Events

How to Get the Best Out of Exhibiting at a Wedding Fair

Kat

January 20, 2012

I'm just gonna come out and say it...as a general rule, I'm not a huge fan of the wedding fair. A little controversial I know. My reason for this is not because I find them boring or a waste of time but because the people exhibiting aren't making me want to love it. Often they simply sit at their stands with a 'take it or leave it attitude' or they'll just thrust leaflets and samples at me like they're going out of fashion. This is both annoying as hell and a little bit terriflying. I don't think the wedding fair is dead just yet. There are hundreds of thousands of brides (and poor poor grooms)-to-be that attend these shows during their engagement. So, this week, I thought a little discussion and a few tips on how you can make wedding fairs work for you should be in order. Thank you to Heidi from The Alternative Wedding Fair, which is taking place in London this Sunday (I'll be wondering around with Roo - please don't throw things at us) for putting together this article.

A Vintage Inspired Shoot for A Most Curious Wedding Fair – 2012 Dates Announced

Kat

January 6, 2012

A Most Curious Wedding Fair is going into it's second year with events being held at St Andrew's Hall in Norwich on the 11th February and in York Hall, London on the 31st March. To celebrate, organiser Becky got together with the amazing Joanna Millington Photography and some of the other suppliers exhibiting at the shows to put together this beautiful, vintage inspired wedding shoot.

The Jasmine Star London Workshop – A Review

Kat

July 26, 2011

A few months ago I approached wedding photographer Jasmine Star to ask if she'd be at all interested in coming to London to teach a workshop for photographers and if so could I help her to organise it. My motives were entirely selfish. She has inspired me and the way I run my business ever since I was first introduced to her by a friend... and I wanted to meet her! At the beginning of the year I set myself three goals. One of them was to meet Jasmine Star. I've learnt that nothing ever falls in your lap, and with her being based in Orange County and me (just outside of) London, it was unlikely I was ever just going to 'bump into her.' So I decided that if I wanted it to happen I better bloomin' well try and do something about it. Jasmine and I have spoken over email a few times in the past, but to try to persuade her to fly half way across the world to a country she's never been to...was I thinking too big?

The “By Appointment Only Design” Party at One Mayfair + Why This is the Central London Venue for YOU!

Kat

March 4, 2011

Three weeks ago I was invited to attend a party at One Mayfair hosted by by By Appointment Only Design. As I've said a few times in similar posts to this one, I always feel a little unnerved and perplexed as to why I get invited along to these things...this party was being dubbed on the inter-webs as being the swankiest of all the swanky events, so I brought my friends Emma Case and Shell de Mar (who took these fab pictures for us) along with me to hold my hand. I promised them a free cocktail or two so it didn't take much persuasion! When I thought about how to write up this event, I felt strongly that I didn't want this post to be the usual industry party report style - "Oh it was faaabulous daaarling, the cocktails were divine and I swooped around the room like a princess all night...blah blah blah" because let's be honest, what are you - my loyal readers and brides-to-be going to get out of that!? (for the record the event was bloody incredible in fact, and my breath literally was taken away as I walked into the pink lit - inside and out! - venue) I am well aware that I'm exceptionally lucky to get invited to soirée like this, but I'm also keen to make sure that the things I take away from them, and report back about, are relevant to you guys too.

The Luxury Wedding Showcase

Kat

February 25, 2011

Everyone loves sweeties right? Well Rock n Roll Bride favourite (and provider of the sweetie table at the Rock n Roll Party in April...eeek!) Hannah of Sweet Dream Events sent over this vintage-inspired shoot she was a part of. The idea for the shoot was to promote a new bridal show she is involved in...and from the look of these images, the show is sure to be a good one. "This is what happens when a group of talented women get together to create a wedding fayre with a difference," Hannah told me. "Hannah (Sweet Dream Events), Carrie (Carrie Bugg Photography) and Natalie (Exquisite Bridal) met when they decided that the personal touch was severely lacking in the wedding industry in their area. And so, The Luxury Wedding Showcase was born. This shoot was to give those wishing to attend an insight into all their talents."

The Designer Vintage Bridal Show Feburary 2011 ♥ My Report + Exclusive Photos

Kat

February 23, 2011

In November I received an email from Bran Cook (PR extraordinaire) to ask if I’d be interested in being one of the attractions at a brand new wedding fair she was helping Rachel of Rachel Simpson Shoes and Clare Guest of The Wedding Club (a fabulous bridal boutique in Birmingham) to organise. At first I was a little confused. What would they want me there for? Who would want to come see me at a wedding fair? What would I even put on a wedding fair stand?! However I bit the bullet and said I’d be there with bells on…big pink ones. Over the next few months I received regular updates (both via email and on The Designer Vintage Bridal Fair blog) about all the amazing suppliers that were getting involved with the show and my initial uncertainty and nerves turned to utter excitement! I had basically signed up to hang out at the beautiful Highbury Hall in Birmingham with a load my favourite wedding suppliers for a WHOLE WEEKEND...woohoo road trip! I even booked into a hotel with my girls Lucy of Lucy Ledger Designs and Debbie of DC Bouquets which further transformed the weekend from a ‘business trip’ into a fabulously giggly and gossipy girls weekend (and yes we did lie in bed until 3am chatting and laughing uncontrollably!) And I call this ‘work’ right?!

