Kat

“Joyfest 2011” A Weekend-Long Festival Wedding: Jen & Rob

Kat

January 18, 2012

"A weekend of celebration" was how Jen & Rob described their festival wedding to me, and that couldn't have been a more perfect description. Stokes Barn, specialising in self-catering group accommodation, in the Shropshire hills played host. "We knew we wanted something different," explained the bride. "We wanted to celebrate with the special people who enrich our lives and who share and understand our values and beliefs. We had the idea of a festival type celebration where we could create a magical, memorable and warm weekend (whatever the weather!) of celebration, relaxation, much merriment, Peace and Love!"

A DIY Carnival Wedding at Home: Bethany & Eric

Kat

January 18, 2012

Bethany & Eric's carnival-themed wedding was held at their home, Antebellum Farmhouse in Granville, Ohio. "The inspiration for our wedding really started with our pre-civil war home", Bethany told me. "When Eric and I first saw our house with our realtor we both stood on the front porch with tears in our eyes. We had not even walked through the front door but we knew this was our home. Eric looked at me and said 'we could be married here.' He then carried me across the threshold. Sounds like a fairy tale.... But so real." The theme may have started with their home but over time 'a day and night at the fair' became their manifesto. Royal Steamline provided the perfect stationery to fit the idea. "We wanted to create a vintage carnival feeling for all ages of guests to enjoy," the bride continued. "I have an antique and interior design business named after our home, so I incorporated many antique and vintage items, furniture and props to create the scene. I searched auctions and estate sales for real vintage goblets, punch cups and plates for our guests to enjoy. I used vintage furniture outside to create a living room area that was a fabulous photo booth for all of our guests as well as the bridal party."

The Inspirations: Gala Darling

Kat

January 18, 2012

Whenever I'm asked about who my favourite blogger is or where I find my inspiration, Gala Darling's name always comes up. It's hard to explain exactly how I felt when I first discovered her blog, then called iCING, back in 2009 - here was a girl, very much like me (well we both has pink hair and tattoos!) who was making a massive name her herself in the blogging world, but doing it her own way and with such inimitable style and sparkle - something I very much wished I could one day to do too. I was lucky enough to meet Gala when I was in LA in August. I've said it before and I'll say it again, she's just as beautiful and wonderful (OK actually more so) in real life as she is online. I'm thrilled to share this interview with you all today. I hope you find her as inspiring as I do!

A Mendhi Ceremony & A Beautiful DIY Wedding: Jenni & Alex

Kat

January 18, 2012

Jenni & Alex's wedding celebration began with a Mendhi ceremony held at the groom's parents house a few days before the wedding. Their photographers Madlove Photography were there to capture this intimate event as well as their actual wedding, which was held at Rancho Guajome Adobe in Vista, CA in November. "They were such a sweet and fun couple!"explained photographers Mike & Nickie. "Their day was filled with so many beautiful details, many of which were handmade by Jenni. She DIY’ed the boutonnières, table settings, wedding favors and so many of the cute decorations. They were really able to achieve a beautiful, vintage aesthetic for the whole day."

A Heritage & Handmade Australian Wedding: Janelle & Liam

Kat

January 17, 2012

For their December wedding, Janelle & Liam wanted an aspect of heritage and an element of the handmade. They chose Eryldene Historic House and Garden in Gordon (Sydney, Australia) as the place to host their celebration. "Most of our wedding was handmade - assembled and painted by bridal party," the couple explained. "We made our own vintage fabric bunting and table cloths as well as hand made fabric napkins. We sourced over 100 vintage plates from op shops and collected jam jars from family and friends. For favours we had home made seed pouches and home made orange flavoured lolly pops. The seating chart was a window from an old home in Epping and some fence posts. We wrote on the window panes so people knew where to sit."

A Pop of Neon: A 50s Meets 80s Styled Bridal Shoot

Kat

January 17, 2012

When wedding blogger and stylist Sonia of Want that Wedding send me this neon inspiration shoot I fell in love immediately. I'm a bit of a colour fiend (no duh!) and neon is a trend that I'm love love loving on the high street right now. I'm super excited to see it filter down into bridal styling and I'd love to see some real Rock n Roll Brides rocking out this look on their wedding days. What do you think? The shoot took place at the beautiful One Marylebone, London. Their bright white 'galleries' room made the perfect backdrop for the shoot. The white setting really makes the neon accents pop! "The inspiration for this shoot came about during a brainstorming session with Kat Hill of Kat Hill Fotographie," Sonia explained. "We were discussing various themes for a shoot when this idea just suddenly popped out ‘how about a 50s shoot with an 80s twist?’ I’m not even sure who said it first but we both fell in love with the idea."

