Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

Wedding

Anthropologie & Rustic Farm Elegance with a Rock n Roll Twist

Kat

February 15, 2010

Oh squeeeeal! I'm not sure I can say anything more intellectual about Luke & Charis' wedding, in fact I think only 'squeeeal' will cover it. So. Much. Awesome! "This couple was married in a barn at Sharon Rose Farm in Greenville SC" photographer Anna told me "The bride is a hair stylist, the groom is a drummer - so the music and the style was fabulous and original. I thought what was so rock n roll about this wedding was that the bride made surprise stick-on tattoos to replicate her new husband's favorite tattoo on his arm, and all the guests had a mini tattoos during the reception just like the groom!" Charis wore a dress from David's Bridal and she asked her bridesmaids to simply pick their own black dress. When Charis and her bridesmaids walked into the venue someone said, "It looks like an anthropologie catalogue just walked in!" The ceremony and reception were held in a beautiful red renovated horse barn. It was such a nice mix of rustic farm, elegant chandeliers and vintage flare. There were mason jars with wild flowers, and baskets of peanuts on cocktail tables as guests mingled and sipped lemonade before the entering the barn. An old typewriter was used as a to write notes to the bride and groom, and a sweet bird cage to put them in. Just sit back and enjoy these - I know you will! Thanks to Anna for sharing this amazing wedding with us Credit: Anna Naphtali Photography
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Woodland Nymphs

Kat

February 13, 2010

How do I even begin to describe a wedding like this? Eco? Hippy Chic? Organic? Ourdoorsy? Woodland nymph-like? Musical? Midsummer Night's Dream-esque? None of these words seem to do any kinda of justice to this beautiful wedding. Samuel & Jessica were married in Moravian falls at Pennel Horse farm. They wanted they day to have a raw and natural feel with a bit of mystical charm and simplicity. "They defined their wedding by what they love and not what tradition says to do", photographer Shelley told me "so they combined some common elements of the wedding ceremony, seasoned with of a little bit of hippie, funk, vintage and organic charm. Every little thing was a reflection of who they are as individuals and as a couple." Their bridal/groomal parties were huge and the woods were filled with light and music from the lanterns they all carried and the drums they played. The ceremony was a really emotional one (as you can see from the video below) the pair washed each other's feet and Sam even sang and played guitar to his new wife. The reception looks like a blast! The guests ate great organic food and they danced into the night around a giant bonfire. Jessica's dress was by Amalia Cararra. She bought her dress at "Stardust Celebrations" in Dallas, Texas, where she she was spotted by the creators of a new reality show on WEtv called "Girl Meets Dress." The couple's love story will be aired March 9th as the premier episode! Be sure to check out a snippet of their wedding video below as a little sneaky peak! Thanks to Shelley, Jess & Sam for sharing their a.m.a.z.i.n.g ceremony and wedding with us (and yes, there are over 100 photographs in this post but I had to include them all!)
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All Because of Rock n Roll

Kat

February 12, 2010

Bonnie & Rod's 195os inspired wedding was held at Malcolm's Of Maleny in Queensland, Australia. When I asked photographer Julian what made this pair rock n roll, he had the perfect answer for me... "Bonnie was born and raised in Australia and in short, is a singer. Rod was born and raised in Mississippi and had never been to Australia before -- They met over the Internet through each other's music, Rod being a Guitarist in a band without a singer. Bonnie was asked by Rod to record a singing part to a piece he had recorded. And the rest, as they say, is history. He flew over and met her, they dated and then, obviously, married. All because of Rock And Roll, literally." Thanks to Julian for sharing this fabulous wedding with us
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Modern Marie Antoinette

Kat

February 9, 2010

Simone & Matt were married at the Historic Mission in San Diego. Simone wore a Monique Lhuillier dress from and Christian Louboutin shoes. After the ceremony all the guests headed over to the Prado restaurant at Balboa Park for an outdoor cocktail hour with hors d'ourves and live jazz. Before entering the ballroom the couple entertained the guests with giant Bride and Groom pinatas which were attacked by kids and grownups alike. There was no formal sit down dinner. Instead guests were welcome to use the sushi bar and the mini kobe burger and fries bar. Big band jazz and vocals entertained. Later in the evening the band packed up and a DJ took over while a separate room was opened up with a taco bar and a 'Tostitoes' bar. The inspiration for the our wedding came after I found my dress. Simone told me It is a Monique Lhuillier gown, but i found it at the Neiman Marcus outlet! My mom works for Neiman Marcus, so I got an even better discount too. It was the first and only dress i tried on. It fit me perfectly. The dress inspired my "Marie Antoinette but modern" theme that I wanted for the wedding. I wanted it to just be like a candle lit party with gold accents and ostrich feathers, something I imagined Marie Antoinette would have done. I also wanted my guests to have fun, so I made the food interactive, I had the photobooth, and the little bride and groom pinatas for everyone to have fun with. The food was all matt and my favorites, especially the tosti locos which are a mexican snack. Thanks to John, Simone & Matt for sharing
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Hannah & Ali’s Quirky, Art Deco and Too-Damn-Freakin’-Cool British Wedding

