Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

British Brides

A 1940s & Vegan Wedding in Canada: Sarah & Carol

Kat

November 22, 2012

Sarah & Carol had a destination wedding in Canada. With Sarah originally from Canada the pair, who now live in Brighton, wanted to fly back for the wedding. "We decided to be married in Sarnia because Carol is incredibly attached to her hometown and the beaches and water of Lake Huron (can you blame her?)", wrote newlywed Carol. "At the time we booked the venue we thought we would both be living in Canada, so it seemed a natural choice. We chose Sarnia Riding Club as our venue so we could be right next to the water. We knew that whatever continent we decided to do the wedding on, a lot of people who wouldn't be able to attend, we're so pleased that so many people made it – and we've promised to dance with those who didn't make it very soon."
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A Very Mod Wedding: Paula & Mark

Kat

November 14, 2012

London. The 1960s. Mod. These were the inspirations for Paula & Mark's big day. The couple met at a rhythm, blues & soul night run by Mark in a bar in Bethnal Green, so the theme was very 'them'. "We bonded over our love of vintage fashion and music", wrote Paula, "I couldn't believe my luck when we were introduced, we hit it off immediately. The bar has changed owners since, but we always smile when we go past it. It holds happy memories of parties and beautiful friends in immaculate vintage fashions dancing to great music and having fun."
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Flamingos & Fun: Charlotte & Luke

Kat

November 12, 2012

"I got married in August", said pink haired Blogcademy attendee Charlotte after the workshop was over. "Your blog was a huge help so thank you." "Amazing, I responded - make sure you send me your photographs!" And she did, and oh boy am I glad. What a wedding! "Our wedding theme was decided on a drunken weekend in Palm Springs in May when we were on a work trip", Charlotte told me. "We ordered 50 pink plastic lawn flamingos to be delivered to the Ace Hotel… then panicked when they arrived and we had to buy four huge holdalls to take them back on the plane! I was convinced customs would think we were smuggling drugs and cut them all open but they really made our wedding!"
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Tattoo Britannia Wedding: Lisa & Paul

Kat

November 6, 2012

"Being the Jubilee year as well as the Olympics, a red, white & blue themed wedding seemed fitting", began newlywed Lisa who married Paul this Summer. "I sat with my bridesmaids and mum the night before the wedding watching the opening ceremony with great pride. The bright colour options coupled with my love of rockabilly styling and 1940s glamour added such vibrancy and fun to the day. Paul and I also both love tattoos so we wanted to bring this into our day. The swallows on the wedding cake, invitations, table decorations and gifts were all tied together with tattoo images."
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Don’t Tell The Bride: The Real Story aka Mike & Becky’s Mexican Wrestling Wedding

Kat

October 31, 2012

I have a love/hate relationship with the BBC Three show Don't Tell the Bride. On the one hand, I love a voyeuristic nosey at other people's weddings (hello! Wedding blogger criteria number one) but on the other, the obvious sensationalism of shows like this can often get a bit much. I usually sit watching the show wondering if the groom really plans the whole thing himself and if the real truth of the matter is that the production company tell him exactly what to do so they can have the usual drama that seems to follow the programme around. But mostly I wonder if the brides really have no say on ANYTHING. I mean surely you'd give him a few subtle hints beforehand, right?!
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A Musical & Modern Wedding: Katie & Adam

Kat

October 29, 2012

"Without wanting to sound too sucky I've read Rock n Roll Bride for years, even before I was engaged", wrote newly-wed Katie, who married Adam in Leicestershire in September. "I loved looking at the photography and the different styles & ideas out there. So as soon as Adam popped the question I had a great starting point!" The entire wedding had a music theme - from the vinyl motifs, the homemade posters, the guitar pick favours and the concert venue table names, "Music was a really big inspiration for us, from the background music to the first dance & church music", the bride continued. "Everything was carefully planned and picked to fit our theme. The vinyl theme continued all the way from the invites to decorations around the venue."
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Idyllic Camber Sands Beach Wedding: Jo & Rob

Kat

October 26, 2012

Jo & Rob were married at The Gallivant Hotel, an eclectic, shabby chic coastal hideaway. Once a former retro motel on the edge of Camber, the hotel is located right opposite the sand dunes and beach of Camber Sands - what a perfect and idyllic spot to get married! In fact it was even more perfect for this romantic pair because Rob proposed to Jo whilst flying kites on this very beach! "With its beautiful British beach side charm we knew straight away it was the perfect place for us to get married", began Jo.
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Retro Mod Wedding: Nikki & Paul

Kat

October 25, 2012

Brought together by a mutual love of the 1960s and mod culture, Nikki & Paul met at a 1960s themed club. "I was inspired by wedding blogs like Rock n Roll Bride that talk about weddings that are slightly left field", began the bride. "I was inspired by weddings with bright colours (we had orange and electric blue with grey) and we wanted to make sure each part of the day was reflective of who we are. We also didn't take anything too seriously - it was meant to be fun!"
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A Retro Glastonbury Wedding: Beth & Jonny

