Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

UK

Anglophile

Kat

December 18, 2009

One word...Eeeeeeek! I am so excited about this wedding. Not only because it's photographed by one of my favourite photographers, Ben Blood; not only because the couple, Diane & Adam are super cool, lovely and stylish; but because even though the couple are both American and the wedding took place at Lairmont Manor in Bellingham, WA, they expressed their love of all things British with a fabulous English themed wedding. Diana told me all about their retro, funky, British punk rock day: My dress was from Les Habitudes on Robertson Boulevard in L.A.They specialize in getting a lot of their dresses from European designers that they bring in under their label, so most of their dresses are one of a kind. My shoes were Alexander McQueen and the hair comb I wore was a Victorian antique. The necklaces are by Pyrrha, in Vancouver B.C. Their bronze pendants are made from 19th century wax seal molds. The ones I chose say "My life is a prayer," "While I breathe I hope", and" Love conquers all." The blue seal ring on my finger was one I had from Anthropologie. The jacket I wore to leave the wedding is from All Saints in the UK. My bridesmaids are wearing runway dresses from BCBG. Our hair was all done by Shawn Wright, the owner of Ryan Chanel Hair in Anacortes WA. She researched runway shows of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen for days before and we also channeled a bit of Helena Bonham-Carter's impeccable style. My husband Adam wore a custom grey suit we had made at Nordstrom and grey patent leather Italian loafers. His groomsmen were all wearing tweed vests and hats from J. Crew with "The Who" edition converse all stars because Adam had always wanted Chucks in his wedding. All our music was all British. I walked down to the theme song from "Love Actually," we danced out to Queen's "Don't Stop me Now," and Adam sang Coldplay's "Fix You" in the ceremony. Our band for the reception was Garage Voice from Seattle. We went with our overt Anglophile theme because I'm in love with London and theatre, so Adam flew me there for a weekend in March and proposed in front of Big Ben. We went back in June and collected tube station signs in Notting Hill for the tables, as well as teacups and pots from all over the world. Most of the hanging flags were from WWII. We're planning on moving to London someday soon.
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This Wedding Rocks

Kat

December 16, 2009

Emily looked ridiculously stylish in her Ian Stuart dress...actually called 'Rock n Roll' no less (!) and her custom made shrug to match by Holly Stalder. I am also loving the faux fur coat she rocked when walking to the ceremony from Debenhams. Continuing their perfect Rock n Roll day, acoustic versions of Metallica songs played as the guests entered their reception at The Great Barn. Now head over to Rock my Wedding for the rest of the story! Thanks to Marianne and Emily for sharing their wonderful photographs and wedding gossip and to the Rock my Wedding girlies, Charlotte & Rebecca for working with me on this joint venture.
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Quirky Details & An Old Fashioned Knees Up

Kat

December 15, 2009

It's official. I am actually starting to finally believe that the UK is catching up to America in the style stakes. When this wedding winged it's way to me from the West Midlands (that's a bit up north for my American readers!) I knew straight away that sharing it would make me a very happy blogger indeed. Katie & Matt had a very personal and private wedding with on 25 of their closest friends and family at The Moat House in Staffordshire. It was a right old party full of music, booze (of course) and lots and lots of dancing! Katie looked quite the Rock n Roll princess in her Ian Stuart 'Mae' dress and her Benjamin Roberts shoes. Matt looked just as stylish in his suit by Reiss. What made this wedding even better and more personal was that a friend of the family did the flowers and Katie's sister's best friend made the cake. Love it! Thanks to Lee for sharing this fabulous wedding with us Rock n Rollers today!
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Marylebone Lovers

Kat

December 14, 2009

Wooo more UK fabulousness people - this time with a kick ASS engagement shoot shot in Marylebone, London. For me, Emily & Callum epitomise London cool. Casual, funky, stylish and quirky - just the way I like it! Emily describes herself as a rock chick with a passion for vintage glamour, so I wanted to do something a bit different for them. We shot at night in a grungy car-park and the park next door, I still had to use a bench though! Thanks to Andy for sharing. Come on the UK!
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Anarchy in the UK

Kat

December 12, 2009

Our little country continues to astound me this week with Kate & Seb's Sussex wedding rocking it's way into by inbox today. Photographer Sarah described this wedding as "by far the funkiest I have ever shot" and therefore it's perfecto for Rock n Roll Bride! Sarah went on to tell me all the details of wonderfulness: Kate and Seb were beyond cool and this shone through in their wedding. Seb is a tattoo artist in Brighton and Kate is a tattoo adorned beauty. They didn't want the conventional posed photo's more arty fashion style photo's. This gave me a great opportunity to be a little more creative than normal. Kate's attention to detail shone through in everything, from her Vivienne Westwood jewellery (YUM!) to her Candy Anthony dress....not to mention the Morris Minor. Thanks to Sarah for sharing this awesome wedding with us today. As always I am honoured to showcase it with the woooorld and am still loving the UK right now!
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An Extra Special, Stylish & Quirky British Wedding

Kat

December 11, 2009

The UK is seriously on fire this week and I've got another fantastic British wedding so share with you. However this one is extra extra special as Sally & Peter actually found their photographer, Kate, through Rock n Roll Bride! Woo to the Hoo! Kate talked all about Sally & Peter and their wonderfully eclectic day on her own blog: I am in actual love with Sally's purple shrug and woolen gloves. What a ridiculously stylish and wonderfully quirky couple. I love it all! Thanks to Kate for sharing this wedding and I am so happy that in a small way I was a part of it! Credit: Depict Photography
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Funky, Farm Wedding

