Sweet Spring Wedding Ideas for Our Favourite Season
Symbolising new beginnings and new life for which you can lay the foundations of your marriage, spring is a lush, green and abundant time of the year. Where better to celebrate your love and commitment than at the award-winning Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, considered one of the most romantic venues in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Weddings at Granny Mouse are truly spectacular; with everything you could need based on site. From the chapel with panoramic views over the Caversham Valley, a reception venue that can cater up to 120 guests, a culinary team ready to create your unique wedding feast to surprise and delight, to a pastry chef that is able to sculpt your perfect cake.
“Your wedding guests are well catered for, with an array of accommodation options available, as well as the spa to assist you in preparing for your big day” says GM Sean Granger.
The “mouse house” team has some spring wedding tips just for you.
Pros
With flowers in full bloom, you won’t have a shortage of supply!
Springtime is also just before the summer wedding rush, so you will probably get fantastic pre-season deals.
It is still wonderfully cool as summer is just approaching, so no sweating in your suits, gentlemen, or worrying about beaded brows and running make up as you say your vows.
Cons
One of the risky factors of a spring wedding in KZN, is the ever-unpredictable rain and wind that may dampen proceedings, usually arriving at the start of Spring and heading through into November. It might be wise to possibly have a Plan B, just in case.
Peek out of your window and you’ll see that Mother Nature showcases very particular colours in spring, as everything bounces back after the dry winter months. The earthy tones of winter give way to bright green leaves and shoots of grass, and blossoming flowers put on a colourful show to entice the birds and bees. Take direction from nature’s spring palette.
September to November is the spring wedding season and the perfect time to indulge in spring fever, so here are a few of the latest spring wedding colours for your consideration.
Sage Green and Dove Grey
If you’re a romantic at heart and want to stick to soft, feminine hues then opt for a sage green and dove grey colour palette for your wedding. Silver and gold work well with this colour combination, so it is very versatile.
For the flowers you can use Proteas, Eucalyptus fronds, white roses and peonies. The bridesmaids will love their complexion-enhancing sage dresses.
Mint and Coral
Fresh mint green paired with vibrant coral will add excitement to your beautiful springtime wedding. Bridesmaids will look beautiful in mint green dresses with coral-coloured bouquets. For a modern edge, decorate tables with jungle-like leaves such as delicious monsters.
The two colours are a cheerful combination.
Incorporate mint tinted glasses and table ware and continue the theme with mint mojitos and Mango cocktails.
Navy Blue, Fuchsia and Gold
Nothing spells out elegant more than navy blue and gold, and by adding a pop of fuchsia, you have a glorious colour combination for your wedding. Use navy blue and white stripped runners on your table and add gold vases filled with bright pink roses and peonies.
For the bridesmaids bouquets add blue and white pinstriped ribbons.
Scatter gold glitter and sequins on the tables to add more sparkle to the wedding.
Which Wedding Flowers?
Here in South Africa, seasons are not as clearly defined – we barely have a spring and autumn, for example. Not only does this mean that we enjoy a warmer climate year-round, but it means that many more wedding flowers are available to South African brides year-round, too.
Here are some sweet wedding flower ideas to consider.
Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) – these little bell-shaped white flowers signify the return of happiness and were featured in the wedding bouquet of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Peony (Paeonia) – fragrant, delicate flowers in a variety of colours, peony signifies bashfulness or shyness
Roses (Rosa) –there are over 100 species of this, the world’s most popular wedding flower. Often recognised as a symbol of love, roses come in every conceivable colour, from white to deep purple
Lavender (Lavandula) –a bluish-purple flower with a pretty fragrance, dried lavender is also popular as wedding confetti
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) –a very delicate, bright blue flower, cornflower is used by ‘American royal family’ the Kennedys at family weddings
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) –aptly named, it’s a sweet little flower with a sweet scent available in a variety of colours
Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) –these express love, admiration and fascination and are available in white, red, pink and purple
South African Wedding Flowers for spring
Freesia– fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers, in white, yellow, pink and red
Naked lady (Amaryllis) – large flowers in delicate colours, including white, cream and pale pink
Calla or Arum lilies (Zantedeschia) – very showy white, yellow or pink flower (called a spathe) with a yellow spadix (finger-like protrusion poking out the centre).
Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus) – funnel-shaped flowers in blue-purple or white
Barberton Daisy (Gerbera) –uncomplicated, happy flowers in bold colours like yellow, orange, white, pink and red.
If you are opting for a South African-themed wedding:
Opt for fynbos (like proteas and pincushions) and other local favourites, like the strelitzia (also known as the bird of paradise
flower) or a variety of succulents in your bridal bouquet and décor.
Natural materials like wood, leaves, grasses, quills, and feathers are tasteful ways of introducing an African vibe into your invitations, clothing and décor.
Your menu is a great place to showcase all things South African. Think of potjies, braaied meat and salads, bunny chows, or old-school roasts. Pair these with modern dishes to create a unique menu, such as creamy samp and beans with a chilli and chocolate rump, or braaied lamb chops with a blue cheese crumble. The options are endless.
Serve biltong and droë wors with the welcoming drinks to keep guests busy while you have your photographs taken. Consider adding a guacamole or sweet chilli dip to keep things interesting.
Instead of a plated dessert, have a dessert buffet table with all sorts of local goodies. These may include Fizzers, koeksisters, Fizz Pops, hot mosbolletjies slathered in butter, milk tart, and Malva pudding.
Serve proper ‘moerkoffie’ and Ouma rusks after the meal. Those moerkoffie mugs are great as gifts. They can be placed on the bar to be used or taken home.
Instead of wines, put an ice bucket full of flavoured Steri Stumpies on each table. This is delicious, refreshing, innovative, and the different colours lend you even more in the way of artistic license.
For your guest favours, wrap Zoo biscuits or traditional rusks in cute bags or glass jars. Alternatively, give your guests a sapling that they can plant in their gardens.
Instead of bunting, drape strings of colourful African beads around your venue or over your tables.
Happy Wedding Planning!
Let the Granny Mouse team help arrange your special day. Email banqueting@grannymouse.co.za
Article Courtesy of www.sanda-marketing.com
