A DIY Wedding in Downtown Santa Ana: Candice & Nathaniel

Kat

October 17, 2012

One of the things that bums be out about living in the UK is that we can't get married anywhere we like - of course many couples these days opt for a humanist ceremony at the spot of their choice with the 'legal bit' taking place a few days before or after, but it's not really the same. And when I see ceremonies as gorgeous as Candice & Nathaniel right in the heart of Downtown Santa Ana, I'm even more envious! The wedding took place on June 3rd. The couple organised everything themselves and did so for less than $5000. The ceremony was held on 2nd Street Promenade, and the reception was at Memphis at the Santora, just round the corner. The couple met online and had their first date in the area, and Nathaniel proposed on New Years Eve at Memphis at the Santora,. Basically it was the obvious location for them to have their wedding too!

A Low Key Belfast Wedding & A Bride with Lilac Hair: Terri & Garreth

Kat

October 16, 2012

Ever since working on the Ice Cream Dream shoot, where Elbie wore a lilac wig, I've been a little obsessed with this colour hair. If I was ever in the market for a deviation from pink, it might have to be my next move. Anyway so, as you can imagine, I loved Terri, and her wedding to Garreth, just as soon as I saw it. The day was split into three parts. The first, a ceremony at Belfast City Hall, was followed by lunch at Made In Belfast (who I've featured before - remember?) Then for the afternoon celebration and evening party, the wedding moved to The Secret Garden at Filthy McNasty's.

Taxidermy, Tattoos & A Cute Log Cabin: Kari & Bryce

Kat

October 10, 2012

Kari & Bryce choose Southern Alberta Pioneer Memorial Building, a beautiful log cabin situated, unbelievably, in the inner city of Calgary as their wedding venue. It's on a park ridge by Elbow River and provided a prime location that didn't feel like it was slap bang in the middle of an urban area. "We had the ceremony and reception at there", explained the bride. "Bryce and I lived in the same neighborhood for 5 years and we walked around there a lot. Once we found out that anyone could rent it out for functions, we contacted them right away about having our wedding there. By that time we had already been engaged for over 3 years, so we were happy that we finally found something that was right for us. It is spectacular! You can walk through paths just behind it along the ridge and it feels like you aren't in the city anymore. It is really quite perfect, and a fantastic price."

Horses, Rainbow Brights & a Tattooed Bride

Kat

October 9, 2012

If someone was to ask me to list my favourite things tattooed brides, bright rainbow colours and cute, furry animals would all fare pretty high on my list. So needless to say I didn't hesitate when I was sent this bridal shoot by wedding photographer Martin Hobby!

A DIY Farm Wedding Planned in Four Months for £5000: Sophie & Tom

Kat

October 3, 2012

With a budget of just £5000, Sophie & Tom planned their perfect wedding for 1st September this year. Hosting it themselves on the farm where they live, they were able to save money and make things super personal by getting creative. Sophie wore a second hand Ian Stuart wedding dress and Tom wore a Vivienne Westwood suit which he bought on sale.

Risqué Boudoir {NSFW}

Kat

September 29, 2012

I have a love/hate relationship with boudoir photography. On the one hand, I think every gal should have the opportunity to feel sexy, and being photographed with that pre-wedding glow - either as a gift for your beloved or a treat to yourself - is a great way to boost the confidence. However I don't generally feature that many of these shoots, because, forgive me, but a lot of the ones I see are somewhat tacky... or trashy... or just not very sexy at all. Whoever decided feather boas can make the transition from hen do tack to boudoir class needs a stern talking to. There are exceptions of course, but in my experience they are few and far between. Well I'm pleased as punch to report that, again, I've been proved wrong with today'

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!

A Dramatic Red & Black Nashville Wedding: Kat & Doug

Kat

September 26, 2012

Musician Kat married Doug at Mercy Lounge at The Cannery Ballroom in Nashville. Being so heavily influenced by music, the couple didn't want a traditional wedding and so picked a dramatic black & red colour scheme which worked perfectly in the industrial-looking venue. Dripping candles, dramatic candelabras, deep red roses and black table cloths all added to the slightly gothic vibe of the wedding.

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!)

A Marie Antoinette Style Gothic Fairytale: Stan & Lotti

Kat

September 21, 2012

that tap into this theme. But I think Lotti is the best example of a Marie Antoinette bride since... well... me! In fact I think she actually steals my crown. The pantaloons, the white/grey hair, the shoes... her look is just perfect! "I’m an alternative model in my spare time and I've always been creative in my appearance so I was never going to go for something conventional for my wedding!" began the bride. "I’m very into period costume and I love the spectacular dress of the court of Versailles at the time of Marie Antoinette so I thought I would recreate some of the decadence and indulgence of the court for our big day! We chose the blue and white theme as this shade of blue was one of Marie Antoinette’s favourites. The toile de jouy fabric of the bridemaids dresses was also popular in Europe at the time. Kiku Boutique in Manchester dressed us all."

A Circus & Sideshow Freaks Wedding: Tabitha & Cody

Kat

September 19, 2012

Roll up! Roll up! For the wedding circus sideshow... Where lovers meet freaks and fun meets frolics! In the groom's parent's backyard, Tabitha & Cody hosted their circus wedding on 5th May - Cinco de Mayo! All these influences were incorporated into their day - the circus, the sideshow and the DIY touches with the help of friends...

