Who says pregnant brides can’t have the wedding and/or honeymoon of their dreams. Just because a bride is in a family way is no reason for her not to be able to have the wedding of her dreams and even go on honeymoon and relax for those special days afterward. Sure, the location, destination and inclusions have to be a little different because we have to consider the baby at all times but…..there are many stunning locations all around South Africa where a gorgeous little wedding can be set up and most of the S.A lodges accommodate very comfortably for a pregnant bride.
NO MALARIA areas are to be even considered. Any area that requires health precautions are absolutely out of the question and if you intend to fly ensure that you check with your GP first. Consider a quiet resort close by your home town where you can escape to for a few days just to unwind and have your memorable little wedding and a few days relaxing with your brand new hubby and then you can always do a longer, more luxurious honeymoon after the baby is born. Many ready made familys take children with them on honeymoon and if planned properly, you will have the honeymoon holiday of a lifetime!!!! The beach, bush, forest and river weddings in South Africa can all cater for the pregnant bride to be and there’s no stress or fuss whatsoever. All you have to do is sort our your wedding dress out and arrive….complete relaxation follows. Upon arrival, the hotel will already have been informed and they truly go all out to ensure that our Maternity mommies have beautiful, romantic, memorable weddings and/or honeymoons. Gone are the days where pregnant brides had to miss out on their dream wedding simply because they had fallen pregnant a little unexpectedly.
Written by Marrilyn
For Travelling Bride
Read More
1 – You are marrying another nationality and the family members don’t get along. The absolute worst disaster is a family fight at the reception. It might be worth a family meeting before the wedding and some direct talk if you even suspect that this could occur.
2 – You have an allergic reaction to something on the day of your wedding. Ensure that you have a few antihistamine tablets around.
3 – Either the bride or the groom have way too much to drink and pass out at the reception. This could be a huge disaster so try to space your drinks and do not, under any circumstances, mix them.
4 – A chandelier comes loose and falls crashing to the floor. Check the reception venue properly and ask a handyman to check all fittings beforehand.
5 – One of the food dishes has an awful smell that tells you, it’s off. Call the caterer aside and softly tell her to GET RID OF IT IMMEDIATELY.
6 – The bar man gets drunk. It might be a wise thing to ensure that the bar man that you choose, does not drink at all. It’s the safest.
7 – The music is NOTHING to what you had in mind. Ask a close family member to take a few favourite CD’s along, just in case.
8 - The camera man trips and falls over a chair. Lets just hope this doesn’t happen.
9 – You have hired the centre pieces on the tables and you notice that guests are taking them with them when they leave. Perhaps place a few little memorables on the table for guests to take and ask your mum or your sister or bridesmaid to ensure that everyone knows what they can take home and what has to be returned. Alternatively, it’s not uncommon to gently remind them on the invitation.
10 – The bride or the groom falls asleep on the night of the wedding. It’s important to work hard at this NOT HAPPENING. If it does….ahhh well….. you’ll have a lifetime to catch up.
Written by Marrilyn
The Travelling Bride
Read More
1 – The wedding night sets the pattern for years to come so it’s pretty important to get it right. Not always possible but setting the atmosphere is as important as anything, so choose a really romantic lodge, hotel or resort for your wedding night.
2 – Ensure that the set up includes candles, champagne, chocolates, rose petals, bubble bath and flowers. This usually does the trick. And make sure you get a queen or king size bed.
3 – Lingerie is important. White, sexy, flowing and easily removable.
4 – Oils and body rubs are highly recommended but it really depends on what you and your partner prefer. If this is going to be the absolute first time then it’s important to chat to your partner in detail prior to the wedding night so that you’re both aware of any concerns or worries on either part. Once spoken about, and discussed, the areas of concern don’t seem so bothersome anymore.
5 – Highly important to remember that lovemaking is an art and although you might be a bit clumsy in the beginning, if you listen to your partners body language, you will quickly pick up what works and what doesn’t. And it ONLY GETS BETTER.
6 – There are no rules in the game of love. You make them up as you go along and always important to share your deepest thoughts with your partner and learn together. Remember, your partner might be just as concerned as you are about certain aspects of lovemaking.
7 – Many couples enjoy rough sex but it is highly recommended that you keep and save this for later during the honeymoon. First night…first time…. perhaps gentle would be the way to go to ensure a perfect ending to a perfect day.
8 - If, for any reason whatsoever, you come away feeling like it was a disaster, do not say NOTHING and for Heaven sake don’t pretend. Sometimes being nervous can have it’s set backs but chat about the experience. Choose your words carefully and suggest that you try something else the next time round. DO NOT SULK.
