Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

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Annette & Chris’ Fancy Dress Victorian Circus Themed Wedding

Kat

March 17, 2011

Annette & Chris had a fancy dress/steampunk themed wedding in Liverpool. The bride wore a corset purchased from Corsets UK and a skirt from MTCoffinzUnderground on Etsy. "My dress wasn't technically a 'dress' as it was a Corset and a separate skirt," the bride told me. "I bought the white and black steel boned corset for around £60 and the skirt, which was described as a 'Victorian Lace Gothic Ball Gown', cost around £100." She also wore Victorian-style black ankle boots which she hired from a fancy dress shop! Chris hired his unique outfit from a fancy dress shop too.
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Alison & Aaron’s Riverside Retreat Wedding

Kat

March 14, 2011

Alison & Aaron's beautiful June wedding was held at Rancho Cicada Retreat in Plymouth, CA. The bride wore a gorgeous blue number by Jessica Hinel Designs and shoes by Seychelles. The Groom arrived to the ceremony by in style - by boat - although the bride only heard about this afterwards. The ceremony took place under a chupah that was originally a bedspread that 13 other couples in Aaron's family have gotten married under which made the whole thing even more special. The service was officiated by Alison's brother and Aaron's cousin and they had their closest family and friends create their own blessings in place of the traditional 7 blessings.
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Offbeat & Alternative Floral Inspiration

Kat

March 10, 2011

"We had the idea for a Rock n Roll themed stylized wedding shoot and one of our former client was perfect for it!" explained photographer Jessica. "MJ is a local tattoo artist and amazing painter. We set up in an apple orchard on a fall day and had a mix of vintage glass, flowers, instruments and an old radio from the 1930's. The shoot was styled by our assistant and partner-in-crime Brooke Biette and flowers were provided by the amazing Judy Bourgeois of Flora Fauna. The bottom of the bouquet even had a record that was melted down to go around it."
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Teresa & Mat’s Colourful & Fun, Vegan Wedding

Kat

March 9, 2011

Teresa & Mat had my favourite style of wedding - colourful, fun and not-too-serious. In fact as soon as I saw these gorgeous images a big fat grin spread across my face and I can't wait to share that feeling with you all too. To keep the day personal, the couple were married in Teresa's parent's back garden. The reception was held at Red Brick Theater, Adel, IA. Teresa wore a dress by Amanda Archer whom she found on Etsy. "I found her a year before our wedding, fell in love with her dresses and I could not wait to ask her to make mine," Teresa explained. "There was one problem, she lived in Portland and we lived in Chicago. Amanda was amazing to work with. She sent me swatches of fabric and took my measurements over email. She made the dress in Portland and I waited anxiously at home. About months before the wedding I received an email from Amanda saying they were relocating to Chicago!! It was such an amazing turn of events. A month before the wedding I went to Amanda's studio and tried my dress on. It fit like a glove. I don't know how she made it just perfect for me without even meeting me, she's just that amazing. I also had Amanda make my birdcage veil, an item I am so glad I went with. I love my husband, but I still have a secret crush on my dress."
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Cazz & Liam’s Comic Book Geekery Wedding

Kat

March 8, 2011

"Everyone said for me to wear white would be the shocking thing" the bride, Cazz, told me. "My dream was to look like a cupcake. A big pink cupcake. It had to be pink, black and with polka dots. My dress was purchased off eBay for $40. It was a used costume from Buddy Holly the musical! One of my lovely maids of honour altered it for me and added my dream large black bow." I think that Cazz's dress might have helped to set the whole theme for her awesome wedding to Liam - a big pink cupcake of a wedding! Cazz wore shoes with cupcakes (and skulls!) on them and as well as a slightly more traditional tiered cake, which was gift, they had...you guessed it...cupcakes!
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Debbie & Jamie’s Tattoo Themed Rockabilly Wedding

