The Eclectic Wedding Extravaganza is the Best Alternative Wedding Show in The UK, Here’s Why…

Kat

Jay Mountford

October 9, 2013

Call me cynical, but these days, I can't seem to move for a new 'alternative' wedding fair. They're cropping up all over the place this year, but there was just one that started it all... In early 2012, Sassy of Assassynation Photography, Jo of The Couture Company and Rawhide Corsets and Vikki of Liliia had a dream. They dreamt of a wedding fair that was truly alternative and one that showcased only the best of the best alt wedding suppliers. They wanted to have a place to host the kinds of suppliers they saw ignored by other, mainstream and vintage, wedding events.

Backyard Rustic Countryside Wedding: Hannah & Craig

Kat

Natalie J Watts

October 9, 2013

After their small legal ceremony at Bletchley Registry Office, Hannah and Craig hosted their wedding in Craig's parent's back garden. They had a blessing followed by a marquee reception. The bride wore two dresses. The first, which she also wore again for dancing at the end of the night, was a bodice and skirt from BHLDN. Her second, more traditional gown was from Trudy Lee

Announcing: The Barn – Online Resources for Wedding Photographers

Kat

October 8, 2013

Back in 2011, acclaimed wedding photographer Lisa Devlin started The Photography Farm. The idea was simple - a residential wedding photography workshop over three days. Included was a spectacular styled shoot, invaluable processing techniques and business school with special industry guest speakers. Since then, the farm has gone from strength to strength and with the edition of Farm Elements, a two-day class travelling the length and breath of the country, it is reaching and teaching more wedding photographers than ever.

Plants and Taxidermy, An Artistic Cape Cod Wedding: Natasha & Jared

Kat

Krista

October 8, 2013

Both artists, Natasha and Jared knew they wanted a creative wedding. The idea or something too themed or matchy-matchy didn't appeal to them at all so they forgot about colour schemes and just included things they really liked!

Honeymoon Travel Guide: Santorini

Kat

Shell De Mar

October 7, 2013

I'm not going to pretend for one second that I'm some kind of expert in the world of travel or honeymoons. BUT you may have noticed that I've done rather a lot of globe-trotting over the past 12 months. And as we're about to launch our 2014 Blogcademy world tour in a couple of weeks it would appear that it's not really going to change any time soon! So I figured, why not share some of the places I've visited and the experiences I've most enjoyed with you lovely lot? First up is a honeymooners paradise - Santorini.

Smoke Bombs, Hippy Buses and Incredible Cornish Views: Antonia & Harvey

Kat

Camera Hannah

October 7, 2013

Antonia and Harvey had a three day wedding at Roskilly's Ice Cream Farm in Cornwall. Their wedding was a true labour of love, with the couple and their friends and family working hard to create the wedding of their dreams. The weekend happened to be the hottest of the year which couldn't have been more perfect for their outdoor, ice cream farm celebration!

Fun and Games DIY Wedding: Amy & Stephen

Kat

Tux and Tales

October 6, 2013

As soon as I saw Amy's amazing fairy princess ball gown wedding dress I knew I wanted to see more of her wedding, but when I found out she and husband Stephen planned the whole thing for just £5000 I knew you'd be dying to see it too! The wedding had a 'fun and games' theme with 80s toys on the tables, an egg and spoon race and the bridesmaids (and bridesman!) carrying giant lollipops instead of bouquets.

Business Bites: Business Plans and Blogger Meets

Kat

October 4, 2013

How am I going to Australia in three weeks?! But more to the point, where the hell is this year going?! So much to do, so little time... Ah sod it, I'm just gonna stop for a while and read some inspirational business articles instead. Who's with me?

Marriage Mantras: It’s Not Always Sunshine & Rainbows

Kat

Devlin Photos

October 4, 2013

Unless your some kinds of freaks of nature, it's unlikely that you and your spouse will agree on everything. Arguments are a fact of life but how you handle them is vital to your continued happiness. One of the things we learnt very quickly was that throwing phrases like "You ALWAYS do this..." or "You NEVER do that..." when having a disagreement not only never resolved anything, but only ended up hurting the other person much more.

Tech and Geek Festival Wedding: Ali & Ben

Kat

Alexa Loy

October 4, 2013

Ali and Ben met while they were both working at PlayStation. This mutual love fro all things techy and geeky was a recurring theme throughout their festival inspired wedding. Instead of using lots of paper they sent out digital invitations and had an online gift list, their seating plan was animated and they had pacman references everywhere. Each tier of their homemade wedding cake was a different PlayStation symbol, and they even the meme style table names!

