Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

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For the Love of Bettie Paige

Kat

April 28, 2010

Toni & Richard had a gothic/burlesque inspired wedding at Prested Hall in Colchester in March of this year. "Our inspiration mainly comes from my admiration of burlesque and my unnerving love of Bettie Page (who I have recently had tattooed on me)" Toni told me. "Not being much of a girly girl and never one who 'dreamt of their big day', I didn't actually know where to start after the proposal. I like wearing jeans, having a Mohawk and being covered in tattoos and wearing too much make up!"
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Gothic, Fancy Dress, Halloween Wedding

Kat

March 22, 2010

I have been dreaming about blogging this wedding since October when photographer Caroline of the wonderful Tinywateremailed me to let me know she was off to shoot a Halloween, fancy-dress gothic themed wedding...and even before shooting the wedding, she knew I was going to love it. Well judging by the number of photographs I'm including in this post you could say she was pretty much bang on! I was lucky enough to have Rachel, the bride get in contact with me to share all the glorious details!
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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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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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A Crystal-Encrusted-High-Octane-Glitterati Seriously Rocking Wedding Day

Kat

January 10, 2010

Follow up posts are always fun, I always think when I see an engagement session 'ooh I wonder what their wedding will be like?' So it's great to find out the answer! Nik & Nicole's Desperate Housewife session gave me high expectations for their big day, and boy am I not disappointed. I am loving Nicole's crystal encrusted shoes, cuffs and hairpiece and her phenomenal fishtail dress (check out the back!) which the bottom detached from for the dancing in the evening. Her bridesmaids too look every bit SATC chic in their daring black dresses and fishnet tights...and the boys in all black - hummanahummana... Thanks to Ryan for sharing these and bringing some much needed glamour to the site today Credit: RCJones Photography
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Rockin’ Kicks & Fashion to Love

Kat

December 29, 2009

Paul & Jess' wedding was a stylish affair of rockin' proportions. They both looked every bit the Rock n Roll couple...with a little help from their friends & families! Jess explains: When we decided to keep our anniversary as our official wedding date we were just about mid-stride in working on the party at the Breakers. I have to admit that planning for the first ceremony was pretty far from my mind. Paul and I chose our wardrobe based basically on matching each other like we do all the time. I bought a really beautiful black/tan dress, red shoes from shoes.com and Paul picked up a tie to match his black & tan Nike SBs from Richmond Hood. We figured we had the whole thing in the bag. On the eighth, before heading over to Nana’s house to kick the party off, I went to the salon to have Khrystyne and Lisa get me, my mom, and my sister ready for the picture frenzy. I kept getting told by my mother that there was a ‘really great’ surprise at Nana’s and that she hoped I would like it. Nerve-racking words if spoken by absolutely anyone but my mother. I knew that if she and my sister had something to do with the surprise that I would certainly like it. Khrystyne finished up my hair and Erica proceeded to do my makeup in the back of the salon. In snuck my mother just about at the final touches of my makeup. She said that she had another surprise and was quite concerned that I wouldn’t like it. Not exactly what the bride wants to hear with only minutes before leaving for the ceremony. I asked her to show me this surprise of hers. Turns out, not only did I ‘like’ it… I absolutely loved it! Mom and Erica had spent all morning running back and forth to the Monmouth Mall. When Mommy’s friend Joanne had set Nana’s house up for our ceremony (the original surprise), it looked so much like a chapel that my mom decided a black dress would look very out of place in pictures. I could not have been happier that they took control of the situation without my help. They picked an absolutely splendid wedding dress. I couldn’t believe how well it fit and how incredibly wonderful it felt to wear white after all. Thanks go to Mom, Erica, and Jessica McClintock! Thanks to Brad, Paul & Jess for sharing their day with us.
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The Original Tattooed Brides

Kat

December 24, 2009

The original tattooed bride photographers, Allebachsent me these this morning and I had to get them up right away. What could be better to gaze at right before Christmas that tattooed beauties looking shaaweeet!? The images came from a 'shoot out' in Philadelphia, where a bunch of photographers gets together and shoot the same situation together to learn from each other and generally get some kick ass imagery themselves... So the Philly Photog Shootouthappened. In case you haven't heard a Photog shootout is an event where photographers meet, photograph models and learn from each other. Anyway Rob "Ninja" Nicholson contacted me because he wanted to get a punk rock bridal theme going and needed a few more models. So I reached out to the most amazing couples in the world (my clients) and got a few responses. Jess an amazing bride (and rollergirl) married earlier this year was one of the first to respond. Patty DeCasere (my old punk rock band's drummer's former band's singer's wife - got it?) did an amazing job giving Jess a mohawk. Another friend Alicia from the 20s flapper shoot we did at the historic Stotesbury Mansion handled the costume design (available for wardrobe at belle_morte66@yahoo.com) Robyn & John an engaged couple took a day and drove up from Annapolis and found the inner model in them. Really they just acted like themselves and everyone got great photos. Erin Proud (wedding planner of Lori & Kevin's Eastern State Penitentiary wedding) channeled her inner anger and teenage angst for the shoot, along with an amazing wedding photographer turned model, Leslie Gilbert. Despite shooting photos in what felt like subzero conditions in Center City Philadelphia, everyone seemed to be having a great time, networking and learning. Thanks to Mike for sending me this little Xmas gift! Credit: Allebach Photography
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A Halloween-esque Steam Train of Epicness

