Only 20 days until Gareth & I go to The States! I’ve been invited by one of my blogging (and design) idols Princess Lasertron to go and model in her fashion show for Omaha Fashion Week and I’m just about to burst with excitement and nerves. This will be my second sashay down a catwalk (after my début in February at The Luella’s Boudoir Wedding Show at One Marylebone London) but this time is oh-so much more nerve-wrecking. Not only am I travelling half way across the world for the event, but Princess Lasertron is designing a dress especially for me! It’s going to be called the ‘Rock n Roll Bride’ (d’oh) and yes it will be available to purchase! I can’t wait to see it and share it with you afterwards…and nope I haven’t even seen it yet. However if her Fall 2010 dress collection is anything to go by it’s going to be ahh-mazing.
We’re also hopping over to LA while we’re there for a ‘lil holiday and to meet some of my other internet friends including Bowie Bride, Broke Ass Bride, Jasmine Star, Tinywater Photography and many more. Gareth & I aren’t big travellers and we haven’t had a holiday since out honeymoon to Tokyo, over THREE YEARS AGO. I’m quite nervous about the whole thing but as you can imagine I also seriously can’t wait!
Anyway, enough of my squeals of excitement and diversionary tactics…On with the treats!
If you’re a blog addict like me you may have seen some of the following images from Emily & Stef’s incredible festival wedding around the interwebs already. Emily is a wedding photographer herself and so a lot of the suppliers they used for their wedding weekend were friends as well as being exceptionally talented wedding industry peeps!
After proposing to Stef, Emily set to work planning a unique and quirky wedding to suit them and their family. Being a wedding photographer herself Emily had seen a lot of things she didn’t want for her own big day. It was important to them to have a wedding that reflected them, was chilled out and laid-back and fun for all their guests. “We had a bright, colourful, happy wedding that was all tied together with buttons,” Emily began. “We have shot weddings together for the past 5 years and wanted to have something that didn’t feel like we were at work. We also wanted an environment that was going to work well for our three children and lots of other little ones who would be at the wedding (about 27!) We both love music and festivals, so we wanted a lovely big party where everyone could relax and have fun. Someone described it as a mini summer holiday. That was the vibe.”
“There was craft, games, cake decorating, a tuck shop, two DJ set-ups, BBQ breakfasts, a sushi brunch, a hog-roast, falafel, a BYO bar, face-painting and balloons. We also really wanted to get married outside and have a humanist ceremony (something important in our lives), so Billycan Camping offered a perfect space for that too. The dress-code for the wedding was ‘please wear whatever you want so that you are comfortable in a field for a weekend but please can all the guys wear a bow tie.’ And people did just that! It was fabulous!”
The couple were legally married on the Thursday before their wedding weekend. You can see more info, photos and a cute video of this day on Steve Gerrard’s and O & C Photography‘s blogs. They photographed this part of the wedding for them.
However the day the couple consider to be their actual wedding day took place at Billycan Camping in Sussex. Emily actually found this venue after seeing this wedding on Rock n Roll Bride! As the wedding had a festival vibe, the majority of the guests camped over the nights before and after the wedding, making the whole thing a big massive weekend celebration!
Emily wore a bespoke dress made with vintage cotton lace from 1976 (the year she was born!) by Mr Christian. In the evening and for the after-party she changed the underskirt and bow from white to bright pink. Stef wore a pink suit from Aubin and Wills, but he had no idea that Emily had planned to add some pink to her outfit in the evening. It just all worked out perfectly you could say!
Almost all of the wedding decor was DIY and they bought a lot of items (crockery, picnic baskets, jars, board games) from charity shops. Emily explains, “I made lots of things before the weekend from corsages and ribbon wands to ceremony programmes and the guest book. Then on the the Friday I showed a few guests how to make the big paper flowers hanging in the yurt and they spent Saturday morning making them. We had a craft area so all the guys could make a bow tie (I really wanted all the guys to wear a bow tie!) and the ladies could make a pretty hair accessory or a corsage. My friend Charis and I made everyone a pinwheel corsage from felt and a button. There will be lots of DIY inspiration on our new lifestyle site New Homely over the next few weeks.”
“We had a do-it-yourself wedding with friends and family giving a huge amount of their help instead of traditional wedding presents. This is exactly how we wanted it to be but it’s not for the faint hearted. You have to really want a wedding like this as it takes a huge amount of planning, logistics (we hired and organized everything ourselves from the hog roast company to the main yurt, even the generators, everything apart the cake table, which we hired from Billycan Camping.)”
“I definitely couldn’t have done it without the amazing help from Paige of Paige One Events and Charley of London Bride. Paige helped me so much with making phone calls and sending emails, creating timelines and spreadsheets (with a three children under 5 this was tricky for me to do all by myself!) Both Paige and Charley were amazing on the day making sure that everything ran smoothly and co-ordinating all my friends and family so that everyone could join in and help to create the weekend of our dreams without me having to worry about a thing.”