9 – Whilst on honeymoon you can use the settings to improve on your lovemaking. Sunset walks along the beach, romantic dinners alone on your terrace, bubble baths together, early morning sunrise breakfasts together, a private strip show for your partner and so much more. This can add to the romance and definitely give your experiences a shove in the right direction.
10 – If at the end of the honeymoon, you walk away feeling that things are really not what you hoped for, do not leave it. Remember, sex makes up a good part of a great marriage. Try and get help immediately and it’s always, always recommended to chat to your partner about anything that is worrying WITHOUT MAKING HIM/HER feel like it’s their fault. A new chapter has opened in your life and I believe that if the sex is great throughout a marriage, those are the ones that last forever. No one is going to settle for anything less than what they’re getting at home so try different things, introduce exciting things as you go along and always remember to take time out for a chat. This is how you will find out what the other likes or dislikes and if done from the beginning, it sets the pace for a long, happy marriage filled with an awesome sex life.
Written by Marrilyn
The Travelling Bride
Read More
There are many, many ideas, tips and articles written on this subject and I have studied quite a few marriages over the years.. and even my own, and based on this, I’d like to share with you MY opinion of the secret to a lasting marriage. The Bedroom. …. a great sex life leads to a great, lasting, happy marriage. 90% of love and happiness in the marriage is based on a good, healthy sex life. Think about it for a moment. The more sex you have with one particular person, the more your feeling of connection to that person grows.
If the sex is awesome and really great, you cannot wait to be with that person. There is no way you will look in another direction. It’s my opinion that most partners stray because they’re looking for something that isn’t present in their own lives and most times its sex. I don’t believe in communication break down. It’s hogwash. The moment things go badly in the bedroom, everyone is ashamed to admit that THAT is where the problem lies so they have given the marriage “crumble” many different reasons and “communication break down” is the most popular one. WHY does one of the partners stray? Most times it’s to look for a sexual partner. When this happens, he/she isn’t necessarily thinking about divorce. No…it’s just to have a little fun and feel ALIVE again but….the more sex had between a married adult and another, the more connected they become and eventually a divorce happens because the one simply cannot survive without the other. Sex connects two people on a level that is beyond our comprehension and its just the way it is, in my opinion.
The secret to a long, lasting, successful marriage is to keep your bedroom full of fun, fantasy, play, flavour, excitement and keep things vibey. Discuss fantasies and play them out. Discuss do’s and don’ts because there are no rules in the game of love. So long as both partners agree on what they’re doing. Discuss your deepest fears so that the other is aware of them and try out new things, together, giggle together, make mistakes together and so the relationship continues to grow. Sex relieves stress and really does wonders to a tired mind. Sex instantly removes a migraine. It’s even great for losing weight so there shouldn’t be any excuses. Lose the excuses even after the children come along and even when you are deathly tired….. a good round of sex will get you feeling right on top of the world again and it will keep you healthy and keep your marriage alive no matter how old you are.
Written by Marrilyn for:
Travelling Bride
Read More
1. Welcome the bridal couple with a huge big smile.
2. Welcome and thank everyone for being there.
3. Congratulate the couple on their wedding
4. At this stage you can introduce anyone else who is going to say anything or has a speech of their own.
5. Compliment the bride on the way she looks and be careful to mean what you say
6. Compliment the brides wedding dress
7. If you are not the best man – thank the best man for all that he has done
8. Very quickly describe YOUR relationship to the bride and groom
9. Tell why YOU were asked to be the MC
10. You can tell them why YOU decided to take the job on
11. Think of something “funny” to tell about the time you first met the couple
12. You can go a bit deeper and tell everyone what the bridal couple mean to you
13. Talk about any special people in the couples lives
14. If the speeches take place AFTER the dinner, you can chat about how wonderful the food was, if BEFORE, you can chat about the the beautiful decor and thank everyone who played a part
15. Briefly mention any key milestones in the bride and grooms lives
16. Beforehand, get a few funny baby stories from the bridal couples parents.
17. You can mention any “funnies” that happened in the days running up to the wedding.
18. Get a few funny topics on both bride and groom that you can mention
19. Tell everyone a great happy story that happened to the couple upon them meeting for the first time (there’s ALWAYS a funny happy story to tell)
20. Chat on how the two were introduced to parents in law.
21. You can describe the different characters between the bride and the groom
22. You speak directly to the bridal couple and tell them how happy everyone is that they are now married
23. Wish them all the best for the future.
24. Thank the guests for attending, especially those who have travelled far to be there.
25. A joke can serve as good closing statement and end with a toast.
Written by Leon Watermeyer
The Travelling Bride
Read More
1 – You have met your life long partner. Wedding date is set and now you are discussing the honeymoon. Today, many couples decide on their honeymoon together and it’s important to include interests from both bride and groom so that there is a happy balance. Chat to your partner so that if the groom prefers bush and wild life and the bride prefers white sandy beaches and relaxation, together you can work the itinerary so as to ensure that you walk away with a package that will thrill both of you.
