Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

Wedding

A Punk, Rockabilly, Neo-Gothic, Country & Western Wedding

Kat

July 21, 2010

The whole wedding was perfectly put together and customised by the couple to give the day a truly unique feel. Everything from Michelle's dress - which she bought as a 'standard' dress and had red tulle and the red waist panel added to it and veil - which her Mum made; to the centrepieces - which they made themselves with a mix of antique Coke bottles with sand, red water, a gerbera and curled wood; to the placecards and invitations- which they also made themselves, were unique and interesting.
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Nick & Hannah’s Game Playing, Fancy Dress Celebration

Kat

July 20, 2010

Nick & Hannah had a 3 day wedding at Christian retreat and conference centre Lee Abbey. The celebrations started with a day of fun activities for all their guests including archery, mountain boarding and zip wiring through the forest. Not only that, but all their guests were invited to wear fancy dress. That sure made for lots of laughs and some awesome photographs. The couple made an extra special effort, coming as Robin Hood and Maid Marion. Hannah had even worn her Grandmother's own wedding dress in memory of her.
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A Psycho Wedding

Kat

July 19, 2010

Why have I never seen a Psycho themed wedding before? This is so incredibly cool! Robert, a film director, and his bride Suzi, a make up artist, sent out generic invitations for their June 5th Wedding. It included a strict meeting time and hints of being transported to a secret location. This year is 50 years since Psycho terrified audiences all over the world and the film-loving couple thought that the very house that the movie was filmed it would make the perfect location for their wedding. It was the first ever wedding held at the Psycho House. The pair really went all out with their theme which started when and the groom appeared from the House escorted by none other than Norman Bates as Mother. He descended the famous staircase and the bride entered from Janet Leigh's room #1. The recessional ended with Robert carrying Suzi back to the hotel under the watchful eye of Norman Bates.
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“I Can Make That!” – Roni & Dave’s Awesome, Diy, Homespun Cute-Fest Wedding

Kat

July 16, 2010

OK I am EXCITED! Roni & Dave's reception is, like, totally the most awesome diy, homespun cute-fest ever and I've got the full scoop and all the juicy details for you. I featured their wedding day shoot not so long ago and as soon as I saw Roni's adorable and oh-so-awesome homemade vintage brooch bouquet I knew the rest of their wedding was going to be awe-inspiring but I'm telling you, nothing prepared me for this! The couple's reception was held in Roni's parent's house and backyard. For the flowers and centrepieces they bought all the blooms and the watering pots from Cosco and made them all themselves. "I didn't care what kind of flowers we had or where they came from. I just knew I wanted them to look like they were just hand picked out of a field" Roni told me. They ordered the yummy looking cakes from Liberty Market (Gilbert, AZ) and Roni & her Mum added the lace and brooches as well as an adorable home made cake topper.
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The MOST INCREDIBLE Alice in Wonderland Wedding Ever. FACT.

Kat

July 14, 2010

I've seen a lot of Alice in Wonderland shoots and weddings this year but none as fan-bloody-tastic as Jessica & Wade's. The couple said they came up with the Victorian Alice theme on a whim (even before the film came out this year) and decided to run with it. Unbelievably the couple designed and came up with everything for the wedding themselves. This is a wedding I wish I'd be at! I literally don't know where to start when it comes to talking about how awesome this wedding is so I'm just going to make a huge list of all the bits that I love about it.
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Ribbons, Pom Poms & Papel Picado – Roxana & John’s Amazing Fiesta Wedding

Kat

July 13, 2010

Roxana & John's incredible Mexican fiesta wedding was shot by the amazing Katherine O'Brien with a Holga, a Hasselblad and a Polaroid camera. The results are not only magical, but give a really unique and different perspective when looking back. In fact looking at these awesome images is almost like a crazy, exciting acid trip...in a good way of course! The bride, a costume designer, custom-modified her dress with dress with ribbons, rhinestones and a favorite brooch that was her Great Aunt's. Her groom wore a gold western belt buckle with the initial S for a bit of extra personality. The couple added lots of fantastic details to suit their papel-picado theme (a natural fit given their Texan roots) including tissue paper flowers lining the railings and tables, a custom card box in festive colours that looked like a wedding cake and grosgrain ribbons tied to the cedar arbor with fleur de lis topped markers. They also used Mexican loteria cards as escort cards which they clipped to a red ribbon hanging on an old wooden door. They then put matching cards on each table with a cowboy boot filled with wildflowers as the centrepieces. The wedding cake was topped with a Day of the Dead Bride and Groom.
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An Irregular Choice – A Wonderfully Theatrical British Wedding

