Lovely Pretty Digital Magazine | Spring Edition | 2017
! o l l He Spring is in the air! The birds are chirping, the sun has come out and the jasmine outside my window smells incredible. One of my favourie things about spring is spring cleaning! I love any excuse to declutter my home, and spring is the BEST excuse! I'm also really enjoying any opportunity to be outside! Other than training for the Gun Run, I'm really enjoying just being outside and celebrating the fact that summer is on the way! Anyone else? Kelly xxx
4
s t n e Cont
8 BOUQUETS Half price bouquets with Petal & Post
12
REAL WEDDING These two tied the knot in a vibrant rooftop ceremony. BRIDAL BOUDOIR Would you consider doing a boudoir shoot?
21 22 BRIDESMAIDS GIFT GUIDE Spoil your girls with these pretty things!
DINNER FOR TWO Check out two simple, yet delicious recipes.
& i t s Kri d i v a D
A ROOFTOP WEDDING
How did you and your partner meet? David and I met in Amsterdam while traveling Europe. How did he propose? David completely surprised me by proposing while on a Sunday morning walk along the beach in Elwood. David tried so hard to make it a private moment for us, but it didn’t work as passers-by yelled out “Congratulations!” What’s your most important piece of advice for creating and maintaining a strong relationship? Communication is just so important, without it there are always issues. Talk it out and say what you mean! Tell us about your wedding gown and how you chose it: I was devastated when I started looking for a dress, I didn’t like anything. Then I found Belle et Blanc where I had several dresses to choose from! It was an easy decision though, I loved my dress!!!
4
What sort of style did you envision for your wedding day? I envisioned a beautiful summer afternoon and something simple with pops of color. The Emerson was our first thought as it’s truly the perfect classy rooftop. Crisp white tables and chairs on top of synthetic grass giving an easy “Sunday lunch” feeling. Then we added bright flowers and buckets of colored shots to get the party started. It turned out better than I imagined. What was your favorite moment from the day? The whole day was amazing. I remember sitting down for lunch and thinking, “Take a moment to look around.” All of the smiling and laughing from our loved ones was all we wanted for our wedding day, and that’s what we got. Any DIY décor elements? We made signs for the shots that said “Have a shot we tied the knot.” If you could do it all over again, what would you change? I wouldn’t change anything! It was honestly amazing! Any tips that you can give to future brides? Don’t stress so much, it really isn’t worth it. Enjoy the process, but don’t make it harder than it has to be and make sure it’s what you want. You’re the bride, it’s your day! Remember that this is your day. Dress: Belle at Blanc | Makeup: Ben Dniprowskij | Hair: Runway Room Prahran | Wedding Invitations: Adorn Invitations | Accessories: Love On Jewellery | Groom's Suit: Oscar Hunt | On The Day Stationery: BWeddings | Photographer: Darren Collison | Cake: Ministry of Cake | Flower: Jizell Flowers | Venue: The Emerson | Decor: Complete Function Hire
5
e g a i r r a M n o i t a r a p e Pr On Monday 28 August, Lovely Pretty's first ever Marriage Preparation and Date Night event took place at Sostanza Bakery in Cape Town. Couples were seated at twoseater tables, where they were able to enjoy a delicious three course meal. In between courses, our guest speakers, Phil and Dale provided the couples with practical tools to take into marriage. Phil and Dale have been happily married for over 37 years and they have run marriage preparation courses from their home for years! The focus of the marriage building content was on "Communication" and "Conflict Resolution".