2 – Try to decide on a realistic budget and list what you would like the budget to cover.
3 – ALWAYS do honeymoon homework. Find out about specials and low season months. Honeymoon Homework entails knowing everything there is to know about the destination that you plan to visit. The airlines offered, the flying time, the hotel, stop over’s, the amount of hours that you have to stop over for, the surrounding areas, the room you would like and exactly what you are allowed to take with you.
4 – Choose an agency that is well connected with the destination that you have in mind. Nowadays, you can quickly find a honeymoon specialist and it’s not uncommon to request references. Make an appointment to see your planner or send a very detailed email through to him/her with full details of the itinerary that YOU have in mind with departure dates and your budget. Ask about specials. Your consultant will then be able to give you good advice and she will take your departure date and budget into consideration when she quotes you.
5 – Your honeymoon planner will send you at the very least, two options and she will base them on the requirements, departure date and budget that you emailed through to her. Go over these with your partner. Make notes of questions either of you have and make very sure that you understand exactly what your package includes and how much is being quoted PER PERSON for these inclusions.
6 – Take note of the room category being quoted and always ensure that your consultant notifies the resort to make absolutely sure that you get a double bed. Read through your quotation carefully and make sure that return flights together with the departure taxes are included. Many agencies don’t include the taxes and clients don’t think about these if not regular travellers. Make sure that there is going to be someone to collect you at the airport and ask about emergency contact details at your chosen destination.
7 – Ask your consultant to find out and get rates for special little extras like a romantic sunrise breakfast on the beach or a day trip to a private island. Ask about honeymoon extras because many resorts and hotels will include flowers, sparkling wine, romantic dinners and sometimes even a tour for honeymoon couples.
8 – Ensure that you tell everyone that you are on honeymoon. You will really be surprised at how much more you receive from people and how friendly hotel staff is toward you. Your consultant will let the airline and hotel know prior to your departure but it doesn’t hurt to tell others along the way. Remember….EVERYONE loves a couple in LOVE.
9 –Make sure that you pack according to the requirements of your chosen destination. Make sure that you take the appropriate clothing along. Things like medication, sun block, sun glasses and cameras can be costly in foreign destinations so always best to take them along with you and always make sure that you take an empty carrier with you (for all those wonderful goodies you’re going to buy whilst on honeymoon). Highly important to pack a hand luggage suit case that will carry everything required to make a night and a day comfortable IN CASE anything happens and your luggage goes astray. At least you will have a few items to fall back on while waiting for the airline to trace yours.
10- Lastly, make sure that you have all your travel documentation required for YOUR chosen destination. Visas and passports, health requirements etc. Also make very sure that you reconfirm all your flights and make a last minute call to your consultant in case any flight schedule has had changes and ALWAYS put your travel documents in a very safe place, all together.
Written by Marrilyn
The Travelling Bride
Read More
1. The right partner is always on your side no matter what. He/she will always build your confidence and never ever try and break you down. During a disagreement, she/he is able to agree to disagree, without attacking you. When the world gets really tough, he/she is there to comfort and defend you against anything.
2. The right partner can make you smile with a simple look. When you are together, you feel like you are with your absolute best friend. Even the most routine homework is fun with him/her. Its easy to laugh and giggle with the right partner.
3. The right partner makes you feel extremely safe. When you have found the right partner in life, you will never feel like you will offend by saying the wrong thing. Perfect partners never intimidate or try and control the other. With the right partner you can feel absolutely comfortable being yourself around him/her and talking about whatever is on your mind no matter how stupid it might sound.
4. The right partner accepts you for who you are and does not try to change you. He/She may not love all of your faults, but will accept you just the way you are. The right partner won’t try and change the clothes you wear, the food you prefer, the interests you have.
5. The right partner allows you to grow and change as time goes by. No relationship can stay the same throughout an entire lifetime so the right partner will support you as you grow and change and isn’t threatened when there is any major career change or anything else that happens in your life.
6. When you are with the right partner, the chemistry is almost uncontrollable. There is a strong physical attraction and you both enjoy and look forward to the time you spend alone together. He/She makes you feel sexy, desirable and full of life.
7. The right partner will always bring out the absolute best in you and make you shine…..and in our opinion….THIS is the definition of true love.
Something to remember!!!!!
If you really want to bring out the very best in your partner, treat him/her exactly the way you want him/her to treat you. There is a soulmate for everyone so if you believe in yourself, the right partner will pop into your life exactly when the time is right. Relax and take things in your stride until this happens.
