October 2012

A Bulletin Publication

Graphics and Layout: Tamryn Branch & Yvonne NdlovuMarketing: Jacques Smuts & Thinus van Deventer • Editorial: Beaunice Mnisi & Retha Nel Photograph: Jean Meintjies & Helga de la Port

Flowers and their seasons

Emergency kit for brides

Perfect gown for your body shape

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Bruidegom: Beplan jou uitrusting

Photo courtesy: Willie and Mariette Photography | 082 522 9871

October 20122

Available all year roundRosesLilliesChrysanthenums (Daisies)CarnationsBaby’s BreathGerberaGerminiCalla Lillies

November to February (Summer)SunflowersAlstromeria

March to April (Autumn)Autumn LeavesOrchidsProteas

May to August (Winter)ProteasOrchids

September & Octo-ber (Spring)FreesiasTulipsDaffodils

RanunculusDelphiniumSnapdragons

SweetpeasAnemones

Iris

Flowers and their seasons

Good luck, bad luck

Compiled by Beaunice MnisiSource: http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-customs

Compiled by Beaunice MnisiSource: www.weddingflair.co.za (supplied by Kloof Florist)

Feeling nervous on your wedding day? Positive that something is going to go horribly wrong? Why not add a little good luck into the mix?

Here are a few traditions from cultures around the world that promote good luck and some that will help you avoid bad luck.

1. According to Greek cul-ture, a sugar cube tucked into the bride’s glove is lucky. The sugar will sweeten the union.

2. The English believe a spi-der found in a wedding dress means good luck.

3. In English tradition, Wednesday is considered the best day to marry. It dates back to an old nur-sery rhyme. According to the same rhyme Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health.

4. The reason the groom traditionally carries the bride across the threshold is to bravely protect her from evil spirits lurking below.

5. Although Saturday is the most popular day to marry, according to English folk-lore it’s the unluckiest day to have a wedding.

6. In Hindu tradition, rain on your wedding day is consi-dered good luck.

7. For good luck, Egyptian women pinch the bride on her wedding day.

8. Middle Eastern brides paint henna on their hands and feet to protect them-selves from the evil eye.

9. A Swedish bride puts a sil-ver coin from her father and a gold coin from her mother in each shoe to ensure that she’ll never do without.

10. A Finnish bride tradi-tionally went door-to-door collecting gifts in a pillow-case, accompanied by an older married man who rep-resented long marriage.

11. A pearl engagement ring is said to be bad luck be-cause its shape echoes that of a tear.

12. A sapphire in a wedding ring is a symbol for marital happiness.

13. Aquamarine represents marital harmony and is said to ensure a long, happy mar-riage.

Interesting wedding ring facts:

1. Engagement and wed-ding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.

2. About 70% of all brides have the traditional diamond and wear it on the fourth fin-ger of their left hand.

3. Priscilla Presley’s engage-ment ring was a massive 3 1/2-carat rock surrounded by a detachable row of smaller diamonds.

4. Diamonds set in gold or silver became popular as be-trothal rings among wealthy Venetians toward the end of the fifteenth century.

5. One of history’s earliest engagement rings was given to Princess Mary, the two-year old daughter of Henry VIII.

6. In the US seventeen tons

October 2012 3

Essentials:• Disprin/Grandpa/

Compral headache tab-lets

• Band-Aids• A bottle of water• Chalk (to cover up

last minute smudges or smears if you’re wearing white)

• Clear nail polish (to stop stocking runs)

• Safety pins or small sil-ver pins

• Your favourite breath mints or gum

• Extra earring backs• Extra stockings• Hair pins or scrunchies• Wet-wipes/waterless

hand sanitizer

•Matches/lighter• Mini sewing kit• Sello-tape• Small scissors• Straws (to keep the

bride hydrated without smearing her lipstick)

• Spot remover (a tiny bottle of Vanish is per-fect)

• Tissues• Mini nail kit (tweezers,

a nail file and clippers)• A small mirror• Perfume• A comb/brush• Extra cash (just in case)• Lil-lets or Always Ultra• Superglue

Extras:Make sure to pack an

energy bar, Snacker, Jun-gle Oats bar or bite-sized snack to keep the bride’s blood sugar up. For sum-

mer/outdoor wed-dings pack a small bottle of sun block

and extra water.

Keep one step ahead of emergencies!

Compiled by Retha NelSourced from http://wedding.theknot.com

On your big day millions of things can go wrong. Just keep calm and make sure you have your very own emergency kit to quickly rummage through. The essentials listed below can be packed into a

medium-sized make-up bag

or tote and will ensure you (or

more likely your mother or maid of honor) can deal with any personal emergencies

that arise.

