It is hard to put into words how romantic the African Bush is. The bush has to be one of the most peaceful places in the world and without doubt one of the most romantic. My idea of a perfect bush wedding is an intimate occasion, an outside ceremony in the middle of the bush with the African wildlife there to witness you exchange vows, a breathtaking African sunset that paints the sky pink, red and purple, plenty of candles, and excellent food.

1. Garonga Safari Camp | 2. South African bush wedding | 3. Andrew Schoeman Photography| 4. Ruan Redelinghuys wedding at Gondwana | 5. Bridesmaids Dresses on Etsy | 6. Romantic Outdoor Bush Dinners | 7. Vintage Wedding Dress on Etsy | 8. Thornybush Wedding Reception Dinner | 9. Singita Wedding

As we head into winter with the days getting shorter and the nights colder, for those lucky enough to be planning a spring wedding here are some tips and hints to take your mind off winter and start dreaming about weddings and spring!

For your venue if you are in the Western Cape, consider a wineland wedding. Vineyards look amazing in the spring with lovely fresh green leaves on the vines. The oak trees are at their best and gardens and the countryside is in full bloom with spring flowers. The worst of the rains should be over but just in case choose a venue with a cosy indoor area where you can have your reception. Spring is also a great time for photographs with a softer light than in the heat of summer.

Upcountry, spring is certainly one of the best times of the year. The countryside is turning green, leaves are sprouting on the trees and gardens are full of roses and other spring flowers. There are lovely country venues in Gauteng and Free State. Of course Pretoria is matchless when the purple jacarandas are flowering, and Johannesburg almost matches it!

A spring wedding in the bush is perfect after the first rains have fallen and everything turns green overnight. This is the time animals have their babies which makes it extra special. We have some very special bush wedding venues to make your spring wedding a dream come true.

If you have settled on a beach wedding venue especially in the Western Cape and Garden Route, you may be able to still see Southern Right Whales  before they leave for the summer. Venues such as Grootbos, near Hermanus, are situated in a Nature Reserve so the Fynbos is in full bloom, the whales are in the bay and if the weather is inclement there are definitely other beautiful places to have your ceremony! De Hoop is another such venue situated in a nature reserve and offering wonderful photograph opportunities for your spring wedding.

Take a look at your surroundings when deciding on your décor and you will be spoilt for choice. The colours of spring are varied and although traditionally pastels may have been the order of the day, that is certainly no more with strong bold colours matching spring flowers popular. Greens and neutrals are also a stunning alternative for a spring palette. Your bridesmaids and flowergirls’s dresses can match your décor or you could choose a patterned material for their dresses.

Your dress could be a pastel shade of your main colour as you can see in these pictures of Vera Wang’s Spring 2012 Wedding Collection.

Spring weddings are very special occasions which are really fun to organise so enjoy your planning!

So much is written on wedding dresses for the bride that we thought the bridegrooms also need to know the yay’s and nay’s of dressing up and looking perfect for their big day! These are some of the trends we have spotted for the guys.

Grey, grey and more grey. That seems to be the most popular colour on the men’s catwalks at the beginning of 2012. From pale grey through to dark charcoal, grey it is! The jacket is close fitting, often with one button. Fabrics are sometimes shiny but this is obviously personal preference. Shirts are generally white with the colour coming in the tie, or pale grey. Some ties are shiny and some have elaborate knots. The tie will more often than not match the colour scheme of the wedding. Bow ties and tuxedos also feature for the more formal style of wedding. If you do not wish to wear a tie that is also ok but remember to button your shirt right up to the top – your wedding is not the occasion for showing off your manly chest unless you are getting married on the beach!

If your wedding is on the beach the trend is to wear a casual linen suit or pants and jacket in a pale beige or white with a white shirt hanging out to give a stylish look.

For a bush wedding the neutral beiges are perfect. Team the trousers up with a white or blue shirt. This is definitely an opportunity to lose the tie and be more casual.

You can’t go wrong with the traditional white shirt, black suit and black tie. Add a modern edge by wearing a skinny tie. It is youthful and oh so sexy.

Finally chequered shirts are also a way of incorporating an element of fun into your wedding and can be worn with a variety of different men’s suits. Team a chequered shirt with a tie or bowtie to give a more sophisticated look.