Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

Kat

The Bridal Shop Experience & How to Come Out Alive…

Kat

June 18, 2012

I was blown away by the response to the article I published on Weight Loss and Weddings a few weeks ago. Thank you to every single one of you who was brave enough to leave a comment sharing your own experiences. Even though the post has been up for a little while the tweets, emails and blog comments are still pouring in for it. I never really know how topics like that will go down so it means a lot that you guys put yourselves out there like that. You are all so amazing. There was one resounding message that came from the comments, and one I didn't anticipate. It was your concerns or bad experiences with bridal shops and your worries with finding a wedding dress you loved (and that fitted/complimented your figure/make you look beautiful). The crazy thing was that these concerns were not even limited to those of you who identified yourselves as overweight. It seemed that nearly all of you, no matter what your shape or size, had concerns or stories to tell about the dreaded bridal shop experience.
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A Boho & Rock n Roll Fusion Wedding: Ioan & Anona

Kat

June 18, 2012

The Welsh wedding of Ioan & Anona was planned with everyone in mind - themselves, their friends and their families. It was important to them that their wedding would be an enjoyable day for everyone in attendance. "On one hand we wanted quite a traditional wedding that would keep the parents happy but also one that both our friends and ourselves would feel bore our own individual stamp," the groom told me. "I play guitar in a hardcore punk / rock band and am obsessed with old 70s riff heavy rock and classic album art so I was really keen to ramp up those kind of aesthetics. Anona’s mother was quite keen on a 'spring flower' theme and whilst initially I worried those two influences would clash spectacularly I think in the end it all came together and balanced each other nicely."
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A DIY Vineyard Wedding: Christopher & Kerrie

Kat

June 16, 2012

For their vineyard wedding, Christopher & Kerrie wanted something kitsch, warm and welcoming but without being restricted by a particular theme. "We put in all the elements that were 'us' that blended well and looked good together", the bride told me. "I would say our wedding theme, if anything, was 'uniquely us'. We are young romantics, whimsical, mismatched and a bit scruffy, we are lazy Sunday afternoon tea on a patchwork quilt in the sun and piece of cake to take home with you."
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Personal Posts – How Much Is Too Much?: A Guest Post by Sara Doron of Under the Vintage Veil

Kat

June 15, 2012

Hello, my name is Sara (that's me on the right) and I’m a share-a-holic. Confused? Let me explain. I’d say the majority of wedding businesses have blogs – and as wonderful an engagement tool as they can be, they can also be a little bit dangerous – and I’ll explain why. Let me preface this by saying that, as a blogger, I am a strong believer in sharing parts of your personality, your quirks, your likes and dislikes and your major life events with your readers. Being a human being is what distinguishes a blogger from a magazine. Unlike with a magazine, where readers buy a copy once a month, but are outsiders looking in on an experience, with a blog, people get to know you, follow your journey and interact with you, even come to care about you.
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Thursday Treats: 14th June 2012 – Pleeeease Vote for me?!

Kat

June 14, 2012

I'm not one to beg but... Who am I kidding? Yes I am! But why the begging today you ask? Well last week I had a rather exciting letter through my door informing me that I'd be nominated for a Perfect Wedding Award! Now I know awards are not the be all and end all... but hell, I'm not gonna lie, I really want a shiny trophy to put on my mantelpiece! To vote for me and a plethora of other UK suppliers in the awards, simply click the button below. Voting is opening until 6th August 2012 and the winners will be announced in the magazine out on 5th September... Plus there's even a fