Thursday Treats: Going Skiing… and to The Farm… and Then Back Over to America-land…

Kat

March 7, 2013

I'm heading out tomorrow for a few days, well a week to precise, on a family holiday to the French Alps. And whilst I'm looking forward to unplugging (for the most part), breathing in that fresh mountain air and drinking way to much vino, I do so with a small sense of trepidation. Spending a full seven days in close confines with your entire family (love them as I do) is not something to be entered into lightly. Be sure to follow me on twitter and instagram if obnoxious holiday snaps are your thing or if you want regular updates as to whether we've killed each or not...

Hiking, Tweed & a Roaring Log Fire: Ciaran & Ellen

Kat

Andy Wardle

March 7, 2013

Ciaran & Ellen's wedding was a far removed from a traditional wedding as possible. The bride didn't wear a white dress, she wore a tweed suit; they didn't have bridesmaids or groomsmen, they had their dogs; they didn't have a fancy vintage car, the went for a hike. The ceremony was held at The Woolpack Inn in Cumbria in February and was followed by a low key and intimate meal for their few attendees. A few months later they had a larger gathering in their own back garden for the rest of their friends and family.

It’s Not a Wedding Fair it’s an Eclectic Wedding Extravaganza!

Kat

March 6, 2013

Dear internet, there are a lot of wedding fairs in 2013. A LOT. There's also a rather disproportionate amount of them claiming to be of the 'alternative' persuasion. In fact I don't think I've ever heard a word over-used so much to describe something wedding-related since the dreaded 'vintage' invasion of 2011. Whether this is a good or bad thing is still very much up for debate, but here on this little alternative wedding blog (ahem) I pride myself in only showcasing the very best and most exciting wedding fairs in all the land.

Dear Internet, I am Cranky…

Kat

Made U Look

March 6, 2013

I don't know why... but sometimes you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed you know? So instead of sitting here in a strop, resisting the urge to post passive aggressive tweets all day, I'm going to log off, take Gareth for lunch and blow of some steam. Internet, I love you, but I don't really like you very much today. And by the way, it's not you, it's me...

A Pants Wedding!?!?: Candice & Mark

Kat

Adrian Shields

March 6, 2013

Describing their day to me as a 'pants themed wedding' didn't fill me with the utmost confidence about what Candice & Mark's South African shindig might look like... but I'm pleased to report that my fears were unfounded. Pants themed weddings rock!

Ethical & Fairtrade Wedding Rings from CRED Jewellery

Kat

March 5, 2013

I get a huge number of emails from brides (& grooms!) to be asking my advice on alternative and ethical wedding ring sources. I know a couple of great wedding ring designers, but up until now I've always replied with a bumbling response about etsy and hoped they might find their perfect ring with a hardy search. Until today that is.

Weeklong Scottish Wedding: Bex & Santi

Kat

Claudia Carter

March 5, 2013

With family flying in from England, Thailand and the USA for their Scottish wedding, Bex & Santi really wanted to make their wedding something special. So they started with having a weeklong event, hosted at Crear, a farm house near Tarbert in Argyll. "We actually got married on 20th January but with our families travelling from all over we rented the house for a whole week (18th-24th) and everyone stayed there with us", Bex began. "We wanted to spend as little as possible, which ended up being about £10,000 but that did include the rental of Crear for 19 people for a whole week! I think my amazing mother needs a special mention here as she was 'head of catering' for the entire week at Crear and did all the menu planning and shopping for up to 30 people every day!"

Swedish Pirate Wedding: Gina & Fredrik

Kat

David Schreiner

March 4, 2013

With almost zero budget but a theme they knew through and through Gina & Fredrik had a pirate themed wedding in Sweden. They were married at the Port of Sundsvall (where else?!) and had their reception at their own home. The couple made their own clothes and apart from their wedding photographer David Schreiner, had no other vendors helping them out.

A Fashion-Forward Backyard Wedding with Special Guest Craig David!: Theo & Lisa

Kat

O&C

March 4, 2013

When Theo & Lisa started an online campaign to get Craig David to perform at their August wedding, they never really thought they'd pull it off. But if you don't ask you don't get and all that...and with their help of their YouTube video that went viral, Mr David did in fact show up to the wedding and perform to their astonished guests! "We met in Oceana nightclub", began Theo. "Lisa thought I really had the movement of a dancer! Craig David's music brought us together and having him there at the wedding was literally a dream come true." "Our wedding was inspired by everything we love", continued Lisa. "Music, fashion, friends and family. It really was a giant party. We didn't want anyone to pay for anything apart from their travel there. For us, this was a party to celebrate everything our incredible friends and family have done for us over the years. We had a free bar which was one of the best things we did. The wedding was held in my dad's back garden and we also had a camping village at the bottom of the garden where 90% of our guests camped-including myself and Theo! We sent a 'tent tag' with our invites, and asked everyone to deliver a tent to our house one week before the wedding. We then put them all up so they were ready for everyone when they arrived!"

