Our Wedding Story - Find Me a Venue!

So we're engaged and loving it ... but we are starting to feel very stressed and a tad bit desperate... all I want to do is start planning our wedding (it still feels so weird to say/write that) and enjoy designing our invites, DIY-ing our decor and then get serious about finalising our budget (maybe not quite in that order)... but that is virtually impossible with no venue :(

Is a big venue with lots of space, green grass, loads of trees (a forest even), a big dam and a barn/ shed (how awesome would a reception in an old cowshed be) too much to ask for? Apparently it is :(

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So far no luck, but I am glad to still have a few months of planning ahead of me. I have found that having lots of awesome venue-searching friends and family and a lot of help from blogs (Cap Classique, the Pretty Blog) and other amazing wedding-fundis (Lauren, Nadia and Gaby) can really help ease the stress of trying to find a venue.

I now also have a VERY loooong list of venues in the Western Cape... so if you are planning your wedding and need help finding your dream venue, feel free to give me a shout (leave a comment or send me an email) and I will try and help. 

And if you know of any venues that might fit in with the mood/style I am going for (and they are based in the Western Cape) please let me know.

Mystery Weekend Mix # 1

Some music for the weekend... (I haven't figured out how to install a playlist app just yet, so am just linking to the videos for now. I will tech-up soon ... hopefully).

1 One
2 Two
3 Three
4 Four
5 Five
6 Six
7 Seven
8 Eight
9 Nine
10 Ten
11 Eleven
12 Twelve
13 Thirteen
14 Fourteen
15 Fifteen

*disclaimer- please excuse some of the cheesy videos included via the links. 

Bow ties

I am so obsessed with bow ties right now and think there is something so awesome about a groom rocking a colourful bow tie.

Too old fashioned? Or retro enough to be super cool?

Cool pic found here on this very awesome site!

Not sure how to tie a bow-tie -  check this out:

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And guys- if you want to make your own matching cufflinks, the Pretty Blog has a wonderful DIY tutorial for you. 

Note to brides-to-be: The Pretty Blog is full of amazing wedding stuff ... contacts for service providers, inspiring real-weddings and loads of DIY projects- you MUST, must check it out :)

How to be Happy

For a free printable of this awesome poster click here.

Got Cravings?

There is something about salty and sweet mixed together that makes my mouth water! 

Take a cake, fill it with salted caramel, slather it with buttercream, frost it with dark fudge icing and sprinkle it with Fleur de Sel (a gourmet, hand-selected salt) and you have a winning combination ... sounds deadly decadent and completely heavenly!

Deadly and delicious! Recipe here.

Something Worth Blogging About

Well ... I have VERY exciting news!

After 815 days together (who's counting right?) my amazing (and sneaky!) boyfriend surprised me by getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him.

After a long pause (we have to keep them on their feet right?) I burst into (happy) tears and said YES! (Full engagement story and ring pics to follow).

WE ARE GETTING MARRIED! WOOHOO!

I am hoping to post a weekly update on the wedding plans (for those who are interested) and resume some regular (at least once a week) blogging for my own sanity (because there is more to life than planning a wedding right?... right?)

Ok- just wanted to quickly share that news after my very extended absence.