EVENT DATES LOCATION TIMES MORE INFO Summer Bridal Fair 7 Oct 2012 Amanzingwe

Hartbeespoortdam See Website www.amanzingwe.co.za

Zevenwacht Mall Bridal Expo 2 – 4 Nov 2012 Zevenwacht Mall

Cape Town

Fri: 10:00 – 17:00 Sat: 09:00 – 17:00 Sun:10:00 - 17:00

cheryl@cwe.co.za

Oakfield Farm Bridal Expo

26 – 27 Jan 2013

Oakfield Farm Muldersdrift

10:00 – 17:00 daily www.bridalexpo.co.za

NWJ Bridal Show 1 – 3 Mar 2013 Durban Exhibition Centre TBA www.nwjbridalshow.co.za

Canal Walk Bridal Fair 1 – 3 Mar 2013 Canal Walk, Cape Town TBA cheryl@cwe.co.za

Bridal Indaba 2 – 3 Mar 2013 Indaba Hotel, Fourways 09:00 – 17:00 daily www.bridal-indaba.co.za

Wedding Expo 6 – 7 Apr 2013 The Coca-Cola Dome 09:00 – 17:00 daily www.wedding-expo.co.za

Wedding Whiz Exhibition

18 – 19 May 2013

Sandton Convention Centre

09:00 – 17:00 daily

info@weddingwhiz.co.za www.weddingwhiz.co.za

The South African Wedding Show 7 – 9 June 2013 Cape Town International

Convention Centre TBA www.thesaweddingshow.co.za

of gold are made into wedding rings each year.7. Snake rings dotted with ruby eyes were popu-

lar wedding bands in Victorian England. The coils winding into a circle symbolized eternity.

Wedding ceremony facts:1. In many cultures around the world the hands

of a bride and groom are tied together to demon-strate the couple’s commitment to each other. This is where the phrase “tying the knot” originated.

2. Princess Victoria established the tradition of playing Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” during her wed-ding procession in 1858.

3. The bride stands to the groom’s left during a Christian ceremony, because in the past the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors.

5. Bachelor parties were first held by ancient Spar-tan soldiers, who kissed their bachelor days good-bye with a raucous party.

Compiled by Beaunice MnisiSource: www.bridesdiary.co.za

BRIDAL FAIRS CALENDER 2012

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Summer weddingsThe hot summers in the Lowveld don’t have to be a reason not get married in the summer months. Get creative

and use the heat to your advantage. Here are some tips to plan the summer wedding everyone will enjoy.

When deciding what put on the tables at the reception most brides only think of table settings and centerpieces. But it is important to remember to put water or juice out for guests who don’t drink alcohol.

Add an extra special touch with personalized water and juice labels.

A favourite is a picture of the bride and groom as well as a message of thanks to guests. Get creative and order different labels for different tables or put personal messages to friends or family on the labels.

Guests are sure to remember the occasion long after it’s over because

of that bottle of water or juice that they took home.

Oasis Tzaneen in the Central Mall (old Checkers centre) offers a per-sonalized label service as well as a range of fruit juices and water. Visit them at their shop or contact them on 015 307 2504 to find out more.

Never hold a summer wedding in the middle of the day. Rather hold a late afternoon or ear-ly evening wedding for cooler weather.

If you’re having an outdoor wedding make sure there is enough shade available or move your guests under a marquee tent for the reception. Find out if you can hire misters or fans to keep your guests cool.

Keep your guests hydrated: Put out sink baths filled with ice and a variety of water and drinks near the re-ception area or dance floor. Get the bar to serve wine or fruit smoothies instead of traditional cocktails.

Dos & Don’ts

Use bright summery col-ours or opt for cool blues, purples and greens. If you decide on a picnic theme use red and white check patterns for table cloths and echo that in your napkins or string a line of flags overhead or around the edge of the marquee tent.

Use plain bright table cloths with plain white or cream plates and add patterned napkins or use patterned table cloths with plain, brightly coloured plates and cream or white napkins.

For an unusual centrepiece place votive candles in small vases or Consol jam jars or arrange a variety of seasonal fruit on platters or in vases for summery, ed-ible centrepiece on the tables.

Decor

Food

Table menu

Picnic menu

Attire

Make up

Hair

Favours

Confetti

Serve lighter food like fresh fruits and vegetables or con-sider packing picnic baskets for each cou-ple or group.

