More travel inspired wedding invitations

Herewith some travel theme styled invitations from various blogs. 

Travel inspired wedding invitations

We spotted these lovely travel-inspired wedding invitations on Betsy’s blog…how gorgeous are they?! The postage stamps atop handmade French paper, bound with baker’s twine and sealed with wax, and of course the jaw-dropping calligraphy of Betsy Dunlap…we’re in love.

Popular bell jars back in stock!

Let’s celebrate with these printed cloches or bell jars, winner of the product design competition. It is impossible to find a more beautiful gift or decor item! 

Large cloches R360

Small cloches R290

HURRY! First come, first serve basis.

Freebie Friday: Aphrodite font

Subscribe to our blog and receive this Valentine's gift from Elsje Designs, called Aphrodite.  Just because we are feeling happy, in love and generous! Send us your email address to verify your subsription and we will reply with the ttf file. 

Happy Friday!

This offer expires end of January 2012.

Chalking it up (even more)!

This is currently my favourite design concept!  Have just done something similar today for the J&B Met. 

Inspirations from www.customchalk.com

more chalkboard inspiration

More chalkboard ideas...

Paint a tine with blackboard paint and write your table number onto it!  I think this is so original and easy DIY!  As an added bonus, fill them with after dinner mints.

I love these fab idea for placemats, a dinner menu or table number!

Another easy DIY gift for a creative friend.

A creative table seating card.

more on Elsje's own (Karoo) wedding

My beloved aunt, after whom my parents named me, Elsa Verhoef, wrote this beautiful note to us after our wedding. 

"I had a farm in Africa ..." sê Meryl Streep in Out of Africa.


I WITNESSED THE BIRTH OF A MARRIAGE IN THE KAROO...en ek ervaar net soveel passie en verwagting van hierdie gebeurtenis op Boschluyskloof in die majestieuse Seweweekspoort.

Beslis het ek 'n voordeel bo die ander gaste gehad. Vanaf Dinsdag kon ek begin leef in die dampkring van twee mense wat mekaar WIL verstaan, WIL liefhê, 'n mooi toekoms WIL bou.

WAT 'n bederf!

Daar was soveel mooi op Boschluyskloof.

Gerard en Ans, die eienaars, is unieke mense wat nie omgee vir harde werk nie en die ekstra (10) myl met entoesiasme te loop nie. Hulle weet meesterlik om spesialis mense te ontgin. "Multi tasking" en bronne benutting kry by hulle die absolute betekenis.

Toe ons begin uitpak aan wit en geel, oranje, blou en pienk papier lanterns het die opgewondenheid en verwagtinge begin kriewel. Hier moet ek myself vasvat om nie te verdwaal in die detail van kunstig uitgedinkte planne wat gestalte gekry het in bont lekkergoed, gedrukte servette en parmantige papier uitsnysels van verliefdes, duifies, bokke en windpompe nie. Die glasklokke het elkeen sy eie storie statig afgewys en alles was so mooi gehul in vrolike kerslig en wiegende wit lanterns.

Ek onthou: al die vrolike gesigte, die goedheid-gevoel wat ons almal omvou het. Ons almal WOU vir Louis en Elsje gelukkig sien - dis waarvoor ons gebid het.

WOW ..... en wat 'n prentjie het die twee gemaak!! Louis in sy kraakwit linnepak met kenmerkende oop glimlag en Elsje stylvol met geelgoud bedruip en 'n glimlag wat alles sê.

Die seremonie opgehef deur Lood se inspirerende tjello voordrag, wyse woorde en sagte saambind van twee liefdes strome, was vir my heilig.

Die omgee vir mekaar, die simplistiese rykheid van die omgewing, die gedagtes deel wat diep uit jou binneste los gewoel het, was 'n oase vir 'n siel. Dit het jou gevul met soveel wakker entoesiasme vir die nuwe jaar dat jy die borrels byna tasbaar kon aanraak.

P.J. se kos was verruklik en alles was byna 'n oordaad van skeppende idees van kruie en spys en aromas van heeeeeerlike genot.

Dan 'n uitroep teken oor die hele gebeurtenis - die terugreis tussen oopgekloofde graniet, spekbos en doringboom en in jou hart die wete : God is hier teenwoordig ! DIT is wat daar tussen die bruin Karoo koppe so spesiaal was. Die belewenis van liefde en verwagtinge en bereidheid om daarvoor te werk, was toe al die tyd geseën met die Groot Teenwoordigheid.

Die troue moes juis dáár voltrek word, die belewenis móés oor 'n paar dae gestrek het, want dáár is ek deurweek met 'n ander entoesiasme en aanvaarding van die lewe self. George het vir Louis en Elsje gesê : " Rest in your marriage ...:"

Rest in your situation, want God is daar teenwoordig en Hy is in beheer.

