When Bryony fell pregnant quicker than planned, they ditched their grand plans for a huge, three-day circus inspired festival wedding, with a huge budget and decided to just focus on what really mattered. The bride wore a £35 dress from ASOS and their reception was at their local Chinese restaurant – no decor, no cake, no fuss.
Raul and Ruben married in an intimate ceremony at Casa Benigalip, Alicante in July 2019. Joined by their closest friends and family, they wanted a day that was rustic, intimate and that reflected their love of food, drink and a good time – and judging by these gorgeous images, they achieved that and then some!
Shot at Riola San Gabriel in Alcolecha near Alicante in Spain, this editorial is sure to inspire you if you want something more on the opulent, or over-the-top side for your own big day. The team behind it were inspired by the extravagance of Gucci’s shoots when they put this one together.
Everyone wants to have a unique wedding day that reflects their identity, after all, there are few occasions where you can be as deliciously indulgent as you want (making your friends do literally anything your heart desires, mwahaha).
But as the planning process can take its toll and every well-meaning family member and previous bride puts in their two pence worth, it can get harder and harder to stand strong in your ideas of YOUR perfect day. Not to mention the trad bridal magazine (thank god for Rock n Roll Bride!) spouting ‘advice’ which just doesn’t feel like you. It’s all too easy to get up to the big day and feel like you’ve sacrificed every weird and wonderful personal detail that you wanted.
Yup, being yourself and planning a big day that is authentically yours, well, it can take huge balls. The first step in cultivating an ‘I matter and my opinion matters’ attitude is to realise that it’s not selfish to put yourself first. In fact, you are the most important person in your life (sorry not sorry, life partner). We also all need to re-frame what exactly putting yourself first looks like and realise that self-love not just ‘nice to have’ but a vital necessity. Self-love is often marketed in a way that’s cringey, touchy-feely and maybe even self-indulgent.
But in reality – it takes a punk ass attitude. Let me explain why. Sadly, like a lot of good things, the phrase has been co-opted by diet culture, women’s magazines and Instagram wellness accounts. So, it’s easy to bundle the whole concept of self-love with green smoothies, gym-worthy abs, overpriced yoga classes and out of reach wellness retreats.
Nick and Kylee are very non-traditional, and wanted their wedding to reflect them. They both love the colour purple, the the colour-scheme was an easy choice! Kylee loves to wear 1950s clothing when she gets the chance and Nick is a retro car guy. Throw in Kylee’s obsession with skulls and you have yourself a 1950s meets gothic extravaganza!
So this is a shoot, not a real wedding, but if you’re planning to elope then I’m sure you’ll find some inspiration in these images. Put together by Arkansas photographer Laura Power, she wanted to create something different to all the more traditional weddings she sees day in day out.