How to Use Real Brides

1

Getting Started

Real Brides is completely free for brides and couples. There's nothing to install — the app works on any browser, and native iOS & Android apps are available to download.

1

Create your free account

Visit real-brides-magazine.web.app and tap Sign Up. You can register with your email address, or sign in instantly with Google or Apple.

2

Tell us about your wedding

Add your wedding date, partner's name, and location. This personalises your planning timeline and tailors vendor suggestions to your province.

3

Invite your partner (optional)

Share a unique wedding code with your partner, maid of honour, or wedding planner so they can join your wedding and collaborate on planning in real time.

4

Start exploring

Your personalised planner is ready — tasks, budget, guest list, vendors and inspiration are all waiting. Everything syncs across your devices automatically.

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

Use it in your Browser (Web)

2

Wedding Planner

Your planner is the heart of the app — a full task management system built around the South African wedding calendar.

Pre-built task checklist

Hundreds of tasks organised by month, from "Book your venue" to "Pack your honeymoon bag". Each task is tagged by how far in advance to tackle it.

Countdown & timeline

See exactly how many days until your wedding and a prioritised view of what needs attention this week, this month, and beyond.

Assign tasks to people

Delegate tasks to your partner, bridesmaids, or wedding planner. Everyone can tick off their tasks from their own account.

Reminders & notifications

Enable push notifications and we'll remind you of approaching deadlines so nothing slips through the cracks.

💡 Tip: Tap any task to add your own notes, attach vendor quotes, or link it to a budget category — keeping everything in one place.

3

Budget Tracker

Set your total budget and track spending by category — venues, catering, flowers, photography, attire, and more.

Category breakdown

Allocate your budget across 11 SA wedding categories. A live progress chart shows what you've spent vs what's left at a glance.

Log payments as you go

Record deposits, final payments, and pending amounts. Mark items as paid to keep your running total accurate.

Free budget calculator tool

Not sure how to divide your budget? Use our free calculator to get SA-specific percentage recommendations.

Export your budget

Premium members can export a full budget summary as a formatted PDF or CSV to share with their partner or planner.

💡 Tip: Link a vendor from the directory to a budget line — that way your quote, contact details, and payment status all live in the same record.

4

Guest List & RSVPs

Build your complete guest list, collect RSVPs digitally, and manage dietary requirements, table assignments and plus-ones — all from one screen.

Add guests & plus-ones

Import from your contacts or add manually. Assign each guest to a group (bride's side, groom's side, bridal party) for easy filtering.

Digital RSVP collection

Share a unique RSVP link with your guests. Responses are captured directly into your guest list — no spreadsheets needed.

Seating chart

Drag and drop guests onto a visual floor plan. Create tables, assign seats, and export a catering manifest for your venue or coordinator.

Dietary & meal choices

Record dietary requirements and meal selections per guest. Export a summary to hand to your caterer — halaal, vegan, allergies and all.

5

Finding & Saving Vendors

Browse South Africa's most comprehensive wedding vendor directory — filter by province, category, price range, and rating to find vendors that suit your vision and budget.

Search & filter

Find photographers, venues, florists, caterers, DJs, hair & makeup artists, and more — searchable by province, city, category, and price.

Save your favourites

Tap the heart icon on any vendor profile to save them to your list. Compare saved vendors side by side before making a decision.

Send enquiries in-app

Message vendors directly without leaving the app. Track all your conversations in one inbox — no lost WhatsApps or email threads.

Read & leave reviews

Check real reviews from real couples before booking, and come back after your wedding to share your experience with future brides.

💡 Tip: Use the Availability Checker on a vendor's profile page to see if they're free on your wedding date — before you even enquire.

6

Magazine & Inspiration

Read beautifully designed digital issues packed with real wedding features, trend reports, expert advice, and vendor spotlights — all free.

Growing magazine archive

Every issue ever published is available instantly — flip through on mobile or read on your desktop. No print subscription, no delivery delays.

Planning articles

Hundreds of articles on every wedding topic — how to write vows, choosing a colour palette, tipping your vendors, planning on a tight budget, and more.

7

Mood Board

Build a visual inspiration board for your wedding day — pin images from our magazine articles, real weddings, or upload your own.

Pin inspiration from anywhere

Browse Real Brides content and pin any image directly to your board. Organise pins by category — flowers, dresses, décor, cake, and more.

Share with your vendors

Generate a shareable link to your mood board and send it to your florist, decorator, or photographer so they can see exactly what you have in mind.

8

Real Weddings

Be inspired by real South African couples — or submit your own wedding to be featured and celebrated in the magazine.

Browse real love stories

Filter by province, venue type, season, and style to find weddings that match your vision — from beachside Cape Town ceremonies to Joburg rooftop receptions.

Submit your wedding

Married? Submit your wedding photos and story to be featured. It's free, and featured couples receive a personalised digital feature to share with family and friends.

Submit Your Wedding

9

Free Planning Tools

Standalone calculators and planners you can use without an account — share them with anyone helping you plan.

Budget Calculator Drinks Estimator Seating Chart Builder Day-of Timeline Florist Brief Generator Shot List Builder Gift Registry Builder RSVP Link Generator

Open Free Tools

10

For Wedding Vendors

List your business on South Africa's fastest-growing wedding platform and connect directly with engaged couples in your area.

Watch: How to get onto the app & request vendor access

Create a vendor profile

Sign up as a vendor, fill in your business details, upload your portfolio gallery, and go live in minutes. Free listings available — premium tiers for more visibility.

Receive in-app enquiries

Couples can message you directly through the platform. All enquiries land in your vendor inbox — respond, follow up, and manage leads in one place.

Track your analytics

See how many couples viewed your profile, saved your listing, clicked your website, or sent you an enquiry — updated daily on your vendor dashboard.

Get featured & reviewed

Collect verified reviews from real couples. Higher-rated vendors appear first in search results and may be selected for magazine features and editorial spotlights.

List Your Business Free

✦

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often.

Yes — the entire planning suite (tasks, budget, guest list, RSVP, mood board, vendor directory) is completely free for brides and couples. There's a one-time optional Premium upgrade (R249) that unlocks PDF/CSV exports, sharable vendor briefs, and a few other power-user features. You'll never need to pay to use the core planner.

Absolutely. Share your unique wedding code (found in Settings → Wedding) with your partner, maid of honour, or wedding planner. They create their own free account and join your wedding. Changes sync in real time for everyone.

Both! The full app is available at real-brides-magazine.web.app in any browser — no download needed. Native iOS and Android apps are also available on the App Store and Google Play for the best mobile experience, including push notifications.

The RSVP link we generate works on any device — your guests don't need an account or to download anything. They simply open the link, fill in their details, and tap submit. Their response lands instantly in your guest list.

Completely. There are no minimum guest counts or budget requirements. Whether you're planning an intimate garden ceremony for 20 or a full reception for 300, the planner scales with you.

Go to Submit Your Wedding in the app (or visit the submit page), fill in your wedding details, and upload your favourite photos. Our editorial team reviews every submission and will contact you if your wedding is selected to be featured in the magazine.

Visit vendor sign-up, create your account, and complete your profile. A free listing gets you on the directory immediately. Contact sales@realbridesmagazine.co.za for information on premium listing tiers and featured placement.

Email us at support@realbridesmagazine.co.za or use the Help option inside the app (tap your profile avatar → Help). We aim to respond within one business day.

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