A Fashion-Forward Backyard Wedding with Special Guest Craig David!: Theo & Lisa

Kat

O&C

March 4, 2013

When Theo & Lisa started an online campaign to get Craig David to perform at their August wedding, they never really thought they'd pull it off. But if you don't ask you don't get and all that...and with their help of their YouTube video that went viral, Mr David did in fact show up to the wedding and perform to their astonished guests! "We met in Oceana nightclub", began Theo. "Lisa thought I really had the movement of a dancer! Craig David's music brought us together and having him there at the wedding was literally a dream come true." "Our wedding was inspired by everything we love", continued Lisa. "Music, fashion, friends and family. It really was a giant party. We didn't want anyone to pay for anything apart from their travel there. For us, this was a party to celebrate everything our incredible friends and family have done for us over the years. We had a free bar which was one of the best things we did. The wedding was held in my dad's back garden and we also had a camping village at the bottom of the garden where 90% of our guests camped-including myself and Theo! We sent a 'tent tag' with our invites, and asked everyone to deliver a tent to our house one week before the wedding. We then put them all up so they were ready for everyone when they arrived!"

Retro Polish Wedding: Iwona & Piotr

Kat

Piotr Spigiel

March 1, 2013

Iwona & Piotr wanted a simple and fuss-free wedding, one that reflected their Polish heritage but also showcased their love for all things retro. The day had a lot of DIY elements, from the brides dress to her brooch bouquet and the majority of the reception details. "We wanted a simple wedding", wrote Iwona. "We love Rock n Roll and retro styles and we both have very old souls and like the old minimalist styles. Our colours were cobalt, black and white and we kept things simple. We also DIYed a lot."

Gypsy Village Gathering Wedding: Ben & Serina

Kat

Lakshal Perera

March 1, 2013

Blessed with a balmy night, great music and guests willing to get into the spirit of the theme, Ben & Serina had a wedding that that they described as a 'gypsy village gathering' in Panton Hill Winery, Australia. "Our guests thought they were transported to another place and time", wrote the bride. "There was no stress and our wedding photographer Lucky captured the feel of the day perfectly."

Rustic Californian Ranch Wedding: Heidi & Nathan

Kat

Made You Look Studio

February 28, 2013

I know having favourites is bad... especially in my game... but, honestly, if I was held at gun point and asking to choose, I might be swayed towards Made U Look Photography. They are, without a doubt, some of the sweetest and most talented babes about. I love them endlessly and their photography fills my heart with joy. So obviously getting a submission from Christina, Alie & Marielle is a red letter day in my book. I feel like all my Christmases have come at once when I first clap eyes on stunning wedding images like this:

Rainbow Country Fête Wedding with 1950s Touches: Steph & Dale

Kat

Rhapsody Road

February 27, 2013

A colourful country fête wedding with a 1950s flair? What's not to love in Steph & Dale's wedding?! The day took place in Essex, kicking off at St Giles Church with the reception at Pledgdon Barn. This wedding was a real DIY love affair and a project of passion. The couple made as much as possible including (deep breath) the bunting (both triangle and heart shaped), their stationery and all the paper goods, cocktail stirrers from laser cut card, the cake flags, the acrylic cake toppers, the wooden signs, the blackboards, the paper hearts for decorating the tables, the bridesmaids earrings, the buttonholes, the bow ties for their dogs and the cupcakes!

Budget Bohemian Wedding in Ireland: Rebeka & Gerard

Kat

Pawel Bebenca

February 27, 2013

Intimate Wapping Project Wedding: Kelly & Toby

Kat

Joanna Millington

February 26, 2013

I'm not an expert of the history of weddings, but when you think about it, many wedding traditions are really quite odd. A tiered cake, putting your best friends in ill-fitting in matching dresses, an awkward dance in front of everyone you know, throwing a bouquet flowers at people's heads... odd.

Carnival Hoedown Wedding on a Farm: Matthew & Jessica

Kat

Rachael Muller

February 25, 2013

Carnival themed weddings might be nothing new, but when I see one as top notch as Matthew & Jessica's I can't help but want to share it with you. That dress! Those bridesmaids! That location! It's just all so perfectly beautiful and utterly Rock n Roll.

Medieval Wedding in a Castle: Ben & Victoria

Kat

Melissa Tuck

February 22, 2013

If there's one type of wedding I don't see a lot of, it's one with a medieval theme. So when Ben & Victoria's wedding - set in a castle and featuring owls, hawks and a castle shaped wedding cake - landed in my inbox I was thrilled to be able to feature it. The wedding was held at Castle Ladyhawke in Tuckasegee, North Carolina in November. "Ben proposed on a camping trip to the mountains in North Carolina", began the bride. "He conspired with my bridesmaid and photographer best friend to surprise me by proposing on top of a mountain with her taking photos. He also planned two surprises for me for our wedding that were really special. The castle had a tower with a flag pole on top and with the help of his best man he came up with a coat of arms flag for us as a new family together. He used our wedding colors and an owl sigil, to tie in with the bird that brought us our rings, our love for Harry Potter and the mascot of the university where we both met and graduated. It looked really cool at the castle and is something I'm happy to keep always."