Dankie vir die ervaring !

t. Elsa

I start with a tingle, a kind of feeling of the story I will write. Then come the characters, and they take over, they make the story.”  Karen Blixen


---

Dear Mr and Mrs Van Niekerk, Louis and Elsje,


It was on the top of the mountains, under the clear and spotless skies of the Karoo, as the gentle breeze playfully ruffled the skirt and the beauty of the bride, that we who ascended the mountain to behold the uniting of your lives to each other, could not help but have a feeling of beholding a transfiguration, taking that which was ordinary in our lives and changing it into the extraordinary. Our spirits were lifted on high as our hearts, our minds and our eyes beheld what love can do. And as I glanced at the unity of spirit of we who had ascended the mountain with you, I am bold to say that in our silence we all said, “God, it is good for us to be here; and let us make temples and remain on the mountain.”

To the lamentation of everyone, our joy began to mingle with the sadness of having to depart and descend to our daily, ordinary living in this world.

On the top of the mountain and under the skies of the Karoo you have had a foretaste of that Kingdom of love, joy and peace.
I love you Elsje, I love you Louis,

George

---

Louis and I chose the Karoo - not because both of us are actually from there - but because of its simplicity, its beauty.  After 10 years in the wedding industry, I've seen it all, done it all.  This time round, I wanted something stripped, plain, touched by God and pure.  Simplicity, no frills or fuss, just surrounded by wildlife, kudus grazing in the distance, the wind sweeping our hair and absolutely no man made decor.  We wanted the openness, the beauty of our gloriously stunning country.  Which reminds me yet again of Karen Blixen's words:

“If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me? Will the air over the plain quiver with a color that I have had on, or the children invent a game in which my name is, or the full moon throw a shadow over the gravel of the drive that was like me, or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?”

It was a day touched by love.  It surpassed my wildest dreams.  And I am blessed beyond words with someone as special as Louis.  I carry my new surname with excitement and pride.

Mini Chalkboard Signs @ R6 ea

I sourced these practical mini-chalkboards for my wedding.  They are very handy for table numbers, canday buffet tags, seating cards - or anything you need to communicate to your guests. 

We stock them at R6 ea, excluding vat. 

Minimum quantity of 24.



Make up magic - thanks Naomi!

When I started my business 10 years ago, one of my first clients was a beautiful young Naomi Wessels and her handsome fiancee, Glen Broomberg.  We became instantly friends and I was a guest at their lavish Franschhoek wedding.  This time round, I was privileged to have Naomi and Glen at my wedding!  Ten years later...

Not only is she a fashion stylist but also a well known make up artist and, as you can imagine, both of these came in really handy!  Naomi was a real friend with late night frenzied phone calls and giving all sorts of advice - much more than just clothing and shoes!  

On my wedding day we decided make the most of the view and she did my make over sitting on a stoep overlooking the beautiful valley (it was a clear Karoo summer's day with a cool breeze). It couldn’t have been more memorable, the breathtaking view, my serene mother-in-law, Barbara, joined us for a few laughs and kept us company, while Erika, my brother’s cute red headed 10 year old daughter, was fascinated with the make up process – commenting all the time!

It was a very special afternoon, surrounded with very special people. Thank you Naomi, you made me feel like a glamorous and gorgeous.

Naomi and I had lots of fun, trying on dresses, shoes, earrings – having such a close and trusted friend help make these (often overwhelming decisions) much easier.  Not only is she very talented at what she does, but she always has a wise word and is such a bubbly, fun person.

Naomi B Collection

If you ever need advice regarding make-up or personal fashion styling, you can drop Naomi an email at naomi@chic.co.za. Her and her family are in the process of emigrating to California, so (sadly) she isn't doing much work locally anymore. She has, though, started importing a clothing range(Naomi B Collection) which she sells privately and if you want to know more about that or when Sale Days are, just send an enquiry to the same email address.

Herewith a few make up tips for your special day:

1. A well-manicured brow
Enhancing a full, sculpted brow makes you appear more polished and takes years off your face.


2. Flawless foundation
The trick to appearing perfectly airbrushed is making sure the foundation is fully absorbed into your skin, rather than simply sitting on top of your skin. I bought Primer recently from Woolies and can recommend it.

3. Warm, cheerful cheeks
They make you look happier than muted tones do—and that's the idea on your wedding day, right? Try a cheerful shade of pink.

4. Don't skimp on the lips
Wear plenty of color to plump your pout. Unfortunately, there's no shortcut to finding your perfect shade. Try on a variety of shades at the makeup counter until you find "the one."

5. Naturally you but even more beautiful
Your make up should be an enhancement of what you normally wear. For example, if you usually go for the natural look, stick to natural colours but slightly stronger. You don't want to try out blue mascara and red lipstick! Remember your fiancé is marrying you, so he should at least recognize you! Saying that you should define your features stronger than what you usually do, so they show up in photographs. You should feel comfortable in the make up you are wearing, this is not the time to try out anything drastic.



Elsje's wedding: meeting Louis before the ceremony

Since we got married on a koppie at sunset, we realised that Louis and I would need to fit a photo session in before the ceremony.  My genius friend, Gina and her husband arranged for us to meet in such an exciting way - that made this meeting very memorable.  We met on a dirt road - driving towards each other and then walking to each other.  Louis brought a special bottle of chilled champagne and we celebrated this special moment, crying, laughing and sharing the precious moment.