Why Big Companies Suck at Social Media & How You Can Avoid Doing the Same

Kat

January 17, 2012

Last week I had an email from my Dad asking how many followers on Twitter and 'likes' on Facebook I had. I told him (cos you know, he could have just taken 3 seconds to look himself!) but then asked why he wanted to know. Apparantly the company he works for - don't ask me what they do...it's something to do with software I think - want to increase their social media presence and therefore wanted a benchmark as to what some 'good follower numbers' would be. While flattered, I was confused at what relevance my social networking had to do with a massive multi-national corporation like this - one with hundreds of staff and turning over millions of £/$/€ a year. But then I realised that I shouldn't be so self deprecating and that in all reality, it's the small business that rock at using social media and the big boys that (I'm sorry but generally) suck at it.

A Back to the Future, Harry Potter & Star Wars Themed Nerdy Wedding: Jaclyn & Steven

Kat

January 17, 2012

"My husband and I are such nerds," began Jaclyn's email. "Our inspiration for your wedding came from the things we love which included: Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Star Wars, Disney, a literary theme, a music theme, etc." I loved her instantly! "We had lightsabers, owl and Weasley crown cookies, records everywhere, and my shoes caused people to call me a 'hooker Minnie Mouse' several times," she continued. "We picked the things that were important to us and did them, the rest like having a first dance, a cake cutting, a bouquet toss and garter toss were totally left out because it had no meaning to us. We had no DJ and there wasn’t even a dance floor at our venue. So many people were shocked that there would be no dancing, but at the end of the night not one person complained about it. Everyone was having such a good time they didn’t even notice that so many traditional things were missing. We just wanted to hang out and have fun, and it’s exactly what we did."

A Quirky East London Pub Wedding with a Nod to the 1940s: Becca & Dan

Kat

January 16, 2012

For Becca & Dan, a formal wedding was never on the cards. "We wanted the day to be about our guests not all the attention on us," the bride wrote. "There were no formalities, just tea & cakes followed by pie & mash then a good all knees up in an east London pub with Billie Holiday playing & a free bar all night!" Becca got ready at Zetter Townhouse, a really stylish house with quirky vintage decor & stuffed animals. It proved to be the perfect place for some pre-ceremony snaps with her bridesmaids and really set the tone for the rest of the wedding day.

Roo’s Favourite Finds: The Tattered, The Broken & The Not So Shiny…Plus How to Haggle

Kat

January 16, 2012

Now, even after seeing what treasures can be found if you look hard enough in the right places, you would be forgiven for presuming the following formula: Charity shops = tat … Because, quite frankly, quite a lot of the time it’s proven to be true. Whether you’re a tried & true charity shop scavenger or a recent disciple following this series, you’re sure to have had a “dud” run, and that can be disheartening. When you’re perusing for the fun of it it’s not so bad, but if you’re committed to the cause for the sake of your wedding it’s easy to get blindsided by the dud run and head home feeling dejected. This month I’d like to focus on spotting the potential in otherwise “useless” items: the tattered, the broken, and the not so shiny.

A Sunday Kind of Love: Upper Street Launch A Range of Ballet Flats – Design Your Own Shoes!

Kat

January 15, 2012

If you've been reading the blog for a while, you will probably have heard all about Upper Street Shoes before. Last summer, they asked me if I wanted to design my very own pair of shoes using their online software and...well I wasn't going to say no to that was I? You can see the first pair I designed here. However when I received an email from the girls recently to let me know that they were launching a ballet flats range, I just about jumped out of my chair with glee! I do love the look of sky-high platforms, epic wedges and cute kitten heels, but oh how I suck at balancing and walking in them...I'm a little clumsy to say the least. Anyway, this was like music to my ears and when they asked if I'd again, like to design a pair myself, well I just about wet myself with excitement.

DIY Tutorial: Piano Keys Slogan Garland – A Great Alternative to Wedding Bunting

Kat

January 14, 2012

Today's super cute DIY tutorial comes from reader Klaire of Paper Me Happy. The piano keys theme could be a great alternative to bunting at your wedding. Alongside her husband, Klaire makes gorgeous paper flowers - the perfect alternative to the real deal. "We create alternative wedding flowers for alternative couples, fusing ancient origami folds with contemporary prints and patterns and vintage novel pages," she explains. Over to you Klaire...

Should I Book a Professional Wedding Photographer or Get a Friend to do it for Free? A Cautionary Tale…

Kat

January 13, 2012

You've probably seen similar discussions to this on other wedding blogs, however today I wanted to share with you this cautionary tale from a bride who had personal experience of taking the cheaper option and was unhappy with the results. Now, I know spending £2000 on a wedding photographer isn't possible for everyone, however the point of this post is not to bully you into paying for someone you can't afford. No, I wanted to share this story with you so that you make your decision with your eyes wide open. I just want to be open and honest with you and to let you know that, as with most things in life, you really do get what you pay for...and if something sounds too good to be true then it probably is. If wedding photograph isn't that big a deal to you, the great - who am I to tell you that's wrong? However it breaks my heart when I hear from newlyweds that say 'I wish we'd thought more about our photography. We spend more on the cake/my dress/the flowers and now we have no good photos to remember our day'. OK, Over to you Mrs X...

