The White Dress

 

 

A few days ago, I did a modelling shoot for Besters Bridal Boutique and Eon Photography.

It was my first time in a bridal store - it was my first time in a wedding dress to be perfectly honest! Needless to say, I was extremely overwhelmed.

In the end, each dress just kind of morphed into one big massive cloud.

It was exactly the opposite of what I had in mind when I used to think about my first 'wedding dress fitting' experience.

I'm a very simple woman; I like pretty, elegant, simple things. I want to get married in a forest or on a beach one day . . . so these fairy-tale, princess dresses just wouldn't survive my big day.

It was difficult for me to wear these dresses and think of them as a photo-shoot dress for a company instead of a dress I LOVE and would one day wear to my wedding.

 

 

 

The first one is the simple, almost Greek styled 'one-shoulder' dress. That was nice. I modelled on a day that reached a high of 37 degrees here in South Africa so this dress may have just saved my life in the heat!

It was soft, flowy, light... if I had to choose between the two this would definitely be the winner but still it's not what I have in mind for my own one day.

The one thing I didn't like about this dress is that it didn't have a tail... I'm kind of a sucker for the long trail at the back! (But the following dress is just WAY too much unless you're Kate or Pippa.... see, I'm fussy!)

 

 

 

 

 

The second dress everyone adored for the photo-shoot. I cannot deny it, it makes for some unbelievable shots and once the sun had set it wasn't too hot in it thank goodness.

I would definitely say that this is a Winter's Dress... it is just so thick and bulky and my poor mock bridesmaid had to haul the massive tail around with her at all times!

I did like how this dress gave me some cleavage boost! I'm quite petite so any extra help is appreciated! I also really like how it hid my tattoo on the back of my neck.

I've already decided that one day my hair will be down on that big day, I don't want any tattoo's showing. I think it looks awful! But they were adamant that they wanted up do's so this dress made me feel much better.

It's a dress I would have never even tried on if it was for my own big day . . . but I am so glad that I did. I think it looks beautiful on with the cascade of dragonflies. It opens your mind to what other dresses will look like 'on' instead of just hanging whimsically on a rail.

 

If you are looking for a wedding dress in the Garden Route area, please check out Besters Bridal Boutique. They have some absolutely breathtaking dresses in their store and they are such a wonderful group of women.

What sort of dress would you wear on your wedding day?

 

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

 

J

November Favorites

 Another month gone. 

November was very different from the rest of this year and I think it's a combination of good and bad. 

At the end of October I injured my back pretty badly. After a trip to the hospital, I was bed bound for practically seventeen days.

My two beautiful kittens and three loving dogs kept me company as I lounged around painting, finishing off my novel and watching a new found tv show that has become a fast favorite, Modern Family.

It was only by the end of November when things started to get really interesting. An old family friend invited us up to Paarl for her wedding so I took a road-trip that took nine hours with my parents, two people who I have discovered to be the most unpleasant companions to be trapped in a car with for such a large amount of time. 

The constant bickering, the smokey atmosphere and the unadventurous attitudes were but some of the disheartening features of this trip. 

Once we had settled in however, after dad nearly writing the car off over a speed bump (karma's a bitch! I happened to do the same thing a few years ago and he did not believe that it was possible!!) and getting hopelessly lost, things started to get slightly better. 

I managed to drag them from our rented semi-built house for the weekend and we ended up traveling to Franshhoek for breakfast. 

We were recommended to a spot called The Salmon Bar and throughout a whole street as long as Bangla Road in Phuket adorned with bistro after bistro... we had to find the one spot that had fried eggs that could have concussed someone if you'd thrown it at a head. 

We made the most of it though and went to some spectacular view points of the abundant supply of vineyards in the area:

 That night I pulled on a red dress that had taken me all of five minutes to hunt down in Foschini and went off to watch a girl I had known since birth get married.

She made an absolutely stunning bride and the evening was breathtaking. 

It was the first time I'd gone to a wedding without a date so I was pretty lonesome when the romantic music started to play and all the couples got up to dance. I must have been one of the only people without a partner. 

That's when some guy called Ryan from Mauritius knelt down at my table and asked me to dance.

We had fun twirling around the dance floor and made a great night of it. Things only got better when I caught the bouquet in between the sea of hungry, marriage-craving females around me!

It wasn't nice having everyone tell me, "You're Next..." though, because I am freshly single. I have barely been able to find my feet since my breakup and now I'm supposed to be getting married!? Slow down!! Let me find the guy first!!! 

What to do with a bouquet if you catch it:

I hung the bouquet upside down on my wall at home to preserve the colors and the memory. It is still there, drying out today.

Once back in good old Knysna, I decided to go clubbing after a Blues Music Festival at Mo's on Rex. I hadn't really been clubbing in 2012 at all so it was a nice change to get out and break it down on the dance floor where I was reunited with two old friends.

 

 I did another modeling shoot with the talented Eon Coetzee too, link to his website below:

http://www.eonphotography.co.za/

He in honestly such a professional, fun, easy-going and cheerful guy to work with. 

He makes it easy to loosen up and not be shy while still keeping it professional at all times. 

He's an absolute pleasure to work with and his work is outstanding!

I also visited Baby Oaks where I hosted a Salvage sale. 

While all the women raided through my black bags for bargains, I played with all of the kiddies! This little ginger ninja was such a funny character and helping her take some of her first steps was overwhelmingly heartwarming. 

Sometimes you just need to hang out with a child to remember the real beauty in this world.... 

Wishing you all an absolutely amazing December! 

Keep reading & supporting.

Jade