Kat

July 12, 2010

I woke up this morning to the news that the Rock n Roll Bride Mad Hatter shoot had been blogged by Irregular Choice shoes! Seriously, how glad am I that Vivienne Westwood didn't deliver my shoes on time and Irregular Choice saved the day? I feel like all famous and stuff... I thought then it only appropriate that I blogged this gorgeous Irregular Choice bride that I'd been planning to blog this week. I saw a few pictures of bride Sophie-Jayne in her amazing Ian Stuart dress and Irregular Choice shoes on the Schuh facebook page (they blogged about our shoot too!) and knew I had to find out more about this wedding. Sophie-Jayne & Jason got married at Sophie's old College by a Reverend who used to be one of her teachers. After the very personal ceremony, everybody was transported to Sophie-Jayne's parent house for the reception in her Dad's Old Route Master Bus!
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The Italian Way – A Classic & Stylish Rock n Roll Tuscany Wedding

Kat

July 10, 2010

Mike & Laura's wedding excites me as not only did it take place in Tuscany, Italy but they found their photographer JMCL Photography through Rock n Roll Bride! Yesssss. The couple are originally from Australia and chose the beautiful old town of Lucca in Tuscany to get married. Being abroad, the wedding was a very small, personal and intimate one with only their closest family and friends in attendance. The wedding was also a very laid back one - the couple arrived in the town the night before and did a lot of arranging on the spot. That's the Italian way to do it!
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Under the Sea – An Aquarium Wedding

Kat

July 10, 2010

I may not have seen anything so gloroius in a long time. This venue is STUNNING. What a unusual and spectacular place for a wedding. Jen & Lou chose Adventure Aquarium to play host to their wedding reception. With the sea life swimming all around them all evening, teamed with their subtle beach theme, the scene was most certainly set for a very different wedding. Jen also chose a very floaty/flowing gown by Kleinfeld Bridal whcih almost looked like crashing waves around her. A-mazing!
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A Las Vegas Zombie Party!

Kat

July 9, 2010

I'd love to go to a wedding like Patrick & Carla's - a small, personal and seriously fun wedding in Las Vegas. They basically had a really fun holiday with all their best friends and got married at the same time! Carla told me all about their wedding story and I can't wait to share it all with you. Methinks you will likey... "We decided to go to Las Vegas for several reasons. (We are a Denver, CO area couple.) When we first started planning our shindig it was going to be a small affair, about 30 people or so. But even an event that small seems to be a lot of work, and take a lot of cash. We found ourselves talking about the wedding and always saying, "Everyone will love that." or "what do you think people will think?" And we discovered that we were starting to plan our wedding for everyone else. So we decided to rethink our wedding and make it completely and totally us and all about us. One problem we had was money. Neither of us makes a ton of it, so we had to think what we can do to have fun, that won't cost a fortune and still have a honeymoon. Patrick came up with Vegas. We decided to cut the guest list way down too. Patrick’s father is elderly, and wouldn't be able to make the trip, so to be fair I talked to my parents and asked if they minded not going. They actually didn't freak out."
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1950’s Diner-Style Charm

Kat

July 8, 2010

Holy 1950s wedding awesome Batman! I love it when a couple really get into a theme and do it so well - so well in fact that their photographer Al Overdrive even dressed up as a 1950's style reporter (photo below) Michelle & Craig got married in style at Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Everything screams 1950s retro rockabilly charm - from the pink Cadillac and the diner style grub (giant hotdogs, create your own burgers, fries, waffles, pancakes, ice cream sundaes, Oreo cheesecake!) to the Vivienne Westwood shoes (of which I will never tire) and Michelle's custom 'Beverlywood' Dolly Couture dress.
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Stevie Wonder played at our Reception!