Kate Winslet, Rock n Roll Bride

Kat

March 3, 2013

The April 2013 Harper's Bazaar cover sure gets my stamp of approval. The subscribers edition is pretty damn rad too.

Indoor Forest Wedding Shoot

Kat

June Cochran

March 2, 2013

Wanting to do something different to the vintage-loving crowd, wedding photographer June Cochran opted to have her latest project shot inside, at night and with a warm cosy vibe. This idea but juxtaposed nicely with bright pops of colour and daring and edgy flower arrangements. "Pretty much every single stylized wedding shoot I've seen is at magic hour, outdoors in a field, and as vintage and pastel as it gets", she writes. "That's beautiful, but I wanted to shake it up and push it out it the box."

Retro Polish Wedding: Iwona & Piotr

Kat

Piotr Spigiel

March 1, 2013

Iwona & Piotr wanted a simple and fuss-free wedding, one that reflected their Polish heritage but also showcased their love for all things retro. The day had a lot of DIY elements, from the brides dress to her brooch bouquet and the majority of the reception details. "We wanted a simple wedding", wrote Iwona. "We love Rock n Roll and retro styles and we both have very old souls and like the old minimalist styles. Our colours were cobalt, black and white and we kept things simple. We also DIYed a lot."

Business Bites: Taking an Interlude…

Kat

March 1, 2013

Here are this week's links to keep you learning. Have you read anything great in the past seven days? I'd love for you to share your links in the comments (or hit me up on twitter). I'm actually taking a two week hiatus from Business Bites after this post because I'm off up a mountain with my family (Lord, give me strength). But I'll be back and fit to bursting with new goodies nearer the end of the month. I am genuinely looking forward to a proper holiday though (i.e. one that's not coupled with a work trip as well) and I'm sure I'll be raring to go as soon as I get back.

Gypsy Village Gathering Wedding: Ben & Serina

Kat

Lakshal Perera

March 1, 2013

Blessed with a balmy night, great music and guests willing to get into the spirit of the theme, Ben & Serina had a wedding that that they described as a 'gypsy village gathering' in Panton Hill Winery, Australia. "Our guests thought they were transported to another place and time", wrote the bride. "There was no stress and our wedding photographer Lucky captured the feel of the day perfectly."

Thursday Treats: Making Friends with Betsy Sue

Kat

February 28, 2013

I'm a slightly bleary headed blogger today after a wedding industry night out in London last night. I have to say, when I arrived at the venue as saw the above entrance sign, I was slightly concerned about what I'd signed myself up for. But I'm pleased to report that much fun was had, gossip was...er gossiped and cocktails were consumed in copious amounts. Just a little FYI, a Betsy Sue is both delicious and deadly in equal measures.

Rustic Californian Ranch Wedding: Heidi & Nathan

Kat

Made You Look Studio

February 28, 2013

I know having favourites is bad... especially in my game... but, honestly, if I was held at gun point and asking to choose, I might be swayed towards Made U Look Photography. They are, without a doubt, some of the sweetest and most talented babes about. I love them endlessly and their photography fills my heart with joy. So obviously getting a submission from Christina, Alie & Marielle is a red letter day in my book. I feel like all my Christmases have come at once when I first clap eyes on stunning wedding images like this:

Rainbow Country Fête Wedding with 1950s Touches: Steph & Dale

Kat

Rhapsody Road

February 27, 2013

A colourful country fête wedding with a 1950s flair? What's not to love in Steph & Dale's wedding?! The day took place in Essex, kicking off at St Giles Church with the reception at Pledgdon Barn. This wedding was a real DIY love affair and a project of passion. The couple made as much as possible including (deep breath) the bunting (both triangle and heart shaped), their stationery and all the paper goods, cocktail stirrers from laser cut card, the cake flags, the acrylic cake toppers, the wooden signs, the blackboards, the paper hearts for decorating the tables, the bridesmaids earrings, the buttonholes, the bow ties for their dogs and the cupcakes!

Budget Bohemian Wedding in Ireland: Rebeka & Gerard

Kat

Pawel Bebenca

February 27, 2013

Stress-Free Wedding Planning with Appy Couple

Kat

February 26, 2013

Wedding apps are a funny breed. We waited for years for someone to create a decent one, while small (and usually slightly buggy) ones hit the app stores in drips and drabs. But they all seemed to result in the same thing - system crashes and loud sighs of disappointment. Surely, having a space on your phone to plan your wedding, save your inspiration, keep tabs on your guest list and track your expenses couldn't be that hard to create, right!? Oh and we'd like it to be intuitive to use and to be gorgeously designed too please.

Ten Secrets for Hyper Successful Blog Advertising

Kat

Lisa Jane

February 26, 2013

Advertising on blogs, specifically wedding blogs, is still quite a new and therefore alien concept to many businesses. Not a lot of people really understand it and simply think that flinging an advert or sponsored post up on a wedding blog will instantly conjure a sparkly magic wand that will send a squillion enquiries their way. I'm sorry to burst that bubble, but it doesn't really work like that. You have to know what you're doing, you have to have a strategy in place and you have to work and rework at it to keep your marketing campaign effective.