The sessions were equal parts informative and interactive, and couples were given discussion points and activities to help them work through the material. Sostanza Bakery's candlelit dinner was the perfect setting for a romantic night out, while .
learning all about building a longlasting marriage from the pros. In the photo below, Phil and Dale are demonstrating one of their conflict resolution techniques, involving a ball that represents "the problem"
6
To remind couples to focus on "the problem", they were each given a ball and asked to write "problem" on it. Some of the other practical tools included a priorities ranking activity. Each guest received an envelope with cards inside. Each card had a word written on it. "Money", "Friends", "Family" and "Work", for example. Using these cards, guests got to rank their priorities as well as the priorities of their partner. Not only was this a fun activity over dinner, but it was also an incredibly important conversation that every couple should have. It helped everyone to answer the question: What is the most important thing in my life? Nothing sets the tone better than beautiful acoustic music. Glen Hartmann helped guests feel relaxed and romantic throughout the course of the evening by performing for us. The final session of the night was hosted by Muwanwa from Gunstons Attorneys. Muwanwa explained got very practical and chatted about marriage contracts. Knowing the difference between "In Community of Property" and "Out of Community of Property" is so important.
Muwanwa gave some really important tips on when to sign a marriage contract, how to go about doing it, and who to chat to about the whole process. One of the most important pieces of information that was shared is that if a couple doesn't sign a marriage contract, they will automatically be legally married "In Community of Property". This means that everything is co-owned between both spouses. This includes all businesses and any potential debt which may occur. If you'd like more legal advice, or if you'd like to sign a marriage contract, chat to Muwanwa by contacting info@gunstons.com. There will definitely be more events like this in the future, so if you are interested in attending a Marriage Preparation and Date Night event in your suburb or city, please get in touch and send an email to kellyjanehartmann @gmail.com.
7
Half price bouquet with Petal & Post
Ts and Cs: The first five brides to request a quote using the code "LP2017" at hello@petalandpost.co.za will receive 50% off their bouquet when booking Petal and Post to do your wedding flowers. Five other services are required in order to qualify (eg table flowers, buttonholes, corsages, crowns, arch, church flowers, cake flowers, wreaths). This special offer is valid to the first five brides to request a quote in the month of September. Cape Town brides only. www.petalandpost.co.za
8
9
Irresistible wedding cakes
Pictured above is the most incredible wedding cake table. I know this because this was the table of incredible cakes served at my wedding in 2015. Seline van der Wat of Masterchef South Africa is the genius behind these delicious cakes and they really are the best cakes I've ever eaten. So, what is it that makes some wedding cakes better than others? First up, you don't need dessert and wedding cake. Save yourself a little bit of money and have your wedding cake served as dessert. You'll find that if you serve dessert first, most
people won't have room to eat wedding cake.
about what cake you'll be serving.
In our case, we cut the cake right after our ceremony so that our guests could enjoy them immediately. It worked really well and there was no cake left over!
Pick your flavour
Top tip: Ask one of your bridesmaids to keep a couple of slices of cake aside so that you can take them with you to your honeymoon suite and really enjoy them without worrying about having cake in your teeth for the wedding photos. Now that you know when to serve the cake, let's talk
Brides often start by thinking of cake toppers, and while that's important, it's not nearly as important as the flavour of the cake. You want your cake to be tasty, right? So start at the beginning and pick the flavour of your cake. Some cake flavours that always go down well: Chocolate Carrot Cake Red Velvet Vanilla Lemon
10
If you want, you could even have multiple flavours. A cake table with different cakes is just one of the options. Another way you could do this is by having a multi-tier cake with a different flavour for each tier. You could also include delicious cupcakes or cake pops to incorporate more of your favourite flavours into the mix. Some other cake flavours that are a little more adventurous: Cheesecake Coconut Banana Chocolate mint Apple spice Choose your filling The cake filling is the frosting or icing between each layer of cake. If you are opting for a naked cake, the filling is going to replace your icing. Some cake filling ideas: Salted caramel Chocolate mousse Lemon curd Chocolate ganache
Choose your icing Now that you've got your cake flavour and filling, it's time to choose the icing that will make this cake even more delicious. Some icing options: Chocolate buttercream Cream cheese frosting Chocolate fondant Caramel buttercream Italian meringue How about this chocolatelovers' dream: Chocolate cake + chocolate ganache + chocolate buttercream Be adventurous with your choices and pick flavours that make people want to go back for more! Cake toppers This might not affect the flavour, but a cake topper will make your wedding cake look more quirky and unique to you. This is one of my favourites, by Fyntacie:
Wedding Planning Starter Kit Do you dream of planning a wedding that is magical, romantic and stress-free? After years of planning and coordinating weddings, I’ve crammed tons of wedding planning expertise into an eBook. I believe that anyone can plan their own wedding. All you need is a set of tools that many wedding planning pros won’t share. One of my favourite things about Wedding Planning Starter Kit is the Printables section! You'll find a wedding planning checklist, questionnaires of what to ask each of your vendors, and a budget tracker. Print these and put them in your wedding planning file! Go on, grab your copy and start planning the wedding of your dreams! www.lovelypretty.co.za/store
11
Why every bride should have a boudoir shoot I chatted to photographer, Katie Mayhew, about boudoir photography. Brides often consider doing a boudoir shoot to gift their future hubby a “little black book” of gorgeous, elegant, sexy images the morning of their wedding day. It’s such a personal, thoughtful gift, that will put a smile on his face and create a wonderful memory for him on your wedding day. As a photographer, my favorite part of the shoot is seeing her blossom with confidence, and what started as a gift for him, actually becomes a gift to herself. Before the wedding day is always a good time, but so is any anniversary, Valentine’s Day, birthday or “just because” gift day.
Start planning your shoot about 2-3 months before you need the album, so that you have time to do the shoot, allow them to be edited, select your favorites, design the album & get it printed. You don’t want to feel rushed to get things done. I ask clients to bring 3-5 outfits with them ranging from those with lots of coverage to those with less. Corsets and bodysuits are a great option to start with, to slowly build confidence before getting to the more revealing lingerie. I also find that spending some time chatting about the outfit choices gets them telling me what they were thinking when they chose them, and tells me what they feel confident about, and what they feel more selfconscious about. Sometimes a couple of sips of some champagne can do wonders too!
12
When posing, I start with some more conservative options, and show a few images on the back of my camera to build their confidence. Usually, even the most insecure clients warm up to the shoot within about 15-20 minutes, and we can start getting a little more daring with the poses and outfit choices.
You are absolutely not limited to lingerie! Jeans and a t-shirt or cami can look freaking sexy when photographed correctly. A cocktail dress that makes you feel like a million bucks works well, as well as corsets & bodysuits. When I did my boudoir shoot (yes, I have been on the other side of the camera, so I totally get how you feel!), I included some sports kit because it’s very “me”, and a pair of boyleg undies and tank top can look phenomenal too. I usually ask clients to bring some lingerie, an oversized jersey or t-shirt, a men’s shirt & something that they really love. Oh, and jeans, and some killer heels. On the day of the shoot, we meet at the guesthouse (or your home if that’s where you’d prefer to shoot) and it all starts with you being pampered by the amazing hair and makeup artist.
This usually takes about 60-90 minutes, and we often chat a little more (or have a mini dance party to some music). Once you have been turned into the most amazing version of you, we start with your first outfit, and start shooting. I usually shoot for around 90 minutes to 2 hours, but it also varies depending on the number of outfits, and how good you are feeling on the day. After the shoot, I head on home to start working on your images, and you get to go out with your other half, or have a night out with the girls (you’ll be looking like a million bucks, so take advantage of it!). I send you a sneak peek a few days later, and you join me at my home for a reveal of your images about 2-3 weeks later (don’t worry - I kick the boys out for this). You get to see a slideshow of your edited images, and then we go through and select your favourites. You get to choose the products you want & I place the order.
Book your boudoir photo shoot today by getting in touch with Katie Mayhew: katiemayhewphotography.co.za | 083 288 5643 info@katiemayhewphotography.co.za | Cape Town, South Africa
13
YOUR WEDDING OPENING DANCE with John Murray Dance Studio Open the dance floor in style on your wedding day! We arrange, choreograph and prepare your first dance to your choice of music and show you valuable (must-know) etiquette on and off the floor with easy and beautiful dance variations to suit your special song. Learn important info from the table to the dance floor and how to present the bride. Fun lessons are also planned for your entire wedding party (retinue). A special experience for the bride, groom, family and friends. We make it as fancy or as simple as you like it.
JOHN MURRAY DANCE STUDIO | SOMERSET MALL, SOMERSET WEST INFO@JOHNMURRAYDANCE.CO.ZA | WWW.JOHNMURRAYDANCE.CO.ZA 084 434 5490
15
Your guide to having awesome wedding day hair Mel Taylor is an exceptional hair stylist and make up artist. What you might not know about Mel is that she's been in the industry for thirteen years! Three of those years were spent at Simon Warwick in London, where Mel really developed her passion for all things hair. For the last three years, Mel has been running her own studio in Melville and absolutely loving it! Mel admits that it often doesn't feel like she can call this "work" because she just loves it so much. Now, THAT is the type of person you want doing your hair, especially for your wedding day! I chatted to Mel about the whole process of wedding hairstyles and she gave me some really helpful and practical information about the process from start to finish. Before the wedding day Mel's top tip for having super shiny hair on your wedding day may just surprise you because it's so easy. "The week before the wedding don’t wash your hair as all the natural oils start developing, and when you wash your hair on the day the shine is just astounding. This is not for everyone but it's honestly the best trick ever." And as for having a drastic hairstyle change before the wedding, Mel's professional advice is to keep in mind that your wedding photos are going to stay with you forever.
16
That's not to say that a drastic change doesn't work. If that's what you'd like to do, Mel recommends doing so at least a month before the wedding so that you've got plenty of time to get used to your new look. "However I once had a bride that went super short for her wedding and wore a red wedding dress," Mel says. "She was the absolute exception and it just felt right and came out beautifully! It really just depends on the individual but this is not the case for most ladies."
"Never cut or colour your hair the week before the wedding. It's just too stressful!" Thinking of having your usual cut and colour right before the wedding? Take some advice from the pros and make sure this is done at least two weeks before the wedding. Never cut or colour your hair the week before the wedding. It's just too stressful! On the wedding day Mel has a beautiful studio in Melville which is a wonderful space for brides and bridesmaids to come along and get ready for the wedding. The space has even been used to host a bridal shower, where all the girls got their hair and make up done before going out for the party! Of course, Mel is totally happy to come to your home and help you get ready for your big day. If you are starting to plan your "getting ready" schedule for the day, keep your bridesmaids in mind. Mel's advice is for everyone to have their hair washed, blowdried and ready to be styled. The bridesmaids will take about 15 to 20 minutes each, with the bride's hair and make up taking the main focus.
17
While planning your morning, the bride will always have her hair styled last, with her make up already done. Because Mel is an absolute perfectionist, she'll make sure she's got the right products to keep your hair looking fab all day long. "Products are essential!" Mel says, "If I can’t stay for touch ups I always leave a bit of hairspray for her and extra grips and clips. This is also why a trial is so important so you both know the game plan and what works and what doesn’t." Mel has heard some horror stories of stylists just not listening to what the bride wants. You can be sure that when working with Mel, you're getting an incredible wedding day look that you love!
www.meltaylor.co.za 071 037 4508 hair@meltaylor.co.za
"I always love to have a coffee with bride and get to know her and actually talk to her. This gives great insight as to who she is and what her aspirations are for the day." Mel offers a free consultation which usually takes 15 to 20 minutes, and this is the perfect space to chat about what you have in mind for your wedding day hairstyle. In addition, there's also the option of booking a highly recommended hair trial. This is where you get to see what your hair is going to look like on your wedding day. All stylists will agree that this is one of the best ways to feel relaxed, at ease and confident that your stylist knows how to make you look incredible on your wedding day.
5, 7th Avenue, Melville, Johannesburg, 2109
facebook.com/meltaylorhair Instagram: @mel_the_chosen_one_
18
Regular Date Nights Why It's So Important To Start Doing Regular Date Nights When You Get Married
Hi! I’m Bianca. I love yoga, healthy and natural living, nature, spending time with my family, reading in bed or on my couch at home with a cup of tea at hand, beautiful spaces and things, honesty and self awareness. Having been married for over 10 years with two beautiful girls in tow, I know how hard it is to stay and feel connected in a marriage. Although I have a solid and loving marriage, I know that things could fall apart if we don’t put in the effort and energy that’s required, not only in our marriage but within ourselves as individuals. Through my blog and products I hope to inspire and help other couples to realise the importance of spending consistent quality time together and in doing the work that’s needed to have a beautiful and fulfilling marriage. www.datenights.co.za
When my husband and I met about 15 years ago, the one thing that made me realise that he was ‘the one’ was the ease that I felt with him. I remember very clearly often saying how effortless being with him felt. I felt like I could let my guard down and be completely at ease with being myself and being with him. It all just felt so easy. And then we moved in together...And although our relationship was still always pretty easy going and ‘effortless’, it definitely brought with it some new challenges. And then we got engaged... Once again, still a solid relationship but new challenges came up which meant we really had to start communicating more and working things out. But things were always good. We were ‘that couple’, you know the one who thinks we’re the most connected couple, nothing will tear us apart, we’re the one that’s going to make it without a doubt in our mind.
And then we got married... And getting married felt lovely. I loved the feeling of connectedness it gave us, the feeling of being in this ‘together’ as a team. And then we had my daughter... She was a dream baby. My birth was difficult. After 36 hours of being in labour, I had an emergency caesarian. I could hardly get out of bed for 2 weeks so I basically fed my daughter and my husband did the rest. Changing her, bathing her, everything. Having a new born is tough. You’re tired, you don’t know what you’re doing but in this is the beautiful bonding you experience as a couple, the euphoria of having created this little being together, the feeling of becoming a family unit. It’s a challenging but beautiful time. And then we had my second daughter...18 months later. My dad died when she was 4 months old. I had a 22 month old to look after and a 4 month old to look after. And the death
19
of my dad to deal with. And my husband trying to be there for me but not quite knowing how. And then we drifted...My husband and I have always been a solid couple. We’ve always been open and honest with each other. He is my best friend as I am his. I can tell him anything. But one day I had the very real and scary realisation that after being married for a while, love was not going to be enough to keep us together. I have never doubted my love for him but when life starts happening, when children come into the picture, when you’re tired and stretched and challenged, that’s really when one’s marriage is tested. And that’s really when I understood the cliche that relationships are hard work. The work is hard because it needs to be consistent. It’s hard because it requires energy and effort. It’s hard because it requires you to be self reflective and look at your own stuff. It’s hard because you just don’t feel like doing it. But if you want your marriage to last, you have to. You have to do the work. And then we started regular date nights...My husband and I had always said we should do a regular date night but never did. While I wouldn’t say our marriage was anywhere near ending, it was definitely heading towards a place of
complacency and boredom. A place of coexisting but not completely connecting. And so we started going on regular date nights.
"But one day I had the very real and scary realisation that after being married for a while, love was not going to be enough to keep us together." But not just going to the same place every time, rather exploring new things together, trying out new places and experiences. And then we had fun...We laughed. We experienced. We connected. When we haven’t been on a date night in a while we feel it. We miss each other. We miss our time together, away from distractions and responsibilities that home often holds. We miss connecting with each other. Date nights will not solve your marriage problems nor will they make them go away. There are many factors involved in keeping your marriage strong and healthy. But they will help
to strengthen your marriage, to help you feel connected to each other so that when issues come up, you can face them together. They take you out of your routine life and help you to remember the person you first fell in love with. If I can give you some advice before getting married it’s this: Remember to remember each other. Invest in your relationship constantly and consistently. Never get complacent. Start doing regular date nights now so that they are part of your routine. Trust me, it’s much harder to start when the time comes (and it will) that you actually need to start. Do the work. And love each other.
Go ahead and check out Bianca's blog: www.datenights.co.za Facebook: My Date Nights Instagram: @mydatenights
20
21
Dinner for two
MAIN COURSE: SLOW COOKER HONEY TERIYAKI CHICKEN
This recipe is extremely easy to throw into your slow cooker and the honey teriyaki flavour is just gorgeous! The chicken cooks to tender perfection and will be one of THE best things that you will make. Original recipe: www.therecipecritic.com INGREDIENTS: ● 4 large chicken fillets ● ½ cup soya sauce ● ½ cup honey ● ¼ cup onion, chopped ● 2 garlic cloves, minced ● ¼ teaspoon pepper ● ¾ teaspoon ground ginger ● ¼ cup water ● 3 tablespoons cornstarch ● Optional garnish: green onions and sesame seeds
METHOD: 1. Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray and place the chicken breasts in the bottom. In a small bowl whisk the soy sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar, onion, garlic, pepper and ginger. Pour over the chicken breasts. 2. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 4-5 or until chicken is cooked throughout and shreds easily. Once the chicken is cooked, remove with a slotted spoon and
shred on a plate. 3. Pour the sauce into a medium sauce pan. In a small bowl, whisk together the water and cornstarch. Slowly whisk into the sauce on medium high heat. Continue to whisk and let it boil until the honey teriyaki sauce starts to thicken. About 2 minutes. 4. Add the chicken back to the slow cooker and pour the sauce on top stirring to coat. Serve over rice and garnish if desired.
22
DESSERT: DOMESTIC GODDESS CHOCOLATE MOUSSE What better way to end a meal than with good ole chocolate mousse! Nigella Lawson is a goddess in the kitchen and this recipe is one of hers. Original recipe: www.delicious.com.au INGREDIENTS: ● 200g each milk chocolate and dark chocolate, chopped ● 4 eggs, separated ● 300ml thickened cream, plus extra to serve ● 1/3 cup (75gm) caster sugar ● Store-bought caramel sauce, crushed meringue and shaved chocolate, to serve METHOD: 1. Place milk and dark chocolates in separate bowls set over pans of simmering water (don’t .
let bowls touch water), stirring until melted. Cool slightly, then whisk two egg yolks into each bowl. Set aside to cool 2. Beat cream to soft peaks with electric beaters. In a separate bowl, beat eggwhites to soft peaks. Gradually add the sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold the cream in equal portions into chocolate mixtures, when smooth fold in egg whites. Divide between two containers. Cover and chill for 4 hours. 3. Using a tablespoon dipped in warm water, place spoonfuls of dark and milk chocolate mousse onto serving plates. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce, top with crushed meringue, honeycomb and shaved chocolate to serve.
Hi! My name is Stephanie Joyce. I love drinking coffee with friends, playing board games, being out in the fresh air, doing creative things and cooking delicious food for my husband, family and friends; but most importantly I am the owner of The Rolling Pin. The Rolling Pin started off as a catering company. We had the privilege of catering for many camps and events, big and small, in and around Cape Town for a period of 3 years. Currently, my husband and I are residing in Ireland and so The Rolling Pin is now my food blog. My hope is that the recipes on my blog will either spur your passion for tasty food on, or it will spark a passion in you to want to create new and delicious foods. "People who love to eat are always the best people" - Julia Child www.therollingpin.co.za
23
t c a t Con Lovely Pretty lovelypretty.co.za facebook.com/lovelyprettywed twitter.com/lovelyprettywed instagram.com/lovelyprettyinsta kellyjanehartmann@gmail.com
WEDDING PLANNING STARTER KIT (eBook): www.lovelypretty.co.za/store