Kat

February 8, 2010

Do you remember Hannah & Ali's awesome 'at home' engagement shoot complete with their awesome kitty cat? Well I was over the moon to receive an email full to bursting with their quirky, vintagey wedding goodness from their photographer Steve Gerrard just the other day. I am loving Hannah's Jenny Packham dress and headband (le swoon indeed) and the bridesmaids look just too damn cool for school in their All Saints dresses. Their wedding took place just before Christmas at The Daffodil in Cheltenham, a fantastic converted 1920’s Art Deco picture house Steve tells us, The vintage theme continued throughout the wedding and I have to say I wish more couples would go down this route. I think it’s so cool and stylish. Hannah and Ali both looked amazing, but their guests also made a huge effort and win the award for best dressed guests ever! Yep this is defiantly one of the coolest UK weddings I've seen in a while (well...a few days maybe - I get sent a HELL lot of cool weddings!) Thanks to the wonderful Steve for sharing with us. Credit: Steve Gerrard Photography
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Carnival Crazy

Kat

February 7, 2010

Dina & Gary's 1920's vaudeville carnival themed wedding makes me wanna squeal. I wish wish wish we'd done something as fabulous as this when we got hitched. The wedding took place at Asbury Park, New Jersey and the pair really went to town with their theme - from popcorn and candy for the guests, a sideshow performance, goldfish in bowls... in fact everything you might expect to find at a carnival! Dina wore a custom dress (made by a friend) and wore jewellery and carried a candy bouquet made by another friend Melissa Heid. Just. Wow. Thanks to Brandi for sharing this awesome day with us. Woooo!
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Eco Touches for this Snowy British Wedding

Kat

February 5, 2010

You know I'm usually all about the rock chicks, but there is just something about a quirky, DIY, eco, British wedding that I just can't resist...and that fact that the bride wore Vivienne's (I have them in yellow)...well I'm sold! Photographer Mark told me the whole story: Marie and Karl chose the personal, DIY approach to ensure their wedding reflected their eco-conscious principles, where possible, combined with their love of elegant, vintage styles, nature and music! The day was based in two venues in the Northern English Forest of Bowland on a snowy day in late December. The invite package contained screen printed and hand stamped bunting on recycled card and a button badge! The couple also set up a website was to encourage electronic RSVPs. Marie’s uncle’s 70’s cream ford galaxy 500 was the chariot of choice which delivered the pair to the organic farm for their reception- a gorgeous 17thcentury barn with heated floors and wood burning stove. Guests were greeted with mulled wine, hot vimto and the bride’s own homemade spiced biscuits served in an array of mis-matching vintage tea cups and saucers. Most of the deco was Marie’s own DIY effort -table centres were constructed on slabs of fallen pine/oak trees with arrangements of flowers she picked and dried over the year, vintage glass medicine bottles (car boot sales) and potted herbs in painted pots/vintage clay pots. Soy candles were arranged in charity shop finds- sherry glasses as votives and old glass jars covered in 1920s musical manuscript. Bunting was made by Gregg McDonald using off-cuts from the bridesmaid’s dresses (fabric from a brilliant mill in Bradford called Bombay Stores). Marie hand made some paper birds to sit on the edge of champagne glasses as place names and napkin rings were a ring of two-tone ribbon finished with a button. Karl designed and made “cootie catchers” which were placed on the dining tables featuring a selection of the couple’s favourite lyrics for entertainment between the courses of soup, pie and home-made cup cakes (courtesy of Marie’s mum and auntie)! The couple had been secretly attending swing jive dance lessons to surprise their guests and performed their first dance to Ray Scott’s red hot R n’ B number ‘Silk, Satin n Lace’. Later in the evening Karl’s band, including grooms men, ‘Super Johnny K and the Bang Bangs’ played a short set of vintage psyche n surf rock tunes. Marie teamed a stunner of a dress with her Vivienne Westwood shoes. She chose Daven by Pronovias and wore upcycled hair accessories ( from dress cut-offs and old sparkly bits) from Rebeccastone on Etsy and earrings which she also found on Etsy. Her bridesmaids wore dresses by Raouli. Karl wore a 1960's suit which he found on Ebay and a printed tie & hankerchief from Liberty. Thanks to photographer Mark and Marie & Karl for sharing this beeeautiful day with us
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Brighton Belle

