have an extensive library of imported wedding magazines and books, which you are most welcome to come and browse through. There is no need to make an appointment, nor do we charge an entrance fee.
We are not wedding coordinators, but we will provide you, at no charge, with all the information and tools you need to successfully organise your own wedding. All the service providers who exhibit at Celebration House are recommended professionals.
