Budget-Friendly Vegas Elopement With Wedding Day Tattoos

Sophie Cooke

Erin Roberts

August 19, 2021

Disco Noir: A Rock n Roll, Urban Serbian Wedding

Sophie Cooke

Dunja Dopsaj

July 11, 2019

Milica and Aleksandar met in a youth hostel 11 years ago, and have since travelled around the world together - visiting more than 30 countries and over 30 US states! It was on one of their trips to the States that they eloped in 2017 in a mermaid-inspired ceremony (which we featured!) on Coney Island costing just $500. They always said they’d have another wedding back in Serbia to celebrate with their family and friends, so they did just that in the summer of 2018.

Red Rock Roadtrip Elopement – with Irn Bru toast!

Sophie Cooke

Jane in the Woods

November 8, 2018

Lauren (from Fife in Scotland) and Matt met while Lauren was solo travelling in the USA in 2015 - they met in New York and bonded over music, live shows and wine on a Brooklyn brownstone rooftop overlooking the Manhattan skyline. They stayed in touch, talking everyday, after that and their love blossomed. He even sold his car to visit Scotland to meet her family and friends!

Maid of the Mist Elopement with Custom Slogan T-Shirts!

Sophie Cooke

Maggie Gallagher

September 30, 2018

Marc and Sam met when he was the local pizza delivery guy and she was ‘the girl with a pizza addiction’ - no wonder it was basically love at first sight - who doesn’t love the guy who brings them pizza?!

Margaret & Edi’s INCREDIBLE “Blows-Everything-Else-Out-of-the-Water” Gothic Alice in Wonderland Wedding

Kat

March 3, 2011

Yeah...so...um...speechless. .... Seriously people! get a load of this sheeeeeit. OK OK let me get myself together for a second.... Margaret sent me a sneak peek to her incredible wedding to Edi back in October and I had to wait until this week to see the rest of them. Do you know how hard that has been for me?! I actually teased the above photo on Twitter the other day and someone replied asking if it was a photograph of heaven...that's a pretty accurate assumption I think! The couple were legally married at Edi's parent's house and the reception took place in the fairytale setting of The Bali Room in the Kempinski Hotel, Jakarta and Margaret told me all about it. "Our theme was Alice in Wonderland. I picked Alice for my theme, because I've loved it since I was a little kid and because my Mom's name is Alice. The main colour was dark purple because purple represents magical and darkness in the same time. its so glamorous! Our family members wore purple shade outfits."

Rosa & Doug’s 1960′s Hawaiian Holiday Wedding

Kat

February 7, 2011

Although vintage inspired weddings are exceptionally popular, the 1960's is an era I don't see replicated as often as I'd like. However this all changed when Rosa & Doug's incredibe wedding landed on my desk. I swooned, I let out a little squeal and I emailed them back right away saying "yeah baby!" The wedding took place at Don the Beachcomber, a bar on Huntington Beach, CA. Rosa wore a custom dress by Dolly Couture, made especially for her and inspired by a genuine vintage dress pattern she'd seen in a 1963 copy of Modern Bride. The bride's accessories and jewellery were all vintage and mostly found on eBay.

Nicola & Steve’s Intimate New York City Wedding

Kat

January 3, 2011

Happy New Year! I'm starting 2011 with a bang, and the wedding of loyal Rock n Roll Bride reader Nicola to Steve. The couple, from Northern Ireland, were married in New York and Nicola spent a lot of her planning time on Rock n Roll Bride - in fact when she emailed me her wedding submission, I actually recognised her name from all the comments she'd left along the way. It was almost like we were old friends, so of course I I said yes to featuring her gorgeous Rock n Roll New York wedding on these pages.

Peppermint Pretty’s Retro & Quirky Wedding Dresses

Kat

December 20, 2010

These images were sent in by Rock n Roll Bride sponsor, Peppermint Pretty, to show off some of her latest designs. I love the quirky nature of these dresses, like nothing you would have seen before. The first 18 images in the gallery below are Katlyn's bridal shoot, she is wearing her wedding and reception dress. Aren't they both fab? I totally love that bow design. The photographs were taken by Kristin Allen of Bold & Kreative Photography, friend of dress designer Erin. The rest of the images show my favourites from the Peppermint Pretty collection. Each retro inspired dress is custom made to suit the individual bride. J'adore!