Low Key Youth Hotel Wedding: Kit & Caz

Kat

Anna Hardy

February 20, 2013

Wedding bloggers like to throw phrases like 'laid back', 'low key' and 'budget-friendly' around like their going out of fashion. But when it comes to a wedding like Kit & Caz's, which took place in a youth hostel in the Peak District, there really are no other words. Their wedding was beautiful, utterly personal and a true reflection of the way they celebrate their love. No mess, no fuss, no pomp and circumstance and no pointless traditions. Oh no, this wedding was unpretentiousness personified. I love it.

Quirky & Colourful New South Wales Wedding: Melodie & Kurt

Kat

Angelica Peady

February 20, 2013

The colourful wedding of Melodie & Kurt was held at Hopewood Country House in Bowral, New South Wales. The bride designed her own wedding dress and glittered up her own shoes but the DIY didn't stop there - friends and family of the couple got stuck in wherever possible!

1930s Jazz Club Wedding: Rebecca & Scott

Kat

Amanda VanVels

February 19, 2013

With a lifelong appreciation for classic vintage styling, a beautifully restored 1935 jazz club was clearly the perfect setting for Rebecca & Scott's Detroit wedding. "When we found Cliff Bells we knew we had to get married there", wrote the bride. "When choosing decor items, we were also careful careful to choose things that complimented the vintage vibe of the venue. We didn't want the décor to be too loud or overwhelming. My original design inspiration was the redesigned F. Scott Fitzgerald book covers by Coralie Bickford-Smith."

DIY Wedding in Victoria Baths: Fiona & Jonny

Kat

Emma Case

February 19, 2013

Unique wedding venues can be hard to come across in the UK, but Fiona & Jonny weren't going to take that lying down. They knew they wanted a memorable space for their union and so selected Victoria Baths in Manchester. "Victoria Baths is an Edwardian swimming baths (which is no longer used as baths, now a restoration project and arts/community venue)", wrote Fiona. "It was originally three big pools. Two of them remain and are empty – we got married in the deep end of the biggest one and had our reception on top of the other! It was boarded over with a sprung dance floor in the fifties (my granddad used to teach ballroom dancing in that room). The remaining smaller pool and the rest of building, which is pretty vast, was left for people to wander around and explore."

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."

Colour Pop Glaswegian Wedding: Claire & Tom

Kat

Mirrorbox

February 18, 2013

Marrying her sweetheart in August of last year, newlywed Claire told me all about their Glaswegian wedding. "Whilst on paper our wedding wasn't overtly Rock n Roll, our journey to get down the aisle definitely offers a slightly offbeat tale. Namely because in the two years leading up to our nuptials we collectively lost ten stone between us - the equivalent of 20ish new-born babies, a Saint Bernard dog, or Britney Spears. The toughest journey of my life, losing 70% of our collective weight drop, I lived, breathed and blogged the whole shebang, and whilst I still have a few more pounds to shift, that I made it down the aisle in the most beautiful dress I've ever seen, no longer morbidly obese, is the proudest moment of my life so far."

Low Key Portland Elopement: Tyler & Revonna

Kat

In Essence

February 15, 2013

An intimate park ceremony, a trip to a cupcakery and a wedding that's an unpretentious as they get. With just $4000, Tyler & Revonna were wed at Council Crest Park in Portland, OR with just their two best friends in attendance. Their low key 'reception' was at Jake’s Grill, a local restaurant which they both love. The bride even made her own wedding dress, headpiece and the dress that her bridesmaid wore.

Bollywood Palm Springs Wedding: Carla & Daniel

Kat

AbiQ

February 13, 2013

Using influences from around the world, Carla & Daniel wanted their Palm Springs wedding to be eclectic but relaxed.

Steampunk Tim Burton-Inspired Wedding: Ann & Martin

Kat

Sonia Jansson

February 13, 2013

When logistically it just wasn't possible for Ann & Martin to marry on Halloween as they'd originally planned, they still knew they wanted their wedding to have a spooky gothic theme. The whole day was heavily influenced by Tim Burton.

Fairytale Woodland Wedding: Emily & Casey

Kat

Ulmer Studios

February 12, 2013

After a sweet proposal outside the concert of one of their favourite bands, Emily & Casey set to planning their fairytale wedding. They wanted it to reflect how much in love they are as well as their fun, carefree and loving nature towards life.

Opulent Botleys Mansion Wedding: Holly & Ben

Kat

Steve Gerrard

February 11, 2013

Holly & Ben weren't exactly sure what they wanted for their wedding when they started planning, but after feeling overwhelmed by what they saw in wedding magazines, they were quickly convinced about what they didn't want!