A Modern Wedding at The Viceroy, Palm Springs: Melaina & Tim

Kat

September 18, 2012

I think I say this every time I feature a Palm Springs wedding but oh boy is this place on my holiday wish list... I'm also now pretty set on staying at The Viceroy after seeing this wedding. In fact I couldn't think of a more perfect venue for a modern wedding with black, grey and yellow accents.

A Sophisticated & Sexy Wedding in The Philippines: Francis & Mayone

Kat

September 11, 2012

It's unusual for me to blog engagement sessions, but when I saw Francis & Mayone's (potentially NSFW!) I really could not resist. After sharing that, I hoped that their wedding might be as awesome (and that they'd send it to me too) and oh boy did they deliver! Glamorous and elegant, personal but spectacular, sexy but sophisticated, these guys sure know how the pull off a wedding in style!

A Glamorous Wedding with a Gothic Twist: Shep & Sarah

Kat

September 4, 2012

Shep & Sarah were married at Ettington Park Hotel, an elegant 4-star venue just outside Stratford Upon Avon. With its tranquil location and beautiful architecture it proved to be the perfect place for their glamorous wedding. The exterior of the hotel was actually used as the setting for the 1963 film The Haunting.

A Very Non Wedding: Whit & Colby

Kat

Blush

September 3, 2012

As a girl who's more than slightly obsessed with weddings and photography, there's pretty much nothing more thrilling to me than discovering new (to me) wedding photographer that is INCREDIBLE. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does I feel like I've won the wedding-blogging-lottery. And don't even get me started on what happens when I discover a videographer with as much talent as this. Actual tears people, there were actual tears.

‘Musikasalan’ – The Story of Two Weddings & Wedding Tattoos: Rob & Kit

Kat

September 1, 2012

Are any of you considering getting tattoos to commemorate your marriage? Well Rob & Kit not only did it, but they had their wedding photographer, John Nicolay, come along to take photographs of the event. Oh it's like all my favourite things rolled into one - I LOVE this idea. The couple's relationship and wedding plans were anything but standard - they actually had two weddings! - as Rob explained, "We met in September 2007 as office mates but we never really spoke to each other. Our first conversation lasted for 30 seconds and we only spoke a total of 5 words combined. I simply complimented the comic book that she was reading. Then in December I finally confessed my feelings for her but she told me she didn't want to be in a relationship. Gutted. But I was persistent. I wrote a poem for her daily for the next 4 months. In March 2008 she finally cracked and agreed to be my girlfriend but quickly after she had to leave the country to work in Qatar. We maintained a long distance relationship 5000 miles apart by writing each other daily emails.

A Simple, Sweet & Contemporary Wedding: Emma & Charlie

Kat

August 31, 2012

Emma & Charlie were hitched in style at The Crown Hotel in Dorset. Although their day didn't end up as they first imagined it might, it was totally perfect. "Our wedding was completely different to what we first had in mind," Emma wrote. "We nearly got married in a church but instead had a civil ceremony, and I originally pictured myself in a short vintage dress but instead fell in love with a long, floaty contemporary one. But I think it turned out so much better."

An Independence Day Picnic Wedding: Sarah & Mike

Kat

August 27, 2012

Sarah & Mike were married on the weekend after Independence Day. They wanted a relaxed wedding that was a celebration, and one that all their family and friends would enjoy. "I would describe our wedding theme as a 'rural, homemade, Independence Day picnic'," began the bride. "We first looked at historic mansions in the area but quickly realized they would be out of our price range and we wouldn’t have much flexibility customizing our wedding. They would pick the DJ, and we’d have to select a meal from their menu for example. Then, when driving home from Baltimore one night, we drove past a park in Carroll County that was covered with beautiful flowers and several 18th century buildings, including a working gristmill. We stopped and walked around and discussed how perfect this place would be to get married and we decided to look into it. Luckily, they did allow weddings and after all the quotes we had from the mansions we were shocked at how affordable this place was!"

A Trailer Trash Bridal Shoot with a Vintage Airstream

Kat

August 25, 2012

"Ever since I spent time travelling from Nashville to San Francisco last Autumn, I've benn obsessed with wanting to recreate vintage Americana!" wrote stylist Lynsey Le Keux. "This summer I had the pleasure of making it happen. I got together with some serious wedding industry talent including Sassy of Assassynation and Jo of The Couture Company. Our theme was 'trailer trash chic' which basically meant coney neck beers, dust-caked American cars, sweat smudged make up and broad blue skies. The aim was to portray unique bridal beauty against a backdrop of pure gritty trash... We wanted to inspire bridal styling outside of tradition and show our customers that they don't have to follow convention to rock a wedding - bridal beauty is subjective and one thing all the collaborators agreed on was how much we loved customers who did things their way."

The Story Behind the Flying Wedding Dress: Marie & Pedro

Kat

August 23, 2012

Are you ready to have your mind blown? Well just look at this dress shot - what a brave bride - and yes, it was all her idea! "I got my inspiration for the dress flying photo from a picture from the Brazilian designer Karlla Girotto," explained Marie. "The picture was from her summer 2007 campaign and it showed a parade of her dresses hanging on balloons with the models in front of them."