Their wedding was photographed by the fabulous Polly Alexandre, someone who’s work both Emily & Stef have admired for a long time. “We had a first look before the ceremony by a lake near Arundel Castle. Completely amazing and perfect walking up to meet my husband-to-be through long grass in my flip flops, tapping in him on the shoulder and him turning round and seeing me for the first time in my dress. Amazing and intimate. It gave us some really special time together that we knew we wouldn’t get later with our three young children and lots of family and friends. Polly photographed it beautifully and we also took the opportunity to do our couple portraits then too, so that after the ceremony we could just go with the flow.”
The couple also employed The Wedding Reporter to come and write their wedding story for them. If you want to read more about how the day went and what it was like to actually be there, then be sure to go and check out her report on her blog (part one and part two.)
The idea behind Rebecca & Ben’s engagement shoot was a simple one – to capture them in some of their favourite places in their own neighbourhood in Brooklyn.
“We went to their local bookstore, record store, and a fantastic hand crafted furniture shop (in the beginning of the set with the horse and cool stuff) called From The Source,” photographer Evangeline Lane told me. ” Some of my favorite shots are those in the elevator…which was a spontaneous spur of the moment decision.”
Rebecca’s beautiful hand-stitched dress came from her favourite boutique, Meg.
Natalie & Sarah were married at El Rio, a bar in San Francisco. “My friend described our wedding as ‘A backyard picnic with 52 pieces of flair’. I wanted it to feel like a big huge queer love fest,” newlywed Sarah told me.
“Our wedding was Rock n Roll because it was a queer wedding first and foremost. We had so much wiggle room to shape our event to be exactly what we wanted it to be. We were able to incorporate some traditional aspects, like the ring exchange, and do away with others that had no meaning to us like a bouquet toss or smashing a piece of cake in one another’s face. Although Nat and I can’t legally get married in the state of California we’re looking forward to taking a trip to New York to do it soon! I have a full sleeve of tattoos and wanted to feel sexy at my wedding, so I opted for a short dress that showed off my sleeve & some cleavage.”
Sarah’s dress was a bridesmaid’s dress from Lula Kate which she ordered in white to save money. She also wore shoes by Jeffrey Campbell and DIY veil and jewellery. Natalie wore a hired tux from Men’s Warehouse, but to say it was a bit of a rubbish experience is an understatement.. You can read all about the drama on their blog soyourenGAYged.com.
“We were on a very tight budget, but didn’t want our guests to know it, so we tried to do everything we could to make it feel like a small intimate gathering with all of your best friends in attendance,” Sarah continued. “We also served gourmet comfort food to our guests – fried chicken, baked beans & mac n’ cheese. Yum! We also tried to keep most of our money within the LGBT community, so the venue was owned by a lesbian, our caterer was a lesbian and most people who helped out day of were all from within our community too. We decided who read their vows first by playing rock, paper, scissors and it was a huge hit.”
The couple also DIY’d a lot to save money including the flowers, “They were hand sewn by yours truly because we ran out of money and I wanted to have some damn flowers!” Sarah laughed. “I handmade my bouquet with fake flowers and incorporated some vintage pins in it that I’d asked for as a gift for my bridal shower. My maid of honor did flowers for many years, so she made their bouquets out of fake flowers we bought the day before at a store. They turned out so well – she took hours to glue all of the pearls to the inside of the red flowers.”
“Our dessert table was designed by a fabulous friend who hung some of the desserts from a tree. Almost everything at the wedding was a DIY project completed by either myself or my amazing team of friends. We did 3 first dances, so that I could get in a cha-cha with my Mom.”
“The DIY altar and photo backdrop was my favorite DIY project. I blogged about it here. The photo’s in front of it turned out so so good!”
This beautiful shoot with an eco hippy vibe tugs at my heart strings. Isn’t it just beautiful!? I die over the summery details – the coloured glass, the cute props (owls for the win!), the yummy confectionery and the stunning florals.
Photographer Nikita Gross used digital, Holga and Polaroid photography to capture the whimsical and retro vibe of these shoot…and I’d say she’s done that perfectly! “We used tons of yellows and greens to keep with the natural vibe,” she explains. “All of the decor was found at local thrift stores. Earlier this year myself and Jen Pritchard of Your Wedding by Jen created Cincinnati’s first Alternative wedding Expo, Love+Bash. This is one of the table concepts from the show.”
Now excuse me, I’m off to lie in the sunshine and dream of this photo shoot…
“The concept of this photo shoot was ‘eco friendly + recycled wedding fashion for modern brides’,” photographer Yuna Leonard writes. ” Both of the dresses and the boots in this set were found at American Vintage store on Melrose, Los Angeles. I love that store!”
“I was in love with the ideas of recycling and reusing wedding fashion from days gone by – maybe from brides who were in your Mother’s or Grandmother’s generations. The dresses I bought were also very inexpensive { from $70 – $ 100. The boots were $50.} We fused this style with an idea for outdoor / backyard styled reception fashion as well. The mixed style of vintage + bohemian + western totally got me this time! Hope you enjoy it!”