Jeanie & Mike’s Dorky & Eclectic South African Wedding

Kat

December 1, 2010

Jeanie & Mike got hitched at the end of October at Old Oak Manor & Cafe Felix in Riebeek Kasteel, South Africa. The wedding had a thrown together, eclectic vibe inspired by the couple themselves. "I don't know if I can classify myself as Rock n Roll, but definitely different and also somewhat dorky", explained the bride. "I think we usually do most things different than the norm and we also have a lot of fun doing it. God is always my inspiration, in fact, he gave me the idea to create a coat of arms for my new family and I used it on the invitation and all the other stationary." Jeanie has even since decided to go into business creating wedding stationary!

Sarah & Jonathan’s Hipster London Wedding

Kat

November 6, 2010

Sarah & Jonathan found the perfect photographer to capture their modern London wedding though Rock n Roll Bride so I was over the moon when Annamarie Stepney asked if I'd like to feature their wedding! The couple chose to have their wedding in their local borough of Islington, North London as they both felt it was very important to support their local businesses and friends. "The fact the venue and all suppliers were local in Angel was very important to us and this is why we chose them. Jonathan's business and our lives in Islington are important and it was all about a sense of community. We also wanted a relaxed inclusive wedding, but not casual. We involved as many people as we could with 18 ushers and bridesmaids altogether, four readers and roles for everyone individually. We have been together for 9 years and have many great friends together who we wanted to be very involved."

Joan & Tim’s Musical English Country Garden Wedding

Kat

October 14, 2010

Oh I have yet another fabulous British wedding for you to le swoon over today. Joan & Tim's English country garden theme was sure as hell given a Rock n Roll twist with the infusion of some seriously rad and personal touches. Not least of all, Joan's incredible dress (actually a corset, skirt, bustle & train) from designer Jane Bourvis. It was all Vintage Couture. Jane was actually the designer behind Carrie Bradshaw's famous 'green seafoam ballerina dress' that she wore in the final episode of Sex and the City (photo here) "Her shop is a wedding wonderland with vintage dresses and corsets dangling above you so you don't know where to look at first," Joan explained. "It was the first dress I tried on and within 5 minutes I knew that I wanted it."

Under the Spotlight – 8 Illustration

Kat

September 13, 2010

Based out of San Luis Obispo, California, August Kreowski, the man behind 8 Illustration has a passion for creative, alternative and unique Rock n Roll couples and their fabulously personalised weddings. He creates custom and one-of-a-kind invitations and paper goods for the most quirky couples out there! "My perfect client is a couple who likes to create a theme for they’re wedding…(I love themes!)" he told me. "I love to work with someone different, someone seeking custom and something never seen before. I want couples Who want to push the envelope, I want to get more wild more imaginative. Couples like this excite me because I want to push the limits of my creativity as well."

A Sunday Kind of Love – Cherry Pie Lane

Kat

August 29, 2010

Thank you to the lovely Charlie of Cherry Pie Lane for making me a custom 'Rock n Roll' sign this week. I've featured many-a-wedding with her beautiful signs in them and now I have one of my very own!

British, Quirky, Laid Back Pub Wedding

Kat

May 22, 2010

I adore featuring weddings like Alexa & Andy's the most. British, quirky, emotional and fun! The couple got married at Birmingham Registry Office on Easter Sunday and had the awesome Steve Gerrard on hand to take all their photographs. The room was really modern and had a gorgeous courtyard outside which made for some beautiful portraits.

A Pop of Colour

Kat

May 21, 2010

II love Jeff & Manya's wedding for so many reasons. The first has got to be Manya's gorgeous 'McKenzie' Modern Trousseau dress complete with swarovski crystal belt, Betsey Johnson shoes and hair piece by Lani Fisher (who works with Jill of Darling Bride who did her hair) and the second is those gorgeous flowers by Jen K Floral Designs. Seriously, aren't those yellows just amaaazing. The wedding overall had a yellow and blue theme - and it really works! The colours of the bridesmaids dresses looks awesome next to the uber 'pop' of the citrus blooms...and don't even get my started on Manya's fuchsia pink lipstick. Epic!