Kat

December 10, 2009

Neil & Hayley wed at The Rare Breeds animal farm, in Ashford Kent on the probally wettest day of the year! All was not lost however as not only to Hayley get to rock her bridal look with some wellies, but the laid back couple just took it in their stride. We didn’t really have a theme. We just wanted a wedding that was simple, elegant and pretty with a choccy cake! My dress was from a shop in Ashford, UK called Brides of Kent ltd. I found it the first day I even looked for a dress. It was the 3rd dress I tried on! Everything seemed to fall in to place easily with the wedding. Fate. Thanks to Martin for sharing this funky, laid back and UK wedding with us today
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Rustic, Vintage, Romance

Kat

December 9, 2009

The second UK wedding of the day is Clare & Dean's classically beautiful rustic, vintagey romantic wedding. They employed the talents of my good friend Penny Merricks of Tigerlily Weddings to plan their day to perfection. Didn't she do a fabulous job? "I made all the invites that featured vintage lovebird stamps and 'to have and to hold' ribbon from Cox & Cox" Clare told me. "Also I handmade the luggage tags for place cards with same vintage bird stamps and ribbon. I asked friends and family to collect glass jam jars for months, and we covered them with lace and ribbon for tea-light holders. A designer friend of ours also made the booklet that contained the history of the barn, order of ceremony, pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days, the menu and the last page contained a quiz about us both... also using the same vintage love bird stamps." Even though the couple wed in the UK, the bride bought her dress at David's Bridal in Dallas (hello exchange rate!) Her shrug was from Cornelia James and her shoes were Peto by Rainbow Couture. Clare's vintage style matching pearl and diamante necklace, bracelet and earrings by Dulcie Angel and her diamante hair clip instead of a tiara fwas rom Glitzy Secrets. Thanks to Penny, Julie, Clare & Dean for sharing this beautiful British wedding with us today.
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Purple Rain

Kat

December 9, 2009

Featuring UK weddings makes me happy. Not only because I know being a British blogger makes me stand out from the crowd, but because it makes me so happy that us Brits are finally catching up to our American friends in the style stakes! Therefore to celebrate I'm going to blog not one, but two awesome UK weddings today (and a little bit of California dreamin' at the end of the day - sorry I can't resist it.) I'm kicking off with a wedding that's not only fabulously unique but the bride is in a purple dress! It was actually an Alfred Angelo bridesmaid dress but certainly did the job as a glamorous and unique bridal outfit. The ceremony took place in the beautiful villa Pitzhanger Manor House in Ealing while the venue was held at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum which is run by independent charity. Thanks to Samantha for sharing this fantastic day with us Credit: Samantha Captiano Photography
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Geeky, Gorgeous Wedding

Kat

December 1, 2009

And I mean geeky in the BEST way possible! I am a huge geek fan (and I even married one myself) Emma & Daniel had their very own geek fest wedding incorporating everything they love - gadgets, games, Japanese culture...and CAKE (seriously this sounds like my husbands dream wedding!) Emma looked beeeautiful in her Benjamin Roberts dress and Rocket Dog shoes, espeically when she walked down the aisle to the Edward Scisossorhands theme and out to Star Wars! They also had a wonderful super 8 film made which I can not wait to see (and blog) very soon! Thanks to Emma & Daniel for being so geeky and gorgeous!
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Cosmopolitan Bride

Kat

November 29, 2009

As I said on Thursday in my treats, I wanted to scan a few of my favourite real weddings and fashion shoots from the latest issue of Cosmopolitan Bride to share with you all. Not just because I'm mentioned in it (hehe) but also because Cosmo is by far the coolest, quirkiest and funkiest wedding magazine in the UK. It is in fact the only one I still buy. To everyone over the pond and beyond I hope you enjoy this unashamedly girlie delve into the world of the British bride.
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Til Death Do Us Part

Kat

November 26, 2009

This British groom and his Texan bride may have met at a Chicago Cubs game but flew back to Texas to get married. Both parties brought some of themselves into their day - most notablyin the cakes! Matt must certainly be a football (soccer) fan. I loving Holly's David's Bridal dress, the Rock n Roll graffiti portraits ('til death do us part' how perfect is that!?) and the masquerade ball-esque masks. Thank you to photographer, Belen for sharing these today
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NEWSFLASH!

Kat

November 21, 2009

Stand by for the announcement of the year...Yes I, Kat Williams obsessed with all things blog am taking the weekend OFF! "Holy crap" I hear you cry, "How is such a thing possible?" Well you're right, this will be my first weekend away from the blog since...well...January I reckon. How ridiculous is that? Gareth & I are heading to a family event and whilst I would normally work my fingers to the bone the week before scheduling posts over the weekend so you wouldn't miss me, I've decided that I really could do with a bit of a break and this weekend away to just concentrate on me and Gareth, not worry about moderating comments, replying to emails or checking my twitter. Therefore if you do need to get hold of me you'll just have to wait! Have a good old weekend people. Love you all! But hang on, I couldn't leave you with nothing could I? No no no no....let's hope these keep you busy until I return. Why not also take the time to go through the Rock n Roll Archives? There are 135 pages and 1341 posts of Rock n Roll wedding goodness on my little site. PLUS this weekend is your last chance to get those entries in for the Erica Berger Trash the Dress contest so do so, er..like now. Finalists will be announced on Monday!
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