Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

Philadelphia

Valentine’s Day in the 90s Meets True Romance

Kat

Caity Colburn

August 16, 2019

Amanda and Josh met while travelling in Cambodia three and a half years ago. They fell in love (with each other and the country) and didn't want to leave to decided to stay and run a restaurant together! They ended up staying for two years before returning to England (where Webs is from). However due to visa hold ups and budget constraints, they were married in Philadelphia where Amanda lived before they met.
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Vintage Rockabilly Meets Back to the Future Inspired Wedding at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

Kat

Jessica Manns

January 28, 2019

Are you ready for a little touch of wedding magic? Because Carrie and Bill wedding held at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is about to bring it! This has got to be one of Philly's coolest and most unique venues, what an incredible spot to say "we do!" It is a non-profit organisation, folk art environment and gallery space that you can hire to get married in! So cool right? 
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Wes Anderson Inspired Brewery Wedding: Jessica & David

Kat

Shannon Collins

November 17, 2013

The submission I received for Jessica and David's wedding began "If Wes Anderson was a wedding planner..." so instantly my interest was sparked. The Philadelphia wedding was a quirky Southern BBQ with retro touches. "I never knew what to say when people asked what the theme was", explained the bride. "I'd reply with 'It's a wedding... isn't that the theme?' I guess it was more about the color and the mood we wanted to create. I love retro fashion and I also love all those farm/ garden weddings all over wedding blogs. I also had our budget in mind and keeping in the budget helped make a lot of decisions about said theme... so maybe we can call it a budget retro summer garden party!"
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Rainbow Day of the Dead Wedding: James & Ashley

Kat

Peach Plum Pear Photo

February 18, 2013

High school sweethearts James & Ashley were married at Crane Arts in Philadelphia in October. Despite the Autumnal time of year, the couple didn't want an obvious colour scheme - they wanted a rainbow! "Our wedding was very DIY", wrote the bride. "My husband and I can be crafty when we want to be and this wedding really let our creative juices flow. I hand painted all of the sugar skulls and signs while Jim was busy building the dance floor and the entranceway. We also got some old doors from my grandmother, painted them and used them for the ceremony backdrop. One thing I am particularly proud of is the beer bottle cap heart that we screwed to a pallet. We of course drank all of the beer ourselves! I also found some amazing Day of the Dead fabric that we used to make the photo booth, Jim's bow-tie, and I also wrapped the flower bouquets in it."
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A Rustic Wedding with Personal Touches: Emily & George

Kat

December 15, 2011

Emily & George's rustic autumnal wedding was sent to me by Carina and Nadine of Love Me Do Photography and I simply fell in love with all the personal touches. The bride wore two dresses, the first, her Mother's wedding dress from 1977, and the second, a vintage-inspired short number by Avioanni. She also wore vintage jewellery. "The necklace I wore in the church was the same one that my Mom wore on her wedding and it was my Great Grandmother's (my Mom's Grandmother)," the bride wrote. "The earrings I wore in the church were the ones my Grandmother (my Dad's Mom) wore on her wedding and were given to her by my Grandfather. That was an amazing discovery. The jewelry I wore at the reception was also my Grandmothers but a little more modern looking. My aunt, Kathy, was amazing and loaned me most of the jewelry and told me some great stories along the way."
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Julie & Chris Sweet ‘n Simple Philadelphia Wedding

Kat

October 15, 2010

Julie & Chris got married on a hot and sunny rooftop in Philadelphia city centre. They handed their guests colourful parasols to keep them cool which they got from their local Chinatown. Following their intimate ceremony they hired out the second floor of their favourite restaurant Noble which they decorated with DIY flower arrangements, sweet treats and vintage style postcards. The bride wore Dolce & Gabbana and the Groom
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The Original Tattooed Brides