Kat

March 7, 2011

Oh Debbie & Jamie how I heart thee! This Belfast couple had their very own rockabilly wedding at Belfast City Hall, followed by a suitability rockin' reception at The Printers Café. "My name is Debbie and I run a vintage nail salon in Belfast called Dazzle Me With Your Tips," the bride emailed me. "In my spare time I sell vintage clothes, accessories and homewares at vintage fairs and arts and crafts markets and also work as a stylist with several photographers. Jamie my now husband is a Maintenance Manager for a cleaning services company and his passions outside of the 9 to 5 are Skating, and BMX and Metal Sculpture. We both love getting inked going to rockabilly nights and festivals and most of all touring around Ireland in our beloved VW camper van Burt with our daughter Ellie." I loved them already.
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Serena & Brent’s Day of the Dead/Hello Kitty Themed Wedding

Kat

March 4, 2011

A Day of the Dead and a Hello Kitty themed wedding?! Could Serena & Brent's wedding be more perfect for Rock n Roll Bride if it tried?! The bad news is that I don't have any further info on the wedding, but they photos were just too awesome to not share and I'm sure you can get some awesome DIY ideas just by looking at what they created. I am literally dying over the Hello Kitty in the bouquet and her Tarina Tarantino jewellery. Classic bridal style?! Screw that!
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Autumn & Kevin’s Romantic Vintage Valentine’s Wedding

Kat

February 28, 2011

Autumn & Kevin were married the day before Valentine's Day so of course their wedding had to be a full on romantic affair. The bride is a self-confessed Valentine's addict and so the theme was not only perfect for the fact that it was a wedding (aww love!) but because it was themed around the celebration she loves so much. The wedding took place at the bride's Mother's house which was not only the ideal setting for their colour scheme of red and white, but made the day a lot easier for Autumn's Grandmother who also lived in the house with her. It was very important to the couple to have her there. Autumn explained, "I wanted to have the wedding at my Mom's because it would be easiest for my Grandma since she lives there too. Plus my Mom's living room is red and white, with wood floors and a fireplace, which was my ideal setting. I knew from the beginning I wanted to have a vintage Valentine's day wedding. It's my favourite holiday and I already had tons of vintage Valentines. After christmas I transform my white retro christmas tree into a Valentines day tree and I wanted to incorporate that. A lot of the other decor was found at craft stores, or hand made by my Mom. We also incorporated a lot of personal items, like my antique cameras, and Kevin's model airplanes that he had built. We featured a wall of photos with us as kids, and as a couple."
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Amy & Manny’s Morocc’ n Roll Backyard Wedding

Kat

February 24, 2011

Amy & Manny were married in the bride's parent's back garden which they decorated themselves in an eclectic and fabulously 'them' style. " I actually didn't really intend for my wedding to be all Rock n Roll, and it turned out that way anyway," explained the bride. "It was kind of Moroccan/Rock n Roll... a Morocc' n Roll style! I think the fact that it was a Rock n Roll wedding without trying... that makes it ROCK N ROLL! Plus the awesome leopard party booth couch, the fact that my Dad plus the groom & all the groomsmen wore chucks..."
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“The Pirate & The Stripper got Married” – Ed & Torie’s Quirky London Wedding

Kat

February 24, 2011

When Ed & Torie's beautiful wedding landed in my inbox last week, I was immediately drawn to the bride's beautiful ensemble - in particular her stunning vintage dress from my favourite girls, Fur Coat No Knickers. The couple were married in November at The Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich, London and Torie was keen to tell me all about their quirky and fabulous wedding day, "On November 20th 2010 I got to marry my best friend, my pirate, Ed. Ed and I met 4 and a half years ago through his workmate / my flatmate at a pirate fancy dress party at our house – hence the nickname. Ed turned up, breathed fire (seriously) and then mysteriously left. As it turned out his appendix had burst and he went home and then to A&E. After recovering we got in touch and the rest, as they say is history."
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The Big Fat Wedding Blogger’s Photo Shoot – The Final Results & Video!