Starter: Fruit skewers with a trio of sorbet (coor-dinate the colours with your wed-ding colours). Main course: Sliced roast beef and chicken with a vegetable platter and a varie-ty of salads – potato, greek, coleslaw.

Dessert: Amarula ice cream with chocolate sauce

If you’re planning to party late into the night, remem-ber to set out late night snacks or arrange with a caterer to bring out platters of finger-foods at around 22:00.

Pack a picnic bas-ket with: one or two types of cheese/cream cheese or spreads, a few types of crack-ers or toasted French bread, small contain-ers of salad, gourmet

sandwiches, small chicken or beef pies andcookies, petit fours or small slices of cake for dessert. Instead of picnic baskets, you can also create a buffet table from a large slab of wood balanced on wooden barrels or crates. Guests can then create their own meals in take-away containers or wooden plates.

Make sure that you won’t end up hot and sticky in your wedding dress. Choose light fab-ric, like silk, or opt for a shorter skirt. Consider changing into a cocktail dress or sheath for the reception/dancing.

A crisp linen suit and leather sandals will en-sure the groom also feels cool and comfortable.

Wear light, nude shades with a pink lip colour or echo one of your wedding colours by

wearing a bold eye shadow or lip colour. The wedding

party should remember to ap-ply a good layer of sunscreen to skin that will be exposed to sun. Brides can wear a founda-tion or powder that contains SPF. Hand out small bottles of sunscreen or mosquito repel-lent to guests or place them around the reception area.

In the hot Lowveld climate up-do’s like buns/chignons or curls pinned up messily are the easi-est way to keep cool.

If your hair tends to look flat, choose a hairstyle that will cre-ate height like curls. For unruly or frizzy hair braid the hair loose-ly or tie up die upper half of your hair in ‘n bun or French braid and leave the rest silky and loose.

Sending guests home with a small thank-you gift has become tradition. Tie the gift in with the theme. With a picnic theme place a tiny basket with chocolate, truffles or cookies on each plate or engrave a wine glass with a thank you mes-

sage. Alternatively give each guest a nicely wrapped piece of wedding cake or a bundle of herbs they can plant at home.

For a more tradi-tional confetti use rose petals or normal confetti. Providing small vi- a l s of bubble mix for guests add a fun element to the wedding and look beautiful on photo- graphs. Dried herbs are also a green alternative.

Add an extra special touch to refreshments

Compiled by Retha NelSource: www.theknot.com

October 2012 5

Winter weddingsWinter is one of the best seasons to get married in the Lowveld. Take advantage of the mild temperatures and

hold a morning or mid-day wedding. Evenings with their colder weather can offer its own enchantments.Here are some tips to plan your perfect winter wedding.

Make your re-ception cozy by creating a spe-cial lounge area with couches, throw pillows

and throws.Don’t hold your wedding in a big hall because

they tend to be draughty and you don’t want guests leaving halfway because of the cold. Serve drinks like tea, coffee and sherry to keep waiting guests warm. Make sure that guests will not be freezing in the church or reception area. For small-er receptions, a cozy area with a fire crackling in the hearth will warm guests up faster.

Dos & Don’tsDon’t be afraid to experiment with colour. Choose sum-mer colours like yel-low and lime green to create a tropical oasis amid the cold of winter.

Warmer autumn shades of browns, reds and yellows can create the illusion of warmth or cool whites and blues can transform the reception area into a winter wonderland. Use a variety of candles arranged on a platter, in bottles or floating on water as centrepieces. It will add a bit of romance and warmth to an evening wedding reception.

DecorFood

Heavier fare, like soups, roasted meats and stews will warm up the guests. Consider serving Glüh-wein or sherry at the start of the reception to warm up guests.

Make up

W i t h c o o l e r w e a t h e r heavier make up won’t make you feel stuffy. Try matching your eye shadow with the wed-ding colours or keep your eye shadow understated and wear a bold lip colour.

Compiled by Retha NelSource: www.theknot.com

Sheath is the perfect fit for petite women. The

slim sheath silhouette closely follows the lines of the body elon-

gating it and creating the

illusion of height.

Ball GownIs ideal for short or tall not too fleshy women. The most traditional of all categories, the ball gown is typified

by a fitted bodice and waistline

that lead to a very full

skirt.

Empire Is the perfect dress type if you’ve

got a baby bump, anywhere from four to nine months along. This is also a great choice for those women with a boyish waistline. The hallmark of the Em-pire-style gown is a high waistline (right under the bust), which falls to a

slimmer skirt.

A-Line or Princess An A-line or Princess shape is cut

close to the hip with a slight flare at the hem (creating an A-shape) and is

ideal for taller and petite women.