Kat

October 22, 2012

Oh Anna Hardy you do have a way with that camera of yours. A way that makes everything dreamy and beautiful and cool all at the same time... although to be fair, I think you had it pretty easy with Beth & Jonny, like, how totally smokin' are these two!? And Beth's second dress by the epic Delphine Manivet is AMAZING. I love me that high collared cape thingy! The wedding took place in Yorkshire in June. They had an informal registry office wedding in the morning with just a handful of their nearest and dearest, then got changed and had a big Glastonbury themed ceremony & reception with all their friends and family. As devoted Glastonbury goers, Beth & Jonny chose the weekend that the festival should have been on this year so that all their future anniversaries can be celebrated there! "Originally we wanted to marry in the woods, and have a tipi reception in a field", began the bride. "This turned out to be seriously and surprisingly expensive, and finding a field for rent in the north of England was pretty much impossible. When we went to see the venue at Broughton Hall it was a miserable day to say the least, but even in the rain, the place looked awesome."
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A Festival Tipi Wedding on the Family Farm: Amy & Chris

Kat

October 20, 2012

Festival and tipi weddings have been big in 2012... like huge. Like they're the wedding trend that just won't quit. And that not necessarily a bad thing, because hell, who doesn't love a festival and camping and toasting marshmallows over an open fire? When Amy & Chris set to planning their July wedding, they decided that the groom's family home, Laskey Farm in Thelwall, was a more than perfect spot. After a humanist ceremony performed by Kate Gee came a various bands and performances with the evening being rounded off with a silent disco!
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Alice in Wonderland Wedding: Adam & Louise

Kat

October 19, 2012

Alice in Wonderland themed weddings have been pretty popular since the Tim Burton version of the story was released in 2010, but that doesn't mean I don't still love to see them! I mean who wouldn't want to look at photographs that transport you into a much more psychedelic world? When Adam & Louise got engaged, and despite the fact that they thought the theme had 'been done' quite a bit, they knew it was perfect for their wedding. Louise had been a huge fan of the story for her whole life, and had always dreamt of an Alice themed wedding... so why go changing?
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A Quirky Railway Museum Wedding: Emily & Rob

Kat

October 18, 2012

Having visited East Anglian Railway Museum since she was a little girl (and in more recent times, every September for their beer festival), Emily always knew it was the place she wanted to get married. In her own words, they chose the Town Hall for the reception, and the pub for the lunch "out of necessity", but luckily for them the sun shone for the whole day and in the end all venues were equally stunning. "People loved that we had three venues throughout the day", she explained. "We even had the miniature railway running for the children at the railway museum."
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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.
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A Farm Engagement Shoot: Jo & James

Kat

October 13, 2012

I was married at 24, which is pretty young really, so I was by far the first of my friends to tie the knot. But now, getting scarily close to 30 (as Gareth likes to kindly tell me. Oi! I'm only 28 buster!) a lot of my friends are now walking down the aisle too. EXCITING. So when Jo, who I used to work with at the shopping channel, got engaged to James, I was straight in there with my recommendations and ideas for her wedding... in fact I'm probably verging on annoying about the whole thing. But for Jo, wedding photographer David McNeil was the obvious choice. He also used to work at said shopping channel (!) and feeling comfortable in front of the camera was super important to Jo & James. David is a wizz at this. I can vouch for him. "I was quite apprehensive before the shoot as I just wanted it to be perfect", Jo explained. "I know James isn't keen on having his photo taken (I'm not so bothered!) so I was nervous we wouldn't get any decent photos of us both, then when it came to the wedding day I'd be constantly stressing about it! But I need not have worried. David made us feel really comfortable from the get go. There was no awkward posing or cheesy smiles... it all felt really natural, which really shows in the photos (I think!) In the end we both really enjoyed the whole experience, we're both extremely happy with the photos... David was awesome and I can't wait to see what he does for the wedding! I'd definitely recommend an engagement shoot to any couple that are getting married as it prepares you for the big day."
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A Colourful Multicultural Wedding: Piyush and Bex

Kat

October 12, 2012

Gosh where does one begin with a wedding like Bex & Piyush's? This is pretty much what wedding bloggers dreams are made of... at least mine are anyway! Bex & Piyush wanted to celebrate the heritage of both families in their wedding. The wedding was an Indian/Western fusion celebration at Heaton House Farm near Macclesfield. Unlike many mixed-background couples, they opted to have just one ceremony incorporating both a Western civil ceremony alongside Indian traditions. Bex & Piyush didn't want to have two separate ceremonies, preferring to represent both their heritages together. "Our wedding was a bright, colourful, inclusive, multicultural and non-religious, light-hearted day, providing an alternative to the inherent narcissism of traditional wedding", began Bex. "We had the wedding on an English farm, complete with views of rolling hills, wellies and rain showers."
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An Eclectic Vintage & Bric-a-Brac Wedding: Emalie & Duncan

Kat

October 10, 2012

Getting engaged on the top of Toyko Tower in Japan in 2010, Emalie & Duncan's wedding was never going to be traditional. With a bride rocking mermaid green hair and a groom adding a much needed modern twist to the tweed suit, this couple wanted a wedding that screamed 'them'. A field in Cookhill, Evesham was chosen as the location and the pair were married outside, in front of a homemade giant heart shaped flower wreath.
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