Kat

February 5, 2010

I just wanted to share a few images from Jed & Sarah's funky yet classic Brighton wedding. Brighton is a really eclectic town on the South coast of England. Brighton is full of eccentric characters and this wedding was so fun and quirky, even the registrar had kooky shoes and piercings. The bride and groom were very cool - her mother in law made the dress and I think she looks fab, they got wed in the pavillion, then onto a double decker to the Grand Hotel for some food and drinks....It was all about their colourful personalities and the offbeat alternative nature of Brighton which I made sure to feature in as many of the shots as possible. Thanks to Joanna for sharing these
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Amy & Jay and Their Way too Awesome New York Wedding Day

Kat

February 4, 2010

I may well be stating the obvious here, but Amy & Jay's wedding is freakin' awesome. Hell to the yeah...I love to blog this stuff! We were married on 01/02/10 in Brooklyn, NY. We really love our neighborhood and wanted to keep it local, allowing our guests to fully experience the day in Williamsburg Brooklyn. We had our ceremony and three course vegan meal at a place called Monkey Town. As a wedding gift, one of our best friends/dancer/aerialist/choreographer, Sarah Wollschlager, did an aerial performance to Etta James' "At Last," which contributed to the uniqueness and beauty of our ceremony. Our officiant, from the Brooklyn Society of Ethical Culture, Tasha Paley, also made the ceremony even more personal- she brought laughter to our guests and made several of us shed a tear while reading an excerpt from "The Little Prince." We then had the reception at Trophy Bar, which included an open bar, dancing, vegan cupcakes, and a photobooth. For the photobooth, two of our best friends created a caution tape backdrop and set up a wireless remote, allowing the guests to get ready and pose! As far as vegan cupcakes in NYC go, Babycakes is the absolute best...we were so relieved that all of the non-vegan guests really loved them! They also made us a 6" cake, where we put our super cute monster cake toppers, created by Leslie Levins. It was absolutely an incredible day and it wouldn't have been what it was without our amazing friends! Amy had two dresses - the ceremony dress was found on Ebay and was a similar design to Maggie Sottero's Rasharna dress, which she loved but when she saw the less-fussy Ebay version she was sold! Her reception dress was from Betsey Johnson's Spring 2008 collection. She carried a felt bouquet by Jennifer Rae of Ribbons n Bows Boutique (who she discovered through Rock n Roll Bride!) Wanna see more? Check out their slideshow! Oh...and their wedding invitation video is too damn cool for words (check it out after the jump...)
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Latex, Tattoos, Piercings & Fancy Dress Make a FABULOUS UK Wedding!

Kat

February 2, 2010

I've got a funny feeling you're going to go just as crazy about these as I did. Words can not even describe really can they? Danny & Louise's amazing alternative, British (oh yes this couple is English woooo) wedding was all about the style. Louise's stunning latex dress was made by Jane Doe Latex. This part certainly didn't care about what was 'expected' of their wedding, not only are the pair clearly ones to play by the rules (Louise is a piercer and micro-dermal specialist and Danny is a tattooist. They are both heavily modded, both having split tongues, facial tattoos and multiple piercings) but the wedding meal after the ceremony was a trip to MacDonald's eaten at their house! Their evening reception and buffet was held at at our local rock bar, Sanctuary and was fancy dress, hence the grooms rather fetching nurses outfit! Seriously guys, put your eyes back in their sockets right now and enjoy! Thanks to Donna for sharing this AMAZING wedding with us
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Winter Warmers & DIY to Die For

Kat

January 30, 2010

This brand spanking new wedding was sent to me by the fabulous Andana Lima. I fell in love with bride's beehive, her faux fur coat and all the DIY projects involved in making their day elegant and personal. The DIY projects behind this wedding included the bouquet made out of black and white fabric, the boutonnieres for the groomsman and mother of the bride, the monograms, the wishbook and all the centerpieces and table decorations. Courtney also added her own beads to underneath her shoes. Thanks to the ever delightful Andana for sharing this weith us. I'm sure you'll agree that it's fabulous indeed Credit: Andana Lima Photography
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All Shook Up