Kat

December 24, 2009

The original tattooed bride photographers, Allebachsent me these this morning and I had to get them up right away. What could be better to gaze at right before Christmas that tattooed beauties looking shaaweeet!? The images came from a 'shoot out' in Philadelphia, where a bunch of photographers gets together and shoot the same situation together to learn from each other and generally get some kick ass imagery themselves... So the Philly Photog Shootouthappened. In case you haven't heard a Photog shootout is an event where photographers meet, photograph models and learn from each other. Anyway Rob "Ninja" Nicholson contacted me because he wanted to get a punk rock bridal theme going and needed a few more models. So I reached out to the most amazing couples in the world (my clients) and got a few responses. Jess an amazing bride (and rollergirl) married earlier this year was one of the first to respond. Patty DeCasere (my old punk rock band's drummer's former band's singer's wife - got it?) did an amazing job giving Jess a mohawk. Another friend Alicia from the 20s flapper shoot we did at the historic Stotesbury Mansion handled the costume design (available for wardrobe at belle_morte66@yahoo.com) Robyn & John an engaged couple took a day and drove up from Annapolis and found the inner model in them. Really they just acted like themselves and everyone got great photos. Erin Proud (wedding planner of Lori & Kevin's Eastern State Penitentiary wedding) channeled her inner anger and teenage angst for the shoot, along with an amazing wedding photographer turned model, Leslie Gilbert. Despite shooting photos in what felt like subzero conditions in Center City Philadelphia, everyone seemed to be having a great time, networking and learning. Thanks to Mike for sending me this little Xmas gift! Credit: Allebach Photography
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Sweet Tooth

Kat

December 2, 2009

I actually featured newbie photographer Shannon McLaughlin's own wedding waaaay back in February - many of you may recognise her as Mrs Candy Corn from Wedding Bee. Well, like many of us recent brides, the thought of giving up all things wedding once she'd tied the knot was too much to bear so she decided to venture into wedding photography herself...and oh how pleased we are that she did! She has only had her professional camera for a little over a month and look how awesome she is already! The recently engaged Veronika & Bryan acted as models for this shoot. Veronika owns her own vintage shop called Sweet Tooth Vintage through the fabulous Etsy so she had lots of amazing outfits to wear. I am also loving the various props and locations used for this shoot - an environmental centre in Philadelphia, the couple's own home (including their insane number of pets!) and a cuuuute tandem bike! A Huge Rock n Roll thank you ro Shannon for sharing her work and this amazing couple. I am so excited to see more of her in future! ps go check out her blog - it's super duper cute! Credit: Shannon McLaughlin (soon to be Fromage Photography)
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Vintage. Quirky. Eco. Gorgeous.

Kat

November 17, 2009

Who couldn't love the quirky, vintage, rustic, eco wedding of Amanda & Matt? I am particularly gaga about the wheat bouquet and boutonnieres and Amanda's beautiful cameo bracelet. The pair wed at theirhome in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. They rented a tentand despite the torrential downpour most of the day, things worked out really well in there. Friend and caterer, Nikki Kleinberg, catered the wedding using mostly foods grown in the urban farm Amanda and Matt maintain adjacent to their backyard. These two are super into self sustaining, eco-friendly means to living in the city. Amanda made her own flowers and centerpieces and friends played the music for the wedding ceremony plus they even dj-ed their own reception. Thanks to Carina & Amanda of Love Me Do Photography for giving Rock n Roll Bride the exclusive first showing of this awesome wedding.
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Let’s Rock!

Kat

October 29, 2009

Today I'm going to share a bunch of wedding that quite simply put..ROCK! You'll know why when you see them. Starting off with guitars, grunge bands and Rocky! The bride, Lizzie told me all: The overall theme of our wedding was our favorite music. Rich and I both love music and we both play guitar. I play guitar and he plays the drums. So I was really important to me anyway to incorporate our insane obsession for music as well as keeping it traditional for our family who were providing the funds. However although our wedding was 2 years ago and unfortuantly your site wasn't around to get awesome ideas from I think we did a pretty good job. We did not have a guestbook, people signed a guitar which also happened to be blue & brown which was our wedding colors. In one of the pictures attached one of my BM is carring it into the reception. Our card box was a floor tom with a hole cut into the drum head. Our tables where named after our favorite bands, Hole, Nirvana, Babes in Toyland, patti Smith just to name a few. Our favor was a CD of our favorite love songs, Love Buzz - Nirvana - Good GOod Things- The Desendants - Because the Night - Patti Smith. Again just to name a few. Our Bridal Party when they got annoced to the reception all came in carrying guitars and walked in to Breed by Nirvana. They all acted out a rock n roll clique by smashing a guitar and etc. My cake was Blue with huge polka dots which is just cool in itself if you ask me. We went to Philly to get our picture take the Rocky Statue and I have a lot of really cool pictures from that also. Thanks to Lizzie & Richie for sharing their Rock n Roll perfect day with us!
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Free Wedding Photography by Love Me Do!