Kat

July 8, 2010

I don't often post weddings that aren't shot by a professional wedding photographer as I am so passionate about everyone having amazing wedding photography, however there are definitely some instances when I'm happy to make an exception. I am proud to make the 'wedding' of Stacey & Dave one of these exceptions. The pair were at Glastonbury music festival last weekend (actually I think it was the week before, man I am behind with my blog posts!) and got engaged, hurrah! Their friends suggested they get married then and there as Glastonbury is famous for people rocking up and getting married in wellies, surrounded by mud and music! This year however it was 30 degrees and although the 'wedding' isn't a legally binding one (silly UK wedding laws) this is certainly going to be an awesome memory for the couple.
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A Mountain Top Ceremony for a Modern Art Wedding

Kat

July 8, 2010

Sara & Andy's mountain top wedding took place at Sapphire Point in Breckenridge, Colorado. They kept it intimate with only 50 guests to the wedding and reception, which was held at the Museum of Contemporary art in Denver. As well as keeping their wedding small and personal, the skipped a lot of the traditional fluff - for example instead of a cake they opted for ice cream sandwiches with sprinkles! They also didn't want (or need) to add any extra decor to their ceremony location or their reception venue as the surrounding countryside and the museums art work spoke for itself and complemented their unfussy theme perfectly. "We utilized the beauty of the spaces from the natural mountain top to the contrast of the modern space of the contemporary art museum to make the couples wedding photographs uniquely theirs" photographer Anna told me. "It was nice working with the two seemingly contrasting spaces to create wedding photographs that were cohesive and representative of the couples day, personalities and love for each other." Finally, Sara & Andy chose not to have any bridesmaids or groomsmen.
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Laid Back Hawaii Beach Wedding

Kat

July 5, 2010

I think you're going to love Kim & Paul's wedding - its the perfect post for a gorgeous sunny Monday like today! The couple, from Colorado, got married at Ke Iki Beach Bungalows, on the North Shore of Oahu. They went diy crazy and did a lot of the wedding themselves - from the flowers (which they bought wholesale) to the homemade veil. "We really wanted our wedding to be a 'non-wedding wedding' that was as unique as we were and at the same time have a super fun beach party!" Kim told me." We also wanted to involve our family and friends... so thankful we have so many creative people in our lives to help (flowers, hair, make-up, firecrackers!). Even though I didn't buy one bridal magazine or try on any dresses, I definitely perused the wedding-porn online that was tailored for the independent thinking brides. We didn't want to give in to the 'wedding industrial complex' and doing things the way they are "suppose" to be. I think that I've always been a non-traditionalist which is why I chose to forgo the cliche white dress and khaki Hawaiian beach wedding for one that was more colorful, stylish, elegant but still casual enough for the beach. We had an amazing time with all of the special people in our lives in a place that is very special to us."
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A Diy-Heavy, Cotton Candy-Eating, Vivienne Westwood-Wearing, Jeans-Definitely Allowed, Handmade, Carnival Themed Wedding

Kat

July 3, 2010

Jess & Bryan's is my favourite kind of wedding. I love the fashion, I love the style, I love the amazing diy touches and the whole chilled out and creative vibe of the day. "We really wanted usto be present in everything that was a part of our day" the couple told me. "We tried to make, and do, as much as we could for our wedding. This meant enlisting the help of our talented and wonderful friends and family to make paper cupcake toppers, straw flags, escort cards, wooden signs and much, much more! We all got together the day before the wedding to set up the entire tent and yard and then relaxed with a night of BBQing and laughing.
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Scottish, Vintage Loveliness

Kat

July 1, 2010

I'm not one to go back on my promises, so here's the gorgeous Scottish wedding to follow on from Sean & Nicola's 'Great Outdoors' engagement session that I posted last week. The pair wanted a really laid back, family-orientated day and they chose Mugdock Park for their ceremony and The Local Town Hall for their reception. "We only really considered one option for a ceremony venue, which was Mugdock Park" they began. "It is an amazing place at the beginning of the west highland way, and we loved going there for mountain-biking, having barbecues or just strolling around. We met up with the park manager and we had to prove ourselves as fans of the park before they let us go ahead with it, as they have only 2 weddings a year there. Our wedding was set around the old castle ruins, and my younger cousins provided the uplifting music by playing the violin and clarinet."
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