How To Create Your Brand: A Wedding Photographer’s Story & A Step by Step Guide

Kat

January 13, 2012

When it comes to running your own business, branding should be one of the things number one on your list to get perfect. Perfect branding will make you stand out from the crowd and will show potential clients exactly what you're all about - even before they've seen your photographs/stationery/flowers etc - and before they've read one word about you. This week, I thought it might be helpful to speak to someone who has gone through the re-branding process recently, with step by step examples of what they did and how they did it. If you're thinking about your own branding but are struggling with how to go about it, then this article by Kerrie Mitchell is for you! Be sure to check out her new website after for the final result! ...And as ever, we'd love to hear your own stories in the comments please!

“Less is More & Keep it Simple”: Michelle & Kyle

Kat

January 13, 2012

Michelle & Kyle we're married in Savannah, GA. The outdoor ceremony was held in a public park, Oglethorpe Square, and their reception was at the amazingly named (and coloured!) The Olde Pink House Restaurant. "If you allow yourself to get pulled into today’s wedding etiquette, you can really drive yourself crazy," Michelle began, when I asked her if she had any advice for the newly-engaged. "We ignored all the rules and threw caution to the wind, and just chose what we liked and what represented us well. We both love vintage things - ideas from the 1930s or 1940s or just something that is banged up and broken in, 'well loved' as we like to call it. We also played on our love for tattoos and nature. We both have been getting tattooed for years and wanted to incorporate our art into the day in a natural way. It’s part of who we are."

Thursday Treats: 12th January 2012 – Victorian Steampunk & Handmade Giant Paper Flowers

Kat

January 12, 2012

I just wanted to start today's treats by highlighting something that went up in The Green Room this morning, just in case you don't regularly read that side of the blog. I've just announced my first tour date for my blogging workshop, School of Rock (n Roll Bride), for 2012! I'm taking my tour bus to...ah ha you'll have to pop over there and have a look for yourself! Tickets for the workshop are available right now and spaces are limited to just 20 attendees. Click here for more info and to book your spot.

A Vintage Tepee Wedding: Gemma & Giuseppe

Kat

January 12, 2012

There's quite a story behind Gemma & Giuseppe's gorgeous wedding, and one that I hope might ease any of you stressing about your wedding venue (I know Roo had a bit of a similar drama last month, she'll be writing about it for you soon). "Our reception took place in tepees, at Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge (who, p.s. were AMAZING)" Gemma explained. "We had always wanted a tepee party, but our original venue to pitch them fell through with just 8 days to go! Oatlands Park Hotel came to our rescue and then some. They turned everything around so brilliantly - nothing was a problem, and they accommodated everything from the tepees to my 100 vintage teacups for the arrival champagne. After it all went bottoms up, major panic ensued for approximately half a day before I gave myself a stern talking to and set to work! I have to say that despite all of the last minute worry, the day went like a dream, and it just goes to show that even the biggest disasters don't mean that your special day is ruined!"

New Tour Date: School of Rock (n Roll Bride) – Sheffield

Kat

January 12, 2012

Today I'm a little bit over excited (and a big bit nervous) to announce the first 2012 School of Rock (n Roll Bride) workshop. On Wednesday March 21st, Gareth & I will be hopping on our tour bus and driving aaaalll the way up to Sheffield, and I hope that 20 of you would like to join us! The 4 hour workshop (1.30pm-5.30pm) is being held at the fabulous Chimney House. From the feedback I received after the last two workshops I've decided to make the classes longer and more interactive. There will plenty of time for questions and if you'd like us to, Gareth & I are more than happy to go through people's blogs individually and give you some personal feedback.

A Final Fantasy Engagement Shoot: Jennifer & Scott

Kat

January 12, 2012

This isn't the usual kind of shoot I'd feature but sometimes we could all do with a bit of extra geek chic in our lives! Jennifer & Scott met in 2005 at Anime Expo, one of the largest Japanese animation and video game conventions, held annually in Southern California. At these events a lot of people show up wearing costumes of their favourite anime characters and at this particular convention they both happened to come dressed as their characters from the video game series, Final Fantasy. Jennifer was dressed as Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2 and Scott was dressed as Seifer from Final Fantasy VIII. Their shared love of the series served as a great conversation-starter!

A Retro, Kitsch & Cherry-Themed Southend-on-Sea Wedding: Heidi & Jim

Kat

January 11, 2012

You can't help but fall in love with Heidi & Jim's Southend on Sea wedding. The cherry theme is just so cute and perfect for a retro, quirky and kitsch seaside wedding. "Our inspiration was most definately ourselves, our loved ones and where we live, sunny Southend on Sea!" Heidi explained. "We wanted a wedding that was totally personal to us, that involved everyone close to us as much as we could and that was totally full of fun and unstuffy. We knew we wanted good food and a venue that was ours, where we could do what we wanted, decorate it how we wanted, drink the drinks we wanted and eat the food we wanted!"

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