Kat

October 12, 2009

Are you getting married next year? Are you struggling to get your photographers sorted? Well my darlings do I am the contest for you?! This is quite possibly the best competition I have ever run and it really has been hard to me to keep it a secret! Two of my gorgeous and ridiculously talented friends, Carina & Amanda from the a-a-a-mazing Love Me Do Photography want to shoot your rock n roll wedding...for free! Refresh your mind with some of these fabulous weddings I've featured in the last few months and I know you're going to be just as excited as I am.
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A Day Dreamy, Whimsical Picnic Wedding

Kat

October 7, 2009

Jenna & Michael had a fabulously quirky, kiiky and personally rockin' wedding two weeks ago and the every lovely Love Me Do photography were there to capture the entire thing. The couple put a lot of work into the day with DIY projects a-plenty. "We wanted our wedding to be very classic looking, but still have a whimsical picnic, day dreamy kind of day feeling” the couple explained and they certainly acheived this goal with ideas such as the wishing tree - handmade bird silhouettes pinned into flocks and hung from the branches - which was used instead of a guestbook and the funky chocolate mouschases that certainly made for some great pictures and were provided by Pink, White, Brown. Jenna looked the perfect rock n roll bride in her Alvina Valenta dress and hairpeice from Liaison on Etsy. The bridesmaids dresses were the stunning Vivien Leigh dress by Siri in which they all looks quite the rockabilly princesses! Like these images? Well if you are about to book your wedding photographer then STOP. Hold on a few days and wait until I launch my next contest on Monday... I am terrible at keeping secrets it would seem but it may just be my best ever. Eeek...My lips are sealed. Thanks to Carina & Amanda as always for the gorgeousness and to Jenna & Mike for all the wonderful details. Credit: Love Me Do Photography
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Effortlessly Cool

Kat

September 18, 2009

I got sent this last night by the super lovely Alison and I have been dying to share them! Abby & Josh are one of those effortlessly cool couples aren't they? They look like they look this stylish every day of their lives. The shoot took place at Abby's parents farm as they have acres of unused land. She wore two vintage dresses and Josh chose a shirt that showed off his tattoos (no complaints over here!) This shoot only took place 2 days ago so I am honoured and excited that Alison deemed me worthy of blogging them right away! Thank you so much for sending them to me.
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Love, Love Me Do…

Kat

September 14, 2009

Courtney & Justin had an eco friendly wedding at The Old Mill in Rose Valley, PA. We were amazed with the subtle natural aesthetic and the charming vintage vibe. It is a historic mill that sits in a rhododendron-lined woodland valley right alongside Ridley Creek the couple explained. For the first 3 months of wedding planning, I scoured the internet looking to purchase for anything wedding related – used dresses, used décor, you name it! I hit the jackpot when a bride from Philadelphia posted an ad on Craigslist selling all the décor used in her “Rustic Vintage” wedding. I bought all of her wedding decorations, including: • Vintage mason jars, antique medicine bottles, and painted metal charger plates used for the table centerpieces. • Green and brown ribbon boards (a DIY project) which were used to hold the place cards • Metal lanterns which our florist used to create an amazing display of artistic genius (see Flowers, below) • Hand crafted table numbers made from framed wooden numbers on a fabric backing I loved the glass and metal and DIY spirit of the décor – it fit our style perfectly, it fit our color scheme perfectly, and it was an eco-friendly reuse of someone else’s wedding items! In fact, we are planning to sell the décor items so that another eco-conscious bride can reuse it all for her own wedding. It’s exciting to think that those items will create happiness for another bride! Courtney's dress was from Adele Wechsler’s line of eco-friendly dresses. Initially she discovered she couldn't afford her perfect dress but lucky for her at Philadelphia's UnBridaled Expo Adele was giving away a gift certificate for one of her dresses and guess who won!? Clearly it was meant to be. The succulents they used were bought from a local garden centre and were put together with moss and flowers collected from various friend's gardens to give a unique and natural look. For all the rest of their eco details, be sure to check outLove Me Do's Blog, (thank you to Amanda & Carina for sharing as usual!) but for now...
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Jailhouse Rock

Kat

July 4, 2009

Jana & Gerry's engagements kicked it. They had them in Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia... What makes us a rock 'n' roll couple? Well, we met backstage. Gerry has played in local Philly bands for years and we were introduced by his cousin. Being an attorney, I've been known to get into a shouting match (or two) with a record label over royalties for my man. Besides that, we're having one of Philly's best rock DJs do our wedding and we're having it at the Mutter Museum - because if you can't have a wedding onstage, medical oddities are a close second.
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