Carnival Crazy

Kat

February 7, 2010

Dina & Gary's 1920's vaudeville carnival themed wedding makes me wanna squeal. I wish wish wish we'd done something as fabulous as this when we got hitched. The wedding took place at Asbury Park, New Jersey and the pair really went to town with their theme - from popcorn and candy for the guests, a sideshow performance, goldfish in bowls... in fact everything you might expect to find at a carnival! Dina wore a custom dress (made by a friend) and wore jewellery and carried a candy bouquet made by another friend Melissa Heid. Just. Wow. Thanks to Brandi for sharing this awesome day with us. Woooo!

Under the Spotlight – I Do Cake Toppers

Kat

February 2, 2010

Have you been looking for that perfect cake topper? One that's funky, cool, original and suits you down to a tee? Well my dears I have the answer! I'm sure you've all heard of custom cake toppers before, but I think the ones by I Do Cake Toppers are by far the best yet. You simply send a photograph of you and your beau with your order and Christina will make a custom cake topper which is a perfect reflection of you. You can even add accessories and details to suit - for example tattoos, flowers to match the ones you'll be holding, wacky hair dos (I'd be in that category then) or signature props (I'm loving the dude reading the paper on the loo!) Go check out the gallery of past examples and you won't be short of inspiration. I am also totally crazy about her super kawaii 'Originals' series. How can anybody not fall in love with the adorable milk & cookie or coffee & doughnut set?!

Under the Spotlight – Royal Steamline

Kat

January 27, 2010

Something a little different in Under the Spotlight today. I'd like to introduce you to Aerin & Jeremy of Royal Steamline. They specialise in wedding invites with a gothic/steampunk/retro/vintage vibe and I think you're going to totally dig what they do! I can't wait to get going... Who are you and what do you do? Royal Steamline is Aerin and Jeremy -- a husband-and-wife design team based in Portland, Oregon, USA. We create wedding invitations that have a dark, clockwork or otherwise retro/vintage flavor. Through a subtle and sometimes anachronistic combination of shadows, textures and vintage illustrations, we aim to convey a sense of eras strange and forgotten. Sea monsters mingle next to robotic ravens, and gentlemen scientists have tea with rockabilly rebels. Simply stated, we offer unconventional invitations for unconventional people. Who/what are your biggest influences? Who do you really admire? We primarily create designs that aim to capture a theme or mood. Our influences vary wildly -- from vintage fashion & science journals to odd finds at antique stores. Now, if you mean visual artists that we follow and appreciate, here are a few names off the top of our heads: EMEK, Alex Gross, George Tooker, Gregory Crewdson, Joe Coleman, Irving Norman, Guy Burwell, Wayne Douglas Barlowe, Michael Michael Motorcycle, Toni Frissell, Chris Ware, Guy Colwell, R. Kenton Nelson, and Jeremy could stare at Todd Schorr's "The Spectre of Monster Appeal" for hours. What is the ethos and idea behind your business? We want weddings to be cool. We want to change the way people think about weddings and offer alternatives that speak to their personal tastes. About seven years ago, a number of friends who were getting married began coming to us to design custom invitations since they couldn't find anything that epitomized their rockabilly, goth or other non-traditional wedding themes. So, we started to make invitations that were outside of the normal, plain, anemic styles that we were (and still are) seeing everywhere. More and more couples are insisting that their weddings reflect their personal styles instead of conforming to traditional wedding styles, structures, colors and attitudes. We want to contribute to their big party and help them have the weddings they want. How do you come up with invitation ideas? Often, our designs are sparked from a book or artifact on our shelves like a first edition of H.G. Wells' Star Begotten, an Edwardian glass eye, or Liz McGrath curios. Jeremy's been deep into Victorian pulps and I'm obsessed with mourning buttons and early 20th century advertising and science imagery. We're inspired by the stories of retro technology, old movies, textures of old paper...the look of outdated fonts...some crazy ornate border flourish. The combo of the different worlds usually leads to some interesting aesthetics. What is your most popular design? It seems to change every month, but 10/6 is always up there. I think that's because it's so versatile and has its own interpretation for each couple. Do you offer custom work? Of course! We offer unique "from scratch" custom designs, as well as custom design changes to our readymade invitations. Tell me a little about your favourite invitation you created and why. Hmm…I like Coney Island 1896 because I'm a big fan of old sideshow posters and I've got a soft spot for cephalopods. I think it just looks great printed -- and it really sets an undeniably quirky and fun tone. Jeremy likes Vintage Rock because, well, it's a symbol of vintage rock: Viva Gene Vincent and Wanda Jackson! Do you have any advice for people looking for invitation ideas? Really spend some time and look around for the right invitation for you. Your wedding invitation is a great way for your guests to get a peek at all the fun that's to come. And if you don't see what you're looking for, it never hurts to ask! What has been the highlight of your career so far? Really, just doing this full-time is a blast for us. But if we had to name a single client that we were flattered to work with, it might be Voltaire. We were so honored he chose us to create the invitations for what looked to be an awesome goth wedding. Name a couple of bands/songs that are on your stereo at the moment? Music plays a huge role withregard to who we are and what we do (or, maybe, just how we do it). We actually met when we were both living in San Francisco and our first date was basically one big argument about music (but it was great!). We genuinely enjoy a huge range of music: I grew up loving bands like Bauhaus, Ministry, Joy Division, Clan of Xymox, and The Smiths while J listened to stuff like the Misfits, Neurosis, Hawkwind and Einstürzende Neubauten. These days, we're still all over the place! Recently, shows we've seen include Earth, Stereolab, Marissa Nadler, The Raveonettes, Vagabond Opera, King Khan and BBQ, the Horrors, Thrones, Atlas Sound, the Ghastly Ones…We haven't even mentioned Jeremy's love of early Americana (Harry Smith is a big influence) and my collection of hard bop and sad bastard vinyl. What can we expect from you in 2010? We're always working on new designs and will soon be offering matching programs, table numbers and other wedding accoutrements on our website (currently only available by special request). Also, our New Year's Sale is still going on: we put 5 designs on sales the week of New Year's. To contact Aerin & Jeremy about your wedding invitations, go check out their fabulous and inspirational website and drop them an email to hello@royalsteamline.com If you are a photographer or wedding vendor and are interested in being featured in a future ‘Under the Spotlight’ post then drop me an email for all the info.