Kat

February 21, 2011

What do you get when you cross 6 wedding bloggers, The Wedding Photographer of the Year, London’s most stylish & gorgeous wedding boutique and a Hasselblad? Why, The Big Fat Wedding Blogger’s Photo Shoot of course! My inspiration for this shoot came from the fact that I had seen a lot of big brands in The States using fashion bloggers to model for and promote their new lines. I loved the idea and thought it could really work for the UK wedding market. After all, wedding blogs are the new wedding magazines right?! I approached Rachel at Wimbledon-based Luella's Boudoir if she’d be up for letting us run wild in her shop and thankfully she loved the idea!
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Rachael’s Downtown Vintage Bridal Shoot

Kat

February 16, 2011

Rachel was married a year ago and fell pregnant right away so wasn't able to do her bridal shoot straight after the wedding. These shots were taken a few months after her baby was born, and just over her 1 year anniversary. "She is in love with vintage, 50's style and we carried this theme into the feel of the shoot," explained photographer Kat. "Between her half-veil, pin-up style curls and 2 vintage dresses, the feel of the session was designed to capture the fun, daring side of their love. Best of all, these photos were used as a gift to her husband for their 1-year honeymoon celebration." "The session was taken near the slums of San Antonio, TX - a perfectly unique side of town full of rebellion that mirrors her personality. Everything about this was designed to stand out and overflow with happiness and joy. We started the photo shoot in a hotel, where she got ready - a hotel appropriately called Hotel Indigo. The hotel has an antique-modern feel to it, it's a gem that stands out in a city filled with commercialized hotels. She was wearing a vintage, 1950's Sak's Fifth Aveneue dress, as well as the original veil, jewellery and flower from her wedding day."
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Paula & Teddy’s Chic Black, White & Stripy DIY Wedding

Kat

February 9, 2011

I’ve featured the gorgeous Paula & Teddy before. Their pre-wedding shoot made my heart sing but their actual wedding blows everything out of the water! Blue Point Bay Chapel played host to their intimate ceremony and the reception that followed was held at the pool side of the same venue. Paula wore a Jessica McClintock gown with stunning Balenciaga shoes and a handmade veil. The personal touches came in spades at this wedding which the bride worked tirelessly on. Their super cute lego cake topper came from etsy, and Teddy’s boutonniere and the moustache and bow tie favours were handmade by the Bride (she made over 80 of them!) The guest book and stationery were designed by the groom. The guests even took home vintage popcorn wrappers (filled with Indonesian snacks that the couple had both enjoyed since childhood) and Polaroid pictures. The chic black and white theme was seen throughout their day.
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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."
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Tony & Cindy’s Pin Up & Tattoo Themed Wedding

Kat

January 28, 2011

"Tony and I have always been into tattoos and are both big pin up girl fans, both classic and modern," begin Bride Cindy. "Neither of us ever thought we get to have a wedding that truly expressed who we were, and we were soooooo wrong. The tattoo / pin up girl theme was one of the first things we decided on. If we were going to do it, we were going to do it right and really have our own wedding … for us and no one else … we got our wedding tattoos during our engagement photo shoot."
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Sara’s Urban Bridal Shoot

Kat

January 19, 2011

Sara's bridal shoot makes me heart sing! Motorbike, cute doggie, ink, vintage brooch bouquet...oh yes I certainly approve of this! Sara told me all about her inspiration for her shoot with Sweet Caroline Photo, "My dress is from Pronovias and I got it from a bridal boutique in Salado, Tx called Coccinella's. My necklace was actually found at one of those crazy bridal extravaganzas from Stella Dot. I saw it there, tried it on, and decided within 5 minutes that it was THE necklace! My shoes were none other than Irregular Choice! Love them! I really wanted something fun, quirky, and comfortable...and flat, as my fiancé is only about an inch taller than me! My bouquet was made by myself and my fiancé, Barrett. I took a bunch of my old jewellery and hair pieces that I used to wear ALL the time and I haven't been able to part ways with and wired them all together. I also asked my stylists and receptionists at my salon to give me some of their old jewellery because I really wanted a piece of them with me during all of this. They gave me a lot of pendants, rings, earrings, etc, and I love being able to look at it and see pieces of the people that have become my family."
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