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Mermaid or TrumpetA body-hugging silhouette that flares below the knee ideal for full-figured, volup-tuous women with a well-endowed bust and curvy hips.

Perfect gown for your body shape

Winter weddingsTable menuHair

Favours

Confetti

S t a r t e r : Butternut/

Pea and h a m

s o u p with croutons

Main course: Side of beef/lamb or roast chick-

en, roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables with cheese sauce and a garden salad.

Dessert: Decadent choco-late or velvet pudding served with cream or cus-tard on the side.

Arrange with the caterer for extra platters of finger foods for guests who plan to dance late into the night. Warm guests up with a mug of hot chocolate and short-bread cookies or warm jam doughnuts.

In winter hair can be left loose without the bride getting hot

and irritated. Try doing tiny braids all over your head to create texture or wear it in big loose curls. Braiding a few thin ribbons into your hair in a colour correspond-ing with the wedding theme.

Send your g u e s t s home with a piece of d e l i c i o u s frosted fruit cake wrapped in a small packet or a small bottle of Glühwein with a thank-you message at-tached.

Choose confetti that fits with the wedding’s theme. If it’s a vintage wedding use rose petals or if it’s a winter wonderland give guests white rice to sym-bolise snow. For an unusu-al confetti use dried peas or potpourri.

AttireJust make sure that

you buy a wrap or jack-et to keep you warm if your wedding dress is sleeveless or short-sleeved. Choose heavier fabrics like silk satins or heavier laces that will absorb your body heat. Wear closed-toe shoes with stockings if the weather turns colder, don’t brave the cold with tiny, delicate sandals. The groom and his par-ty can wear matching scarves if the weather turns cold, otherwise a traditional suit with a shirt to match your dress will keep him warm enough.

Compiled by Beaunice MnisiSource: www.theknot.com

Weddings are delightful events filled with scandals, where Murphy’s Law reigns supreme. To keep your wed-ding from turning into a nightmare,

here are a few tips to handle the most frequent emergencies.

October 2012 7

Situated on the banks of the Blyde River Canyon and surrounded by the Drakensberg Mountains in the Lowveld of Lim-popo, Moholoholo Ya Mati is the perfect venue.

Get married in the beau-tiful chapel, enjoy deli-cious meals in the res-taurant and experience a night in the rock and thatch chalets.

For slightly larger recep-tions, a white marquee tent can be placed on the beautiful grounds, sur-

rounded by green lawns and majestic Jackalberry trees.

To add a touch of Africa to your wedding, photos can be taken on a game drive vehicle, near a ter-mite mound or acacia trees, with a variety of animals.

Their well-trained staff will see to guests’ every need and ensure that the wedding party enjoys a relaxing, stress-free day.

With service of the high-est quality, no task is too

big or small. Extra accommodation

can easily be arranged for family and friends in Mo-holoholo or nearby lodg-es or bed and breakfasts of the wedding party’s choice.

Let them help plan and share in the experience of a magic destination wed-ding.

For enquiries or assis-tance contact Marisa at the Moholoholo Ya Mati head office on 084 511 3000 or 072 191 2024.

Have a destination wedding

Most brides try to make their wedding unique with interesting decor or an unusual ceremony. Why not try a destination wedding?

What else can go wrong?

Extreme heatIn the Lowveld the chances are good that your summer wedding will take place on a scorching hot day. Make sure to hire extra fans or check that the reception hall has working air conditioning. Buy enough drinks and ice to cool down guests.

RainIf you get married in the rainy

season, check the weather fre-quently. If there is a chance for rain, make sure the ceremony and reception can be moved indoors. Also provide extra umbrellas for guests.

Unexpected extra guestsAlways prepare for two or three extra guests by ordering extra chairs, place settings and food portions. This will also come in handy if anything rips

or breaks at the last minute. Or if the bride miscalculated the number of guests...

Photographer cancelsAlways make sure there is a friend of family member with a good camera on standby in case the photographer can-not make it. Asks guests with cameras to bring them with and send you the pictures af-terwards.

Compiled by Retha Nel

October 20128

Vir ‘n stylvolle bruidegom

To register or not to register

Tussen al die troureëlings en mooi-maak deur word die bruidegom baie keer afgeskeep. Alhoewel die kollig grotendeels op die bruid val is dit belangrik dat die bruidegom ook op sy beste lyk.Alhoewel die bruidegom meestal in ‘n trou-pak trou, is daar soveel verskillende snitte, kleure en materiale beskikbaar dat ‘n troupak geensins vervelig hoef te wees nie. Laat die bruidegom sy stempel afdruk op sy uitrus-ting deur stylvolle bykomstighede te dra.

Dinnerware:• neutral/special occa-sion dinner set• coffee or tea set,• fruit bowls.

Serving dishes:• casserole dishes• platters• set of salad bowls• cake plate• chip-and-dip server• serving tray.

Cutlery:• serving spoons/forks • cake server• salad tongs• knife sets• knife sharpener• steak knives• cutlery set

Glassware:• pitcher• martini glasses• champagne flute glasses• wine glasses• ice bucket with tongs.

Kitchen:• cookbooks• coasters• spice rack• storage containers• dishcloths/towels• spoon rest.

Appliances:• Blender• bread machine• smoothie maker• coffee maker• food processor

• slow cooker• stand mixer• mini food chopper• popcorn maker• waffle iron.

Bakeware:• cake pans• cookie sheets• measuring cups and spoons• mixing bowl set• muffin pans• pizza pan.

Cookware:• fondue set• pressure cooker• frying pans• wok

Gadgets:• bottle/can opener• grater/peeler/zester• pizza cutter• kitchen timer.

Linen:• tablecloth/napkins• duvet cover• sheets/pillow cases• throws• rugs• throw pillows• bath towels• hamper.

Furnishings:• clocks• candles and other small accent pieces• framed art• vases• TV trays.

Skoene en sokkies:

Kies interessante skoene om die troupak op te kikker

soos ‘sneakers’ of dansskoene. Vir ‘n somertroue kan elegante

sandale ook ingespan word. Wat sokkies betref, kies ‘n

paar kleurvolles of met inte-ressante patrone wat af en toe onder die broekspyp kan

uitloer.

Die sakhorlosie: Vir ‘n vintage troue is ‘n sakhorlosie die

perfekte bykomstigheid om ‘n tikkie ele-gansie aan die troupak te gee. As daar nie so ‘n erfstuk in die familie is nie, kan die bruid altyd een aan haar bruidegom gee wat eendag ‘n erfstuk kan word.

Die sakdoekie/”poc-ket square”:

So ‘n sakdoekie is die ideale manier om die kleure van die bruidsrok, rui-ker of trouklere te weerspieël.

Die das: Die das kan elegant of speels wees en ook gebruik word om die troupak en die bruidsrok bymekaar te laat pas. Daar is ‘n verskeiden-heid dasse om van die kies: breed, smal, strikdas of selfs ‘n krawat.

Die lyfband:

Jy hoef nie by die klassieke bruin of swart leer te hou nie, maar maak seker dat jou lyfband en skoene nie met mekaar bots nie.

Die band hoef nie die-selfde kleur of styl as die

skoene te wees nie, maar maak seker dat dit stylvol

is.

Die dasspeld en mansjetknope: Die twee bykomstighede kan ook (soos die sakhorlo-

sie) oulike geskenke van die bruid aan die bruide-gom wees. Jy kan ook dit laat graveer om dit ‘n meer persoonlike geskenk te maak.

Die juweliersware: Moenie bang wees om op jou troue ‘n ring, oorbel, ket-

tinkie of armband te dra. As jy dit gewoonlik dra kan die spesiale juweliersware ook ‘n interessante kwaliteit aan jou uitrusting verleen. Maak net seker dat dit van goeie kwaliteit is of dat dit sentimentele waarde het.

Die knoopsgatruiker: Kies iets wat by die res van die ruikers pas,

maar ook by jou persoonlikheid pas. Jy kan selfs die ruiker afhaal as fotos geneem word, sodat, al gaan die keuse van ruiker uit die mode, die foto’s tydloos is.

Wedding couples are often in two minds when deciding whether to ask guests for a money

donation or to set up a gift registry at a shop.Although money is always useful, a registry will ensure you get a lot of items you need and will go a long way towards furnishing your house.

Be smart if you decide on a gift registry and register at a shop that is affordable for all your guests. After you’ve decided, don’t just wan-

der around in the store or tick all the boxes for things you wish you had but aren’t practical. Do

a stock-take of what you as a couple have and what you still need then go register.

When registering make sure that guests will not be able to buy the same item twice to ensure that

you don’t end up with four of the same salad bowl. Also pick a wide variety of gifts to ensure that guests with tight budgets and those with money to spare will find something they can

afford.Here are a few items that will always come in

handy:

Compiled by Retha NelSource: http://www.theweddingsource.com/content/registry-checklist.htm

Compiled by Retha NelBron: www.trouinspirasie.co.za