Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

DIY

A DIY Wedding at a Safari Park: Jodi & Dave

Kat

October 5, 2012

I'm not gonna lie, where was something in particular that swayed me when it came to featuring this wedding... Stan, the ever so slightly disgruntled looking cat. Of course when I saw the rest of the photos, I just happened to fall in love with Stan's owners, Jodi & Dave as well, but if I'm going to be 100% truthful, Stan did help their cause. This couple didn't want to spend a fortune on the wedding and so by DIYing as much as they could the day came in at under £9000. The ceremony was held at Swiss Gardens, Shuttleworth with the reception taking place in the Safari Lodge at Woburn Safari Park. "We looked at about 12 venues from a marquee where I keep my horses to a vintage factory ballroom but nothing quite ticked all the boxes", wrote Jodi. "But when we found Swiss Gardens we knew instantly this was the one. We originally booked it for August 2013, but then were told the venue would be shutting down for 18 months for a lottery funded renovation so we could only postpone, cancel or move it forward! So we moved it forward giving us only 6 months to plan and make everything!" "We were married in the tiny thatched house in the centre
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An Intimate Wedding in France & Monte Carlo: Kenna & Scott

Kat

October 5, 2012

It seems that recently not a week goes by when I don't get a flippin' incredible wedding submission from wedding photographer Assassynation... This woman is just a magnet for awesome weddings! It must be because so many of her couples find her through Rock n Roll Bride - not that I'm biased or anything but it is widely accepted that that Rock n Roll Bride readers are the coolest couples, like, ever. So when Kenna & Scott's nuptials slipped their way into my inbox a few weeks ago I, as ever, couldn't wait to get them on my blog. The intimate wedding took place in France and Monaco. The bride & groom just bought their maid of honour and her partner as witnesses. They hand no other guests. The ceremony was at L'Abbaye in La Colle Sur Loup, in the south of France and for the reception, they hopped over the border to Monaco for a low-key meal at the four star luxury resort of The Fairmont in Monte Carlo.
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A Fancy Dress Halloween Wedding: Oddd & Elle

Kat

October 2, 2012

So we're in to October already so you know what that means... Halloween! And for Oddd & Elle, despite being married in August, their favourite holiday was the obvious choice of theme for their epic wedding. "Anyone who knows us knew that our wedding was going to be a little different, as we've always done things our own way", began the groom. "After a chance meeting when we were both invited last minute to a day out, we have been inseparable, We got engaged on our first Christmas day in our first home and we set our wedding date for our 9 year anniversary on Friday 17th August 2012."
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A 50s Wedding Inspired by Back to the Future: Laura & Chris

Kat

October 2, 2012

"We've never really been a 'weddingy' kind of couple so after the initial haze of getting engaged and buying all sorts of wedding magazines and stuff, we realised there wasn't a whole lot out there that was really very 'us'," began Laura, who married Chris in August this year. "At one point I'd even considered getting a traditional wedding dress and being a lady for a day but luckily all was saved when we went to see Back to the Future when it was re-released at the cinema. As soon as I saw the dresses at the enchantment under the sea dance, I realised that I knew what I wanted for our wedding."
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A Big Sur Wedding at The Henry Miller Library: Sabeena & Ryan

Kat

October 1, 2012

Ahh Big Sur. In the early part of my wedding blogging career I had no idea what this 'Big Sur' was... a magical sounding place that all the other wedding bloggers spoke of so often. And then finally I realised the obsession. These Californain mountains are picturesque. And overlooking the Pacific ocean. Is it any wonder they're such a popular spot for weddings? Come on English mountains... step it up a bit...
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A Thespian Wedding with a Focus on the Ceremony: Theresa & William

Kat

October 1, 2012

Theresa & William were married at Preston Court, Kent, in April. Both being actors they had a subtle thespian theme and lots of entertainment! "We met while working for outdoor theatre company," began the bride. "Last year, at the end of a performance of Pirates of Penzance, and on stage in front of 350 people, Willie proposed! It came as quite a surprise to everyone apart from our MD Ben Wiles, who had been instructed to play the Dr Zhivago theme as he went down on one knee! Ben also played at the wedding as I walked down the aisle."
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A Quirky Alice in Wonderland Wedding: Nic & Ed

Kat

September 28, 2012

Nic & Ed chose Gaynes Park in Epping as the perfect spot for their June wedding. "It is the most amazing venue ever and their food is the highlight", explained the bride, "In fact people are still raving about it now, it was better than any restaurant I've ever been to! It's also a beautiful space, which didn't need a lot doing to it which was perfect for us. I just put a few bits here and there to make it 'ours'." "My inspiration came from my love of cakes and Alice in Wonderland. Ed was very happy to let me go off and try and put as much of 'me' into the wedding as I could. My aim was for people to know if was our wedding."
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A Colourful Country Garden Fete Wedding: Tom & Jenny

Kat

September 27, 2012

The DIY wedding of Tom & Jenny took place in Kent in July. After a church ceremony, their low key reception was held in Tom's parent's back garden. The bride wore a short wedding dress from Yours Truly Bridal Shop in Maidstone which cost her just £180 with a gorgeous headpiece was by a Rock n Roll Bride favourite, Crown & Glory. Alongside her lucky bridesmaids, she wore Vivienne Westwood/Melissa Lady Dragon shoes and instead of bouquets they all carried a single giant faux flower stem, bought from Hobbycraft costing just £2 each!
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A DIY Village Hall Wedding & A Bride Who Designed her own Dress: Laura & Mike