Thursday Treats: It’s all Going Swimmingly

Kat

October 3, 2013

DIY Rainbow Wedding: Amanda & Andre

Kat

Paul Liebt Paula

October 3, 2013

People who submit me their weddings often describe their wedding themes as 'them' - a collection of things that they love or that they feel represent them as a couple. Amanda and Andre, who were married in Cologne, Germany, were no different. "We had some Rock n Roll, lots of colour and a slight industrial vibe for our wedding", Amanda explained."Our wedding was held in the middle of Cologne central market at 'Alte Versteigerungshalle' which means Old Auction House. It was difficult to find a venue that was outside of the norm. We didn't want a farm, a castle or a hotel. Because of the lack of alternatives we picked somewhere that we could make our own and decorate ourselves."

David’s Bridal Lands in the UK

Kat

October 2, 2013

Over the past few years I've heard hundreds of stories from brides about searching for their dream wedding dress. Some have been fantastic experiences, others not so, but the resounding overall message was that finally finding 'the one' was an amazing feeling. One of the names that seems to pop up again and again with the American brides that I interview is David's Bridal... and today I have some good news - they're coming to the UK!

So, We Got Married… (Again!)

Kat

Devlin Photos

October 2, 2013

One of the questions I get asked over and over again is what Gareth and I would do differently if we were getting married today. Of course my answer is always "so much!" Both of us have changed a considerable amount over the past five and a half years and our style and tastes couldn't be more different to how they were back in 2008.

The Five Biggest Mistakes You’re Making With Your Blog

Kat

Made U Look

October 1, 2013

I look at a lot of blogs. Not only am I a fanatical reader, but though running The Blogcademy I've now critiqued over 300 of them! In class, each attendee receives a report card where we give them some personal feedback on their sites. And after doing so many of them over the past 12 months, I've realised that most of them are making exactly the same mistakes. To ensure that you're not doing the same, here are the five main blunders I see being made over and over again.

Homemade Crumbling Chapel Wedding: Wendy & Alex

Kat

Assassynation

October 1, 2013

When Wendy and Alex started looking for a venue for their July wedding, they were stuck. They wanted somewhere quirky and creative but also somewhere that didn't break the bank. Luckily they stumbled across Asylym Arts in North London, a disused chapel that is now hired out for weddings and events. The space has a crumbling almost derelict vibe which they loved. The dramatic backdrop meant they didn't need to decorate much, so they just added candles, tea lights and simple flower arrangements around the room.

Industrial Warehouse Wedding in Spain: Bego & Sergio

Kat

F2 Studio

September 30, 2013

Bego and Sergio wanted a non-traditional wedding that didn't cost a fortune. They wanted their day to be fun and informal, and for their guests to have a really great time. The venue was a warehouse and they had a subtle theme of electricity and lights with their DIY décor items.

A Rain-Soaked Wedding Festival: Helen & James

Kat

Neil Thomas Douglas

September 30, 2013

Rain on your wedding day is a big worry for a lot of couples, but today I'm here to prove to you that it can actually be pretty amazing! Yes, Helen and James' outdoor festival wedding was a wash-out, but they definitely didn't let it ruin their day. Check out the amazing photographs their photographer Neil Thomas Douglas was able to capture... of course shots like this requires a couple who aren't afraid to get a little wet and muddy, but these guys went all out! They even went out in a boat on the river during the downpour!

Cooking Calamity Engagement Shoot: Shaughnessy & Kyle

Kat

Mary Boyden

September 29, 2013

I wouldn't say I'm a cooking calamity but it's certainly not something I excel at (this coming from the girl who put so much hot sauce on her husband's dinner the other night that he was gulping milk for an hour - ho hum) So I guess you could say that this hilarious engagement shoot set up resonated with me!

Business Bites: Nerd Out!

Kat

September 27, 2013

Oh I do love a good workshop. This week I spent most of my time at the Photography Farm where a bunch of wedding photographers and I spent the whole time getting to know each other and gassing about our favourite topics - weddings, photography and blogging! There really is nothing better than spending time with like-minded nerds. I always leave these kinds of environments feeling super inspired and invigorated push myself and my business to the next level.