Speakeasy Swing Wedding

Kat

January 26, 2010

I've got a feeling you're going to love this detail-heavy dance-fest. The moody light, the swing band, the bride in her stunning yellow gown, the cupcakes, the portraits...yep this is one pretty damn cool wedding. Andrew & Aye got married atThe Thaxton in Louis, MO. They converted the indie venue into their speakeasy and swing-dance themed wedding. Both the bride & groom wore custom made outfits - the dress was made by Toni Whitaker and his suit was by Duchess Clothier. The fabulousKim Massie band provided the entertainment. Thanks to Aaron for sharing these with us Credit: Hawes Photography & Design

A Most Curious Party

Kat

January 13, 2010

Rebecca & John's summer wedding was so eclectic, so English and just so fabulously unique that I couldn't wait to share it with you. Rebecca told me all about their ideas and inspiration behind their amazing day, so I'm just going to hand over to her for this one! John didn’t want to get married in a church, as he is not religious so I had my heart set on getting married outside, because we felt there was a more powerful spirituality in the earth and nature that would bring us together with more meaning than just a civil ceremony. Almost a pagan idea I guess… The marriage scene at the end of Robin Hood Prince of thieves was a major inspiration! We got married at Hedingham Castle, an 11th century fort in Essex, England. The castle were quite strict in what we could do so we put most of our effort into making the reception at Belchamp St Paul Community Hall, Suffolk, our own. We had said the ‘theme’ of the wedding would be ‘vintage inspired –from the 20s to the 50s’ on the invitation, mainly because I love the fashions, music, style and glamour of those eras – but I suppose starting the proceedings in a Medieval castle fit in with ‘vintage as well.’ We felt it was really important that throughout the day everything should reflect who we were, rather than conforming to any idea of how weddings should be, Our whole wedding ethos was that it showed our personalities, as it was day about us after all! and you don’t get a chance to do that again… many traditions stand the test of time because they are lovely traditions such as the cake, the rings and getting dressed up etc, but we didn’t want it to be a generic cookie cutter wedding – and many people said that it showed, it couldn’t have been anyone else’s wedding!