Kat

September 25, 2012

A village hall reception venue, a bride who designed her own dress and a groom who found his entire outfit in charity shops - oh I am so excited about Laura & Mike's amazing wedding! Is it just me or are the low key, budget friendly and full of love weddings winning over the high-maintenance, super detail heavy weddings right now? "I am a huge geek and one of the things I am most geeky about is design, craft and making things", wrote newlywed Laura. " So when Mike proposed at a picnic in Kensington Gardens just after our 6 year anniversary, the mother of all craft projects was born!
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A DIY Wedding at Crystal Falls: Dano & Holly

Kat

September 24, 2012

Throwing out as many wedding traditions as they could, Dano & Holly planned their wedding with one golden rule - to have nothing cookie cutter. "I have strong aversion to anything cookie cutter, so we threw out a lot of wedding traditions," the bride began. "We wanted our wedding to be a party that we would never forget. Our theme was something along the lines of 'vintage, woodsy & DIY'. I wore green. We cut the pie (no cake) with a machete. Our friends built the biggest bonfire that any of us had ever seen and we danced in the rain under the stars."
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An Industrial Meets Romance Aussie Wedding: Kate & Chris

Kat

September 24, 2012

Can I be biased and express my total and unapologetic love and adoration for my Aussie readers right now? The weddings you guys have been having and sending me are nothing short of amazing! So needless to say I was rather thrilled to see Kate & Chris' wedding in my inbox. Sent over by their gorgeous wedding photographers, husband & wife team Feather and Stone, I just about whooped with joy when I laid eyes on it. There's just something about a simple but classy wedding with a true Rock n Roll soul that makes my heart sing... plus Kate's amazing tattoo gives me some serious envy! "We are ecstatic that Kat would like to feature us", began the bride, "I'm a massive fan of her blog and it was a huge inspiration to our wedding." (awwww!)
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DIY Tutorial: Ombre Rainbow Paper Pom Poms

Kat

September 20, 2012

So firstly a little apology. I'm away this week at The Photography Farm so there's no Thursday Treats. "Waaaah" I hear you cry, but fret not, I have something even better! Who fancies making rainbow pom poms?! OH GOD YES! You might remmeber Jen & Ben's epic rainbow wedding... oh yes, it's one of my all time faves too. So it's taken a while but I've finally bartered Jen enough and she's created a DIY tutorial of just how she made those fabulous rainbow pom poms... and if that's not enough for you, she's even done a step by step video!(scroll down to the end of this post). Over to you Jen...
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Two Ceremonies, Afternoon Tea & A Music Festival: Tam & Rob

Kat

September 18, 2012

"We really wanted a fun wedding which guests would enjoy", began Tam when I asked her about her vintage-inspired festival wedding. "Rob & I decided we would split the day into three, so we had the ceremony, the afternoon tea with games then an evening party. I think having three different venues with lots of entertainment was fun for the guests and us!" In fact after the afternoon tea part of the wedding, the couple had a second ceremony - a traditional Indian wedding ceremony. "My dad is Indian so after the wedding ceremony everyone had a glass of Pimms and then gathered round for a traditional Parsee ceremony called a 'Mado Soro'. The ceremony is a blessing for the couple to wish them good fertility and a fruitful marriage. My dad explained what was going on to all the guests and what the ceremony meant. We were presented with the most amazing fresh flower garlands that my cousins had bought over from Thailand. A fruit tree was planted by my brother while prayers were said by other relatives. An egg was passed round Rob's head three times then thrown to the ground and broken. A coconut was then smashed on the floor. Everyone then threw rice and confetti."
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A DIY Science Museum Wedding: Kira and John

Kat

September 17, 2012

On 26th May this year Kira & John were married in Berkeley, California. The Lawrence Hall of Science at The University of California seemed to be the perfect space to host their reception as the bride had attended school there. It was a unique space and has plenty of things for people to look at and play with throughout the party! "Our wedding was held at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley", wrote the bride. "The ceremony was held in a large courtyard called Science Park over a fountain (and exhibit), and the reception was held inside the museum, where all of the hands-on exhibits were open to guests. All of our portraits were taken in the nearby Botanical Gardens. Our officiant was John's law professor. We included a final blessing repeated by all of our guests... 'Live long, and prosper!'"
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A Wedding on a Budget with Portraits in IKEA: Janet & Dave

Kat

September 17, 2012

I'm rather partial to IKEA... I know it's not the fanciest of home stores, but whenever I persuade Gareth that we need a trip there (I'm sure we're due another one soon) I feel like a proper grown up. I can actually afford the stuff (like who decided £2000 was standard for a table and chairs? pah John Lewis, PAH!) and it makes me feel all educated buying things with Swedish names. Plus their items are always pretty... even if not always functional - "why yes Gareth I do need that cardboard deer head to put on my office wall..." And don't even get me started on the kids department. I just wish the pink chest of drawers came in adult size... So when wedding photographer and all round cool dude Chris Barber sent me Janet & Dave's wedding I was excited. Not just because of Dave's Rock n Roll stylings but because they chose the Coventry Ikea as the location for their wedding day portrait sesh. GENIUS! Oh and they spent just £4000 on their day. I'm IN AWE.
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