Kat

January 29, 2010

Jessica & Ronnie's kitsch Elvis themed wedding was just too damn Rock n Roll to ignore. Stand by for all the juice... First and foremost I would like to just say Kat your blog was definitely a huge source of inspiration through all of my wedding planning! Your excitement for all things wedding is so fantastic to read that even after our big day, I still take a looksey to check out all of the great wedding photography you find! Thanks for doing what you do! It was pretty wild when Tom asked us if he could send you some of our photos, I said "of course I know Rock n Roll Bride, that sounds great!" I totally thought wanting to get married in red was going to have to make me spend a bazillion dollars that we didn't have on getting one made, but I randomly found it at David's Bridal. It was a bridesmaids dress for only $160!! I just had them take off the spaghetti straps that it came with because I thought it gave a more vintage feel to it. My husby's outfit cost more than mine with his special Wingtip Shoes costing almost as much as my dress but it was so worth it because man did he look hot in them! Our wedding consisted of a weekend gathering in San Luis Obispo at The Madonna Inn, which is filled with everything gold and gaudy, its such an amazing place with every room holding a different theme, I really recommend it to all for at least a one night stay! We started the weekend off Friday night bowling with friends and family at Pismo Bowl just right down the road. We wanted our wedding to be for us to spend as much time as we could with everyone and just party, so we had an early afternoon wedding in "The Gay 90's Room" upon the stage, while making our separate entrances, my fiancee's song was "I'm Your Man" by Leonard Cohen, and mine to "You Can Never Hold Back Spring" by Tom Waits, then we had our officiant "50's Young Elvis" (no disrespect intended to older Vegas Elvis, but we just love classic Elvis) who made his entrance by singing "I Got Stung" up the aisle as all of our guests just laughed and clapped along. It was truly a great moment seeing everyone have so much fun with him! Elvis officiated the wedding with fun and singing but also such sincerity about love and how to make it last. Our I do's went something like, "Do you promise to never step on his Blue Suede Shoes?" and "Do you promise to never leave her All Shook Up at the Heartbreak Hotel and Love her Tender?" After the ceremony Elvis handed us the infamous Vegas Elvis Glasses and sang us out to "Burning Love". We of course had to have Elvis' "Fame & Fortune" as our First Dance, hopefully by now your seeing that we're not creepy just HUGE Elvis fans. At the reception each table centerpiece was a different record sleeve from our collection of singers that we love like Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson, Roy Orbison, B.B King, David Bowie, Elton John and many others, then for the placement cards we had "Mr & Mrs So & So are partying at Elton John's table" and so on. It was such a cheap money saving way to do centerpieces! I totally recommend it! To continue with the theme we had little record napkins that had "Rock & Roll" on them from Party City for next to nothing. For party favors we had our immediate family members and bridal party dedicate songs to us that reminded them of us, and the two of us dedicated songs to each other too, which we made into a CD for all to take home. Everyone came up with such great songs that it made a great compilation that we listen to all the time! We finished off the reception and despite the sprinkles of rain outside, we all headed up to the pool & spa and partied in our bathing suits till the pool closed! Such an awesome day to finally start a new chapter with my best friend in such a fun way and to share it with all of our loved ones that came near and far for a little mini vacation! I definitely recommend all couples to just try and have as much fun with the planning as possible, and don't worry about having to stick to the norm of late afternoon weddings with dinner & dancing, do whatever your heart desires and have an all day long of festivities to enjoy it even longer, because it goes by so fast! Thanks to Tom and of course Jessica & Ronnie for sharing their top tappin' wedding with us
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Speakeasy Swing Wedding

Kat

January 26, 2010

I've got a feeling you're going to love this detail-heavy dance-fest. The moody light, the swing band, the bride in her stunning yellow gown, the cupcakes, the portraits...yep this is one pretty damn cool wedding. Andrew & Aye got married atThe Thaxton in Louis, MO. They converted the indie venue into their speakeasy and swing-dance themed wedding. Both the bride & groom wore custom made outfits - the dress was made by Toni Whitaker and his suit was by Duchess Clothier. The fabulousKim Massie band provided the entertainment. Thanks to Aaron for sharing these with us Credit: Hawes Photography & Design
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