Written by Candice Strydom
The Travelling Bride
Read More
How can you ensure that your wedding and your honeymoon are picture perfect?
You have dreamed about your wedding day since you were a little girl. You have pictured every moment for years. Now, you have found your lifelong partner and you are eager to turn that dream picture into the real thing. The Travelling Bride team of consultants concentrate on weddings and honeymoons. Our main focus are weddings that are “simply different”. We love the challenge of the “different” wedding concept which includes small weddings for just the bridal couple to the bigger ones of 100 guests and more. Our team will take your dream, your budget and your ideas and turn them into a fairytale dream wedding that will be remembered forever.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN WEDDING PACKAGES
Your wedding day should be the most stress free day of your life so packages are designed to ensure that its simply perfect and there are quite a few to choose from. The wedding packages include those done in a cave at the bottom of the mighty Drakensburg mountains, in a small chapel in the middle of the bushveld, on a booze cruiser in the middle of the Vaal river, sunset wedding on the beaches throughout South Africa or surrounding islands, on yachts cruising Table Bay in Cape Town, in the country and many more. All of the wedding packages include a minister who will take care of the legal side of things and he will conduct the ceremony. Religious or non religious. All packages include a co ordinator on the day, photographer, a decorated area where the ceremony takes place, bridal bouquet and buttonhole, bridal make up and hair, accommodation, romantic dinner with bubbly and sometimes even a violinist. There is a standard package for all of the weddings but couples can take anything out or add anything to them so that it suits your requirements and of course, your budget. The team are also able to do the necessary paperwork for couples wanting the unabridged marriage certificate which will include the apostle and this is what is required if you are going to be living anywhere other than South Africa after you are married. This documentation makes your wedding legal in other countries.
THE SURROUNDING ISLANDS
Weddings on the surrounding islands are still quite popular but we have noticed that many more couples are preferring the weddings offered in South Africa and then having an island honeymoon. We believe that it is because the wedding packages offered in South Africa include a lot more and cost less. Getting married on the islands is basically the same as getting married in court in South Africa. A day is set aside for the couple to go into the magistrates offices where all documentation is signed and the ceremony takes place a day or two after. It is therefore important to decide exactly what date you want your wedding day to be remembered. i.e. The date that you will celebrate your anniversary every year. If, for example you want your wedding date celebrated on the 14th February every year then this would be the date that you go into the registrars offices to sign the documentation making your marriage legal and your ceremony is then done on the 15th or the 16th , a day or two afterward. Every resort on the surrounding islands offer small wedding packages but mostly, they’re very basic because so much that is required isn’t readily available and sometimes the islands have to fly flowers or rose petals in. This also takes the cost up. The “idea” of an island wedding is extremely romantic but the fact is, the weddings that are now offered in South Africa far exceed those offered by any of the islands. We have compared photographs and our team have been to witness them on the islands. Having said all of this, the island wedding is still high on a lot of couples list and when we arrange them, we try to ensure that they include as much as is possible without pushing the price overboard. Highly important to choose a date that falls within low season because this is the time when specials run and it’s possible to get the island wedding package at half the price.
THE ANNIVERSARY OR ROMANTIC GETAWAYS
Most times when couples celebrate their anniversary, they opt for a weekend away in South Africa. There is a variety of packages to choose from and we always try to ensure that it is as romantic as possible with candle light dinners, massages, romantic picnics and more. The same little lodges and resorts can be used for romantic weekends away. There is a selection of options from beach, to bush, to mountain, river, cave and more.
FIVE TIPS TO SAVE MONEY WHEN DECIDING ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
1. Choose a date that is out of season so that you don’t pay high prices for flowers, venues and/or photographers. Example…flowers are very expensive a week prior and a week after Valentines day or mothers day. Spring is very popular for weddings so stay away from September. December is also popular for weddings because so many people go on holiday and decide to do the wedding whilst they are on leave.
2. Choose morning champagne breakfast wedding instead of an evening wedding with dinner. Most times guests won’t be drinking early morning and champagne is all that you are likely to pay for. Breakfasts are cheaper than dinners.
3. If at all possible choose a week day instead of a Saturday. Saturdays are very popular for weddings and most venues charge double for Saturdays.
4. If you are eloping, ensure that a video is made of your wedding because once back home, you can have a get together with all friends and family, show your wedding on the big screen for everyone to see and still get to receiving wedding presents from everyone.
5. If you are watching a tight budget, you can still have your dream honeymoon. Chat to your consultant and if Mauritius has always been your dream honeymoon destination, she will find specials if you have chosen your date within the low season or you can opt for a stunning beach honeymoon in South Africa for a fraction of the price.
Written by Candice Strydom
Sales manager
The Travelling Bride
Read More