Kat

December 21, 2009

Kim & Alex's wedding hit me like a steam train of epicness when I laid eyes on it. I'm pretty sure my insessent ramblings can't bring it justice so I think it's only fair I hand over to Kim with all the fantastic details. As usual, I'll be back with the eye candy. "Originally our theme was “Halloween Town” from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, but as time went on, our theme evolved beyond Tim Burton to include other geeky things we love as a couple such as zombies, toys, film and... well... Halloween! We were mostly inspired by films (predominantly Tim Burton and Zombie flicks) and our own Halloween experiences. We just looked at the little things we loved most and used that to make our wedding our own. I’m in love with Burlesque-wear and wanted to incorporate that whimsical, glam-yet-sexy look to my outfit. Instead of bridal magazines, my fashion designer friend and I looked through many burlesque photos and lingerie books to gather inspiration for my dress. For my shoes, I found the most awesome bright green zombie shoes designed by Iron Fist. They were out of stock in Toronto, so Alex and I sent out all our online Twitter friends on a mad hunt for them. We ended up getting them shipped from Ohio. A few months later, a friend of mine from Chicago found the flat versions of the same zombie shoes, which I was really thankful for. I cannot walk in heels! The groom’s suit was inspired by Jack Skellington. He didn’t want to take the blatant replica route by getting a pin stripe suit. Instead, his plain black suit had black skeleton appliques all throughout. He even had a hoodie that had the skull on the hood! Since he almost always only exclusively wear Chuck Taylors, he wore black on black Chucks to the wedding. To add a sense of “badass” to his outfit, as well as his groomsmen/groomsgirl, our good friend, We Kill You made us custom pimp sticks for them to walk around with. We were really lenient with our wedding party when it came to what to wear
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High Octane Glamour

Kat

December 15, 2009

Magda & Seba's funky NYC wedding took place at a Catholic church in Brooklyn and then the party continued at Staten Island's Grand Plaza. Their day had a distinctive black and red theme with certainly an edge of Rock n Roll - Magda even DIYed their beautiful and impressive centerpieces (flowers supplied to Carol's Florist) adding the crystals herself to really pile on the glamour. The cake also perfectly fitted their uber glam theme and was made to match their own vision by The Cake Topper, NYC. Magda looked every bit the glamour princess in her San Patrick 'Paramo' dress and Silver Manolo Blahnik shoes (she changed into red converse for the reception.) Enjoy the high octane glamour my lovelies! Thanks to Aga for sharing Credit: Aga Images
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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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Elegant & Quirky

Kat

November 25, 2009

I'm having a bit of a Philippines love fest today because as many of you will know I seem to adore everything that comes out of that country. The photographic style is so elegant yet so quirky, so fashion-let but so personal. Love love love. I'm starting off with newbie photographer Joey Boquiren who sent me Filmore & Margaux' engagement session...now tell me I'm wrong! Super stylish yet super sweet and personal right? Faaabulous Thanks to Joey for sharing these
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Little Black Number

Kat

November 15, 2009

This bride actually bought a prom dress to wear on her big day as she wanted a little black number! It fitted in perfectly with their venue (an estate) and it's beautiful and old demeanor - it was full of antiques which suited the couple and their style perfectly. The reception was outside held and decorated with butterflies and moss which certainly made for the perfect backdrop for photographs. With an English family who love football (soccer!) they had to get a game in there. The bride even bought wellies - black and pink of course - to play along in the rain too. Photographer Ingrid paid special attention to photographing this special part of the day. Thanks to Ingrid for sharing these with us today
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Sleepy Hollow(een) Wedding

Kat

November 6, 2009

I don't get to feature enough gothic style weddings so when Carmel & Drynn's rustic yet opulent gothic affair landed on my desk I jumped at the chance to share these. The Bride told me... I found my dress at Gothic Wedding Dresses and our flowers were done by Punch Portland. The inspiration for our theme was based on Tim Burton-esque Sleepy Hollow, classic Victorian but with a dark feel. We are kind of "darker" individuals so we wanted that reflected but wanted to do it in a classy tasteful way. We didn't want to scare our guests too much! We picked Drynn's hat up at a vintage store the feather piece & my headpieces were done by Cricket Quills. Thanks to Carmel & Drynn for sharing their day with us
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