Happy Valentine’s Day – Smooooooozing and Swanning Around The Mark Niemierko & Browns Bride Valentine’s Party

Kat

February 14, 2011

After Tuesday's wedding blogger's shoot came Mark Niemierko's Valentine's Party, hosted by Caroline Burstein of Browns Bride (pictured above). Let me get one thing straight here... I was more than a little bit surprised to receive an invite to such an event. "Seriously? Me? a pink (well rainbow) haired slightly-punky-in-no-way 'high end' wedding blogger...really?! You want ME so come and cover the event? Erm... OK then" Was pretty much the thought process I had when the invitation landed through my door.

A Most Curious Wedding Fair – April 16th 2011

Kat

February 7, 2011

Rebecca started her business, A Most Curious Party, whilst she planned her 2008 wedding (It was a beauty! I blogged it here.) Her vintage styling company has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years, however now she's going one step further and planning a bridal show with a difference! She explains, "I was totally disheartened by the barren landscape of boring wedding suppliers on offer to do my husband-to-be and I justice on our big day. Since then things have utterly changed for the better and there are so many great designer, makers, florists, vintage dress companies, photographers, stationers, you name it, on the scene who have changed the face of the wedding industry, not to mention the bloggers like the one only Kat from the one and only Rock n Roll Bride whose influence is immeasurable. Similarly, now, there are vintage wedding fairs popping up around the country and this can also, only be a good thing. But I still feel we can go one further people! The experts putting together vintage wedding fairs are doing a grand job and full respect to them, but maybe, just maybe vintage isn’t enough."

“It’s My Party”…Come Rock n Roll With Me in April!

Kat

January 21, 2011

Remember the last Rock n Roll party? It was totally awesome! However this time I'm going bigger and BETTER! I'm hiring out a whole bar in central London (Soho) on Thursday 14th April 2011 from 6.30 - midnight for the party to end all parties...and guess what? You're ALL invited. Brides, photographers, suppliers/vendors, bloggers, wedding obsessives...all of you! And the reason for this little get together? Well...cos parties are fun right?! The last party was pretty popular. I organised it in just two weeks and just had a small area of a bar reserved. Even though a lot of people couldn't come because it was so last minute, over 100 people still turned up! I was a little blown away by it all and so needless to say I'm now expecting this one to be just as popular. The venue has a capacity of 200 people. There will be a DJ, cupcakes and a photo booth (hopefully complete with silly props - if you have any you'd like to bring please do!) to keep you entertained as well and lots of yummy cocktails and lots of lovely people to talk to! I really hope you can make it!

A Sunday Kind of Love – Unveiled

Kat

July 4, 2010

This weeks Sunday Love nomination has to go to all the lovely people who organised and attended the Unveiled photography event on Thursday. I was asked to speak at the event, hosted by The British Journal of Photography (for those of you that don't know, the BJP is the oldest and one of the most internationally renowned photography magazines in the UK - eeek) and sponsored by Hasselblad. No pressure then!

Rock n Roll Bride Rocks The White Gallery 2010

Kat

June 2, 2010

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the prestigious White Gallery exhibition where all the country's top designers show their latest and greatest collections to a gaggle of eager stockists, press...and me it would seem! So last Tuesday myself and my 'official photographer' (it's true - his badge said so!) David McNeil, headed down to The Kings Road in uber posh central London so see what all the fuss was about.

Rock n Roll News – My Crazy Life

Kat

May 24, 2010

First off, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for your support over the last year or so. I know I say it all the time, but I truly am in awe at every single on of you that visits my site, comments, sends me emails of love, send me submissions, sponsors me and generally allows me to live my dream! Because of every single one of you I've been able to go part time at my day job and spend 5 days a week doing what I love. It's amazing and it's all because of you guys. After the initial over-excitement of becoming a full time blogger, I got-to-thinking; hell, what am I going to do next?! How can I make Rock n Roll Bride even better with all this extra time? Well, as with most things in this career of mine, it's all just kind of falling into place. From the very beginning the blog has been very organic and real, and has grown slowly. I hope, in a genuine way. I never started my website to make money and in all honestly, becoming rich is not how I measure my success. As long as I can pay my bills and feed my kittens I'm happy. I didn't start the blog to be the biggest or most popular and I won't be turning Rock n Roll Bride into a money making empire now this is my main income so I hope you'll be pleased to hear! I measure my success on you guys. How many people read what I write and comment on the photographs I post and how and if I make you happy. It sounds soppy and idealistic but seriously, that it. That's me.

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