It all started on one of those days where Stef, half of Un-Traditional Wedding Stylists, was mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, when she came across the Teenage Cancer Trust’s #WearABandTShirtDay campaign. The concept was simple: wear your favourite band tee to work, raise awareness and support for young people with cancer. But something about it sparked more than just casual interest.

What if a wedding shoot could do the same? What if a couple wore band t-shirts instead of a traditional gown and suit, not just for the sake of being “alternative” but to say something real? Could a styled shoot actually raise awareness, honour a cause, and still be visually bold, badass and rooted in love?

For Stef, this wasn’t hypothetical. The Teenage Cancer Trust had supported her family during the final chapter of her brother-in-law Jacob’s life. Their help was quiet but constant, and Stef had been looking for a way to give something back. Not a fundraiser with awkward hashtags. Not just another “content moment.” Something that felt like her…and him.

So, she DM’d them. “Is this idea totally wild, or…?” Their answer? Not wild at all. In fact, they were completely on board.

With their blessing, Stef dropped a quick callout on Instagram asking if any other wedding suppliers fancied helping bring a slightly offbeat styled shoot to life. She expected a few polite maybes. What she got was a flood. Florists, stylists, bakers, make-up artists – and every one of them had their own reason for saying yes. Some had family members supported by the Trust. Some had lost people too. It didn’t feel like a project anymore. It felt like a community showing up.

The shoot came together quickly. The colour palette was drawn from the Teenage Cancer Trust’s bold logo. The confetti, stationery, even the cake echoed the branding. The seating chart was a tribute to loved ones affected by cancer, with names representing family members from the team. The hairstylist and cake designer were a mother-daughter duo whose own son/brother is currently being supported by the Trust. The male model, Connor, was Jacob’s best friend. Stef’s husband (Jacob’s brother) ran the behind-the-scenes coverage. Everyone wore a band tee on the day.

As Stef put it, “We’ve all got that one tee, probably a bit faded, slightly ripped, doesn’t fit right anymore. But we’ll never throw it out. It reminds us who we were – carrying all those memories of gigs, friendships, and finding our place. It’s a nod to individuality and nostalgia. Beyond the music and the style, when you wear a band tee there’s a sense that none of us are alone.”

“So many people are going through hard things, or have loved ones who are. We all don’t realise, sometimes, just how many of us the Teenage Cancer Trust quietly supports. This shoot is a reminder that there’s a whole network of people sharing the same struggles, and you’re not on your own.”

And, of course, this was all about fundraising, too. A JustGiving page quietly went live a few weeks before the shoot, accompanied by a short video from Stef explaining the why they were doing this. Donations started rolling in from clients, strangers, other wedding suppliers.

So, this isn’t your average styled shoot. Not just because it was different, but because it feels real, from the heart and just an utterly brilliant way to utilise the talents and vison of people in this industry. “We haven’t been in the wedding industry that long,” Stef said, “but we’ve already seen how much of it is honestly a snooze-fest and how quickly people try to shut down anything that doesn’t fit the same old formula. That’s why we’re here. To celebrate the weird, the wild, the ‘wait, is that allowed?’ Yes. It is.”

For readers of Rock n Roll Bride, that message will probably feel familiar. Because this is what alternative weddings are about – not rebelling for the sake of it, but crafting something that actually reflects you. Whether that’s leather jackets, hand-painted banners, or a Slayer t-shirt over your ceremony outfit.

If you would like to donate to their JustGiving page, you can do so here.