Rock n Roll Bride regular and favourite Sassy of Assassynation Photography, along with Frank from her sister venture Sassy n Frank, would like to offer one lucky reader of Rock n Roll Bride a free engagement shoot including professional (and erm… awesome) hair and make up to by another Rock n Roll Bride favourite Elbie Van Eeden (whenever I have a photo shoot or event to go to I always ask Elbie to make me up – she’s the BEST!)
Sassy wants to shoot the most awesome engagement shoot idea, so you’ll have to come up with something good! She wants to be challenged (tip: as does Elbie so come up with some awesome hair and make up ideas too!) The shoot can take place anywhere in the world but travel costs must be covered for Sassy, Elbie and Frank…
Oh yeah, did I mention you’ll get a video of the shoot too?! I know…we’re too good to you. The video would make a perfect digital invitation so we’d like the winner to not have sent their wedding invites out yet so you can burn the video to disc and include it to show it off to all your friends and family!
You’ll get two versions of the video – a ‘clean’ version and a copy with all your wedding info on to send out as part of your wedding invitations.
Laura & Nils were married at a vineyard in The Neatherlands. The laid-back nature of their venue was reflected throughout their entire day. It was important to the couple to put their own stamp on their wedding and so they DIY’d a lot of the details including the bride’s dress, the favours (a sweetie table), the cakes and the flowers.
“My dress was ordered from www.dressilyme.com, style number WWD005HV,” Laura told me. “It was a plain white poofy dress, with beads all over the bodice when it arrived. I then altered it myself, by removing the beading, and applying another layer of ruffled fabric and a piece of antique lace over the top to add a personal touch. The fabric and lace were bought at the Albert Cuijp market in Amsterdam. I had wanted to have the white dress because I normally never wear white, and thought that would make it extra special.”
“My personal favorite part of my outfit was my headpiece; a combination of antique lace and an antique brooch.The lace came from the Albert Cuijp market, and the brooch was bought on Etsy from seller HighHorseVintage, based in the UK. The brooch was made in the Victorian era, and symbolises light in the darkness, which I thought was a beautiful thought.”
“We opted for cupcakes!” continued the bride. “And everyone loved them! A friend of ours was kind enough to make them (she loves baking), and did a fantastic job. They were white, with a silver and a red heart on top, very cute and exactly what we wanted. My mum really wanted us to have a ‘ proper’ cake, so we could do the cake-cutting ritual, so our friend made a small white cake that had the same decorations on it as our homemade invitations, which was perfect!”
“I had a bouquet of red and white roses, as Nils always buys me roses on our anniversary, the same number of roses as the years we’ve been together. The girls had smaller versions of my bouquet.Those were the only flowers we had, we had balloons, streamers and confetti for our other decorations.”
“It is the story of a strong bride who is trying to navigate her own way to her wedding,” Angelica told me. “Her compass brakes and she is left to explore and find her way on her own. She has her british prototype WWII night vision goggles and her mason’s on acid amulet for protection, finally she finds her way to a steam train and made it to her wedding fashionably late.”
“The theme I was going for was simple country vintage,” Clare told me. “Throughout the whole wedding process from getting engaged to the honeymoon (which was only 5 months!) we just stayed true to ourselves, we invited who we wanted (no relatives we haven’t seen for 10 years) no kids, only the people who mattered.”
“As for the style, again we stayed true to what we liked and what we felt comfortable with. I don’t particularly see us as Rock n Roll but I guess with our tattoos and such I can see why people might think that. We’re just us and there’s nothing we like more than cuddling up in front of a film with a cuppa and our cats and dog!”
The couple used their own camper van as their wedding day transport, and after the wedding travelled around the Lake District in it for their honeymoon. The couple also added DIY touches throughout their day including all the stationery and paper goods. “We hired bunting from a company called Beautiful Bunting,” continue Clare. “I bought antique bottles, wrapped them in a bit of lace and used them as little vases for the tables along with some parafin lanterns we had bought.”
I teased a photo of Emma in her amazing short short wedding dress on twitter as soon as photographer David McNeil sent over this wedding to me. Whoaaa, I literally had to share it with someone (well 12,000 someone’s) right away! I. Die.
“We got married in Bardsea (on the bay of Morecambe)” Emma told me. “It’s my parent’s village which is just such a gorgeous place near the moors and the beach. Even though we live in Camden and love it – we’re both down to earth and love being outdoors and away from the city, so it was a natural choice. We got married at Eden Lodge, on the outskirts of the village, which has recently been converted from a Edwardian home to a small, minimalist hotel in some AMAZING grounds. We got married in the hotel itself and then the reception was in a marquee in the grounds. It was the hotel’s first wedding and they were AMAZING. We can’t sing their praises enough. The staff were EXCEPTIONAL and really went above and beyond to make our day perfect.”
Emma’s amazing dress was a custom-made Suzanne Neville number. She explains, “I never thought Matt and I would get married. I knew we’d be together forever but we weren’t really the ‘marrying kind’. As soon as he proposed, I knew my dress would be something that reflected my character. I’m not a girly girl and I usually dress in biker boots and short skirts – so short was what I wanted. I wanted to feel like ME on the day not a BRIDE. I scooted through some websites looking for a short wedding dress and found one designed by Suzanne Neville. I fell in love but hunted for something cheaper that I loved as much. Anyway I didn’t. The dress was custom made for me at a crazy price. But it was the only one for me! I’ve been taking some millinery courses so I wanted to make something for me to wear. Obviously our wedding was near the royal wedding, so as a joke I designed and made a crown out of silk and fresh water pearls to wear. In the end I chickened out of wearing it as I was already so tall in my platforms but you can see me holding it in this photo.”
It was a hotly contested battle but I’m pleased to announce that after 20,000 votes (!) that the next Rock n Roll Bride intern is…
Congratulations Miss Roo, I very much look forward to getting to know you and sharing your (sure to be) awesome wedding planning story with the readers of Rock n Roll Bride.
Roo & her fiance Lamb are right at the beginning of their wedding planning so I know we’re going to have loads of good stuff to read about! I have to say I’m super excited to see which suppliers they book and all the awesome DIY projects that I’m sure they’re going to get stuck into too…
Roo & I are actually going to meet in actual real life on Wednesday too (and I’m bringing a photographer friend with me to capture it.) I’m so excited!! From what I know about her so far I think she’s all kinds of awesome and we’re going to be BFF’s for sure.
Roo will be writing a monthly column for the blog (for now…maybe more if y’all want it or she comes up with any extra ideas!) which will be posted on the first Monday of each month…and as today is the 1st August I thought I’d throw her in at the deep end by sharing her first post right now.
We are also yet to come up with a nice catchy title for Roo’s posts…like how Alice became Alice in Weddingland…Can you help? Comment below if you’ve got any bright ideas. My idea of “Roo says I Do” made even me want to die inside with it’s cheesiness.
Welly, welly, well. When I sat and wrote my application to Kat a few weeks ago, I of course had hoped, but certainly not expected to be sat addressing you all now as her brand new intern. Lamb actually asked me, “aren’t you excited to have your words and thoughts read by thousands of people?” Let me tell you, the only word for it is ludicrous. Last week’s voting process was both stomach churning and exhilarating, and I’m certain that I’ve accrued several more grey hairs than usual (plus, it wreaked havoc with my quitting-smoking regime). Besides reading some fabulous words of support from total strangers here on the blog (thank you, each one of you, you gave my ego a fantastic boost) my favourite part of last week by far was getting to “meet” and have a natter with some really outstanding individuals. To name them outright would merely omit the many other outstanding individuals who took the time to read and vote for my application, so I hope my powers of e-telepathy are working today and that you simply know who you are.
Of course, I simply must extend my gratitude first and foremost for Kat. When we heard that the voting had ended, I wrote my immediate impressions on the whole experience to date over at my blog. There, I expressed being humbled by everyone who had faith in me and the vision that Lamb and I have for our wedding; that warm, fuzzy feeling started with Kat from the moment she shortlisted me, and has been an unstoppably-spreading force ever since. I am excited by the prospect of making a new friend in my new “boss”, and by all the doors, windows and cat-flaps of opportunity she could open up for me as I share this dizzying experience with you.
All that remains for me to do is give you a little heads-up on my not-so-distant future posts, and introduce our story properly.
♥ Fashion collaborations ♥ Russell Brand’s Tribute ♥ lightbulb moments ♥ picnics with friends ♥ mini shopping trolleys ♥ strawberry punch ♥ gossiping until way after bedtime ♥ marriage equality ♥ lunchtime celebrations ♥ new box sets ♥ proud friends (and making them cry) ♥ yellow microphones ♥ bad taste in music ♥ remembering that I used to have good taste in music ♥ watching terrible movies with the one you love ♥
This week a lovely package came in the post for me from my friend Christine at Angelberry Organics. They specialise in beautiful, organic and cruelty-free make up and quite frankly I’m smitten. They even have a whole range of mineral based make up which is said to be brilliant for troublesome skin. Needless to say I can’t wait to give it a whirl!
“Our mission at Angelberry Organics is to bring you mineral cosmetics and body care products that leave you feeling completely divine,” they say. “Formulated using the highest quality natural ingredients, our heavenly treats are luxurious, fun, and made to enhance your natural beauty. Angelberry Organics products are not tested on animals and 100% free from all synthetic chemicals, paraben preservatives, dyes, and bismuth oxychloride.”
“We’re inspired by all of the deliciousness of life, gratitude for each day, and the beauty that surrounds us. We believe that every person should be empowered to live a clean, healthy, balanced life. Our hope is that our products will provide you with a moment to pause from your day, care for yourselves and your loved ones, and celebrate being you.”
Within the package of goodies was this fab lipstick that I’m wearing in these photos. Its a beautiful deep pink and is going to be perfect for me when I’m feeling less conspicuous (I can usually be spotted sporting the brightest of bright pink lipsticks!)
Christine would like to name this fabulous lippy after Rock n Roll Bride and so has asked if the readers of the blog would be able to come up with a suitably fabulous name.
To enter, simply comment below by next Saturday (6th August) with your ideas. You can enter as many times, and with as many different ideas as you wish. The winner will not only have the pride of naming the lippy, but will also win a full size tube of the stuff for flaunting around town.
The winner will be announced on the blog next Sunday.
Where do I even begin with all the press love I’ve received this month? I’m blown away as ever. World domination here I come…
Marie Claire Magazine (UK)
When Marie Claire Magazine contacted me asking if I would like to be profiled in a feature about ‘Super-Bloggers’ I just about fell of my chair. Erm moi? in MARIE CLAIRE!? I might have squealed a little bit…well a lot.
I was interviewed by a journalist where she asked me all about the business, what I do, how I earn my moolah…and all that jazz. I’m thrilled with how the article turned out and I’ve had so much amazing feedback since – including a call from the BBC (see below) and Marie Claire Greece! Watch this space people, watch this space…
In Stores Now
BBC Radio Berkshire
On Thursday I was invited to BBC Radio Berkshire to be interviewed on the Anne Diamond Show. Anne was actually off for the week but we met the very lovely David Prever, who made me feel incrediblly welcome and slightly less nervous than when I first walked in! Gareth came to hold my hand and even he got on air too!
You can listen to the whole interview on the BBC iPlayer, but for my readers not in the UK you can all listen to it thought this little video that Gareth made. Aren’t we good to you?
…and ps yes I giggled a LOT! What was that about!?
Photo Professional Magazine
This month I addressed a question I get asked over and over by photographers, wedding suppliers and other bloggers – how to create a great website. I wanted to share some of my tips on how to make your website stand out from the crowd as well as highlight some pitfalls to avoid (like the plague!)
…twice…
…but I didn’t expect this one! My friend Marianne Taylor was intervierwed by Photo Professonal on the ‘Beloved’ Movement – a style of shooting couples to envoke real emotions and photograph them in a really unique way. Gareth & I did a Beloved shoot with Marianne for our anniversary and so it was a huge surprise when flipping though the magazine to see our photo on a double page spread! Thanks Marianne and Photo Professional!
Now that I’m writing my final ever ‘Alice in Weddingland’ post I really don’t know where to start. I am now happily married and honeymooned, and it is the best feeling in the world. So I shall simply relive that amazing day with you, through this article, and hope that I can convey at least some of the magic that the day held for me. I hope you enjoy this final instalment: Alice in Weddingland got married!
We booked to stay in the hotel the reception was being held in for two nights, one night prior and then the wedding night itself. Our room was beyond gorgeous: champagne, chocolates and strawberries waiting for us on arrival, and a bed so big it took FIVE pillows to fill it up lengthways. There was also a lovely sofa, coffee table, and dressing table, which turned out just perfect for when Elbie arrived at 9.30am to do my hair and makeup. We had done a trial a few weeks earlier so we knew exactly what we were doing, and it took around two hours from start to finish. During this time Sassy from Assassynation Photography, Frank from Sassy n Frank videography and Andy from Cine8 all arrived and got to work filming my getting ready, and shooting my dress in all manner of positions around the hotel. When sassy disappeared with my dress I was of course a little nervous, but when I saw the pictures I knew it was all worth it! I put in a little ban – no photos or filming before my makeup had been done, because it had been an early morning for me, and a late night drinking with our friends the night before!
Although I didn’t have traditional bridesmaids, my two best friends Lois and Claire were with me the whole time while I was getting primped and preened from all angles. The helped me into my dress and garter, and even did up my shoes for me (I broke my foot three weeks before the wedding, so had to hobble around the whole day. Also, suddenly the gorgeous Irregular Choice red shoes Graham had purchased me as a present were so impractical I had to ditch them, and cram my swollen foot into a pair of red Ked plimsolls!)
Once I was all ready, and Graham had called me to say he was we set about orchestrating a lovely mini-shoot within the wedding day. Sassy had had the idea of photographing our first look (our reactions to seeing each other all dressed up for the first time) and thought where better to do this then in the reception room that had been dressed by our florist Miss Moles that morning? So, I limped up the spiral staircase that led to our ‘room in the sky’, and saw Graham standing by the window with his back to me. When Graham turned around it was such a special moment – he looked beyond adorable, and I knew then and there that I was making the best decision of my life by marrying him. We explored the room, taking in all the beautiful flowers, giant cupcakes, and sweetie buffet, as well as the photos from our engagement shoot that we had displayed on mini-easels around the place.
We then went to have our portraits taken. We decided to take these photos around the hotel. Lucky for us the hotel was filled with mirrored walls, chandeliers, and quirky old fashioned wooden phone booths so it made for a cute backdrop. It was so fun just messing around with Graham and our wonder team and it calmed me down quite a lot from the nerves I’d been feeling creep up on me all morning.
A couple of hours later it was time for me to go wait for my wedding car in our room, and Graham to lead the guests down the seafront to the Town Hall. I can honestly say, those ten minutes I was alone in our room were ten of the most surreal moments of my life. The beautiful magnitude of what was about to happened to me was really sinking in, and I was so excited I couldn’t contain it any longer. When my Step-Dad arrived at the door to take me to the car I knew I was ready to get married, and I couldn’t bloomin’ wait!
We arrived at the Town Hall around the same time as the guests, and it was lovely seeing our loved ones in all their finery, mingling and getting excited to share our special day with us. I made a beeline for Graham, and we headed into the building to have our pre-ceremony meeting with the Registrar. A short while later, it was time for us to enter the room via a side door, as all our guests were already seated. Regina Spektor ‘Us’ played as we walked through, and I remember seeing everyone’s expectant and animated faces as we took our seats at the front. It was a lovely feeling.
We opted for a simple and modern set of vows, and the ceremony lasted around twenty minutes. When it was time to leave, an unorganised sort of receiving line formed, with each guest personally greeting us as they left through the door. This moment was one of the highlights of my day, as it was so unexpected and meaningful. We didn’t plan it but it was so nice to say “Hi” to everyone. We only had 30 guests so it didn’t take very long.
As the guests exited the building they were greeted by Hannah from The Tea Set, who while we had been actually getting married had set up a red vintage ice cream trike just outside the door. This was a huge hit with the guests, and I cannot recommend her enough. It was quirky yet practical, as everyone likes a little light refreshment! Also it fit in perfectly with our seaside theme, so I just knew I had to have it!
Graham and I were driven back to the hotel, and the guests walked back along the seafront. As we walked through the rotating doors of the hotel we were met by the staff greeting us as ‘Mr and Mrs Clark’ and with two flutes full of champagne. Lovely! Our guests started filtering in then, so we directed them to the 8th floor, where our reception was being held. We commissioned Lucy Ledger to design an A2 poster board that we displayed on a giant easel to pop by the entrance to the Chartwell Room, to point guests in the right direction. Although I don’t see how they could have missed the entrance, and there was a vintage apple crate full of glasses of Pimms right by it!
We had a Pimms and canapé hour, whilst we mingled with the guests and enjoyed everyone’s reactions to the little touches we had put in to make the decoration unique to us. The sun then came out, so Kat made sure us girls and Graham hit the beach to have some outdoorsy photos taken. This part of the day was super fun, and the difference natural light makes in a photo is phenomenal. We then all headed back to the Hilton, for the wedding breakfast.
We opted for a seaside themes buffet, and I must say there was an insane amount of food. I think we got through little more then half of it! We didn’t have a seating plan, but we needn’t have worried as everyone found a seat next to whomever they were talking to, and it worked out perfectly. At the end of the meal Graham and I made a small toast/thank you speech each, and I must say Graham’s utterly trumped mine! We then opened presents, drank lots of champagne, and cut our giant cupcake! Another highlight for me was throwing my bouquet, as I had no idea how competitive the single girls at the wedding were going to be! The action shot photos of this single event are priceless!
We had to vacate the room by 9pm, so at around 8.30pm some guests left, and the rest moved downstairs to the hotel bar with us. Queue a LOT of drinking and stolen cigarette breaks, until at about midnight when the night came to a natural close. (Apart from Sassy and Kat, whom I later found out went out and hit up my favourite Brighton nightclub until 4 in the morning!!)
All in all, it was quite simply the best day of my life. But don’t let me mislead you into thinking that it all went perfectly…the registrar kept calling me Elizabeth during the the vows, I got chicken satay allll over my one-of-a-kind Joanne Fleming wedding dress, and Graham was such a bag of nerves the whole day he didn’t eat or drink a thing!
You learn though, and I want to stress to you all, that it is the imperfections that make your wedding personal and unique to you. If you wanted a generic, perfect white wedding then you probably wouldn’t be reading Rock n Roll Bride right now, and it’s important to keep that in mind.
Remember what the day really means: is it a party for a party’s sake, or is it a party to celebrate the commitment you have just made to the love of your life? By putting everything into perspective you can minimise and bridezilla tendencies, and have the best day of your life.
To all you lucky ladies (and men!) planning your wedding day – enjoy it! The day itself goes so quickly, so make sure you enjoy every part of the process, because it wont last forever. And finally, I’d like to say the biggest thank you of all to Mrs Rock n Roll Bride herself: my wedding would have been a million miles removed from the day that it turned out to be if it wasn’t for you. I hope you know how much you mean to Graham and myself.
As usual, you guys are a lot better at the weddingy tips that me! I turned to twitter and my facebook page to ask for some of your top wedding planning tips for this week…
@Simply__Elegant Don’t try to do EVERYTHING do the important bits REALLY WELL
@RhianHJ Choose your max budget,then deduct 15%. Always work to the 85% figure then have a little buffer for the things you forgot!
@mrsmandydingle To find your colour scheme, take a colour photo that you love and pick out complimenting shades like this
@cupcakes_london Plan your make-up trial for same day as engagement shoot – pix will look fab & MUA can see how the makeup looks in photos.
@makebelieven Stick to your gut on design. If you have seen it on the blogs it might not be authentically you. Get ideas, don’t copy.
Bekki Cooke – Follow your favourite vendors on Twitter. I have great contact with my venue on there, and have found both my awesome photographers via tweeting as well!
Hey Kat
I’m finding it really hard to find out the etiquette and laws around blogging. Specifically around re-posting others content. I wondered if you’d be interested in posting some guidelines on what is and is not acceptable to re-post or how you should go about it to your business note section? Surely I’m not the only one totally lost and not wanting to offend/misuse someone elses content!
Thanks! xxx, Cathie
I got this email from Cathie, a photographer from New Zealand last week so I thought I’d quickly address is in this week’s Post It Notes as it’s actually quite a straight forward answer (but as she said, something that many people are still confused by.)
First up, I’m giving my opinions based on the wedding blogging industry. These ‘rules’ may be slightly different if you’re coming from another area of journalism/blogging.
As a general rule, if you wish you share an image that you don’t own the rights to you need to ask permission (from the photographer.) Usually photographers will be more than likely to say yes as long as they receive a credit and a link back to their website in return. The difficult area comes when you find an image you’d like to use on sites like Tumblr (the bane of my life!), Pinterest or weheartit etc as many of these sites (or the users of these sites should I say) don’t include credits when they post images (naughty!) However Google have just launched a new service for image searching, which is really great in helping you find the original sources of images. Simply upload the image and it gives you the results of where else is it posted.
Its a bit of a hazy area, but if you find an image you’d like to use on another wedding blog, with a credit to the original source usually it’s safe to assume the photographer in question is happy for their photos to be out and used online, with credit. Often I’ll use an image of a wedding that I’ve seen on another wedding blog, however if I do I always add the credit to read:
Photography Credit: Photographer Name (link) via XYZ Wedding Blog (link)
Its also preferable to make the wording of the linkable text the website or photographer’s name and not just ‘source’ or ‘via’. This helps the website owner’s SEO and google rank.
It’s important to give some kudos to the source that you found the image on (it helps the blog love go round) as well as the photographer. Often, wedding blogs will have exclusivity policies whereby they will only feature weddings that have not been published on rival wedding blogs. Therefore if you are one of these ‘rival blogs’ and you also use the image its just nice to give them some love. It’s not a hard and fast law or anything, but it going to make you some friends.
When it comes to using images from big companies or shopping websites such as Topshop, Asos or Etsy for example, you’re alright to use these images…but again as long as you credit the source.
via: icanhascheezeburger This kitty photo totally sums up my life right now. Be gone negative beings!
Welcome to this week’s bumper edition of Thursday Treats. I have been extra inspired by interweb loveliness this week. I hope you enjoy this mini-diversion, and a delve into a sparkly bloggy pot of…
Laurence & Gi’s low-key and informal wedding had me smitten as soon as I laid eyes on those flower head garlands! To me, they totally sum up what I adore about this wedding – leaving your stresses behind you, having fun and creating something personal and beautiful. They had a very small wedding with only a few guests and the really put their all into creating something wonderful. “I didn’t have a focused inspiration in mind to be honest, but I did have a clear vision on how I envisaged the vibe of the wedding, so I wrote down in my notebook ‘Young, Easy, Relaxed with a little bit of Attitude!'” explained Gi. “I wasn’t quite sure on what I wanted, I was very open-minded with my imaginations. I didn’t want a cliche wedding with too many guests and too many formalities, there wouldn’t be enough for intimacy.”
“Going with my heart is the only thing I follow. I wanted this event to be real and beautiful, a place with a natural beauty yet also earthy and humble. I didn’t want my guests to just join us for the wedding day only, I wanted to treat them to a long, relaxing weekend together, well away from their stresses of London. A little low-key, summer afternoon garden wedding as relaxing and charming as it can be, where everyone can just be themselves and look awesome. And of course making sure there’s enough ice to keep your drinks chilled.”
I am totally loving the Barbies and mini rubber ducks used in the decor (!) and hand-drawn personalised illustration placecards. It’s the little details like this that make this intimate wedding so beautiful.
Gi wore a dress by Ralph Lauren which perfectly complimented the laid-back, bohemian vibe of the wedding. Her tiara was by Andrew Prince and veil by Sarah Morgan Bridal. The flower head garlands that she and her bridesmaids wore were created by their florist, Charlie of The Real Cut Flower Garden, a company that specialise in growing their own flowers and foliage in the English countryside.
“We grow glorious old-fashioned and unusual flowers and foliage and create beautiful seasonal bouquets which can be delivered from our gardens to your door,” they say. “Ours are flowers for anyone who appreciates gardens, a long way from standard florist fare. Wedding flowers are a speciality, glorious natural arrangements for any situation, whether you’re getting married in a cathedral or a field.”
Yes “Ahhhh” is pretty much all I can say right now because I’m still kind of in shock at what I’m doing today. Last week I was invited by the BBC to visit BBC Radio Berkshire to be interviewed by Anne Diamond on her radio show! Anne talks about “Real lives and compelling stories with a human touch” and I guess they thought that meant me.
Oh crap.
You can listen to this interview live on BBC Radio Berkshire – 95.4 FM or 104.1 FM or on the BBC iPlayer. I’ll be on with Anne from 12:00 – 12:45 today. If you miss it you can ‘listen again’, also through the iPlayer.
Must not swear….must not swear….must not swear….must not swear….must not swear….(my Mother would be mortified.)
Hi Kat, My name is Sara and I just found your website. Wow I was so relieved I wasn’t the only one who hated the idea of a cookie cutter poofy foofy wedding! Amazing site! I have always dreamed of a 50’s style tea length wedding dress. I found one I love on unique vintage thanks to you, but here’s my problem. I’m plus sized. Like say a size 26 plus sized.
I’ve been really ill for the last year and between taking care of my Mom (she had a stroke on my sixteenth birthday) and my illness, weight loss has been on the back burner. I’m set to be married November 5th of this year. I’m on a tight budget, but I just can’t stand the idea of not having a wedding dress. Please please help me find one! Thanks,
Sara, loosing hope in Georgia.
♥ ♥ ♥
I have been alarmed recently by the number of emails like Sara’s that I’ve received from my readers asking for advice on where to look for plus sized wedding dresses. I’ve had so many in fact that I thought this was certainly a topic worth covering on the blog. I also read this article on Businessweek and was pleasantly surprised that there does seem to be the beginnings of a shift in the ‘ideal’ bridal look and size. So today I indulged my inner shopaholic and have done some fantasy dress shopping for all you curvacous ladies.
You know this already but I’m going to say it anyway, you do not have to be a size 0 to look like a supermodel on your wedding day. Your fiance is the luckiest man in the world to be marrying you – he knows that and so should you. So don’t go feeling rubbish about yourself just because you don’t fit into the dress shop sample sizes!
As someone that’s be everything from a size 6 to a size 16, I know all too well what it’s like to feel pants about the way you look…and to feel like you don’t fit in with the rest of the world. But you know what, I’m hear to help and I’ve found some pretty damn awesome dress suppliers on my travels, all of whom want to make you feel fierce!
OK pep talk over. I spoke to some of my favourite designers to ask what they offered for plus sized brides and I’m pleased to report that I was inundated with responses! OK on with the shopping…
“Here at Vivien of Holloway we are renowned for our 1940’s and 50’s reproduction ladieswear, but we also a great place to head for Fifties style bridalwear. The Vivien of Holloway sizing is based on original 1950’s sizes. Customers are recommended to come along the shop to ensure they get fitted correctly. If you’re ordering from home you’re advised to measure yourself before ordering anything! Our sizes range from a 10 (which is about the equivalent of a high street 6-8) to a size 24 (available in circle dresses only).”
“For gorgeous plus-sized brides, we have white or ivory Halterneck Circle Dresses available, either in plain satin or covered in our luxurious lace. These all have a boned bodice with a satin halterneck strap and a full-circular skirt. This style is also available in a fabulous range of florals and polka dots, for the sassy bride in all of us! The dresses look exquisite when worn with one of our fluffy petticoats, giving you a glamorous 50’s look!”
“Our largest size is our 24, which measure a 46″ bust, 38″ waist and 50″ hips.”
“We cater to plus sizes since all of our dresses are made to order! One of our recent brides sent us photos of her wearing the dress and you can see them here. We can make any of our gowns in any size, or we can replicate any style dress to the bride’s exact measurements.”
“Although our dresses are not considered bridal dresses, we are more cocktail style, our dresses have been used countless times in weddings! Our sizing in house is offered to A US size 18…but we recently got picked up by Torrid so our dresses will soon be available to size 26. We have had such a huge demand for our plus sizes and the fit of our dresses is sooo great on ” everybody” that we just continue to be the on demand dress shop! If you go our blog you can see images of just about every size women available. As I said before, our dresses fit “everybody” absolutely amazing… By the way the designer is a US size 12 herself so she knows how to make curvier figures look great!”
As usual, you guys are a lot better at the weddingy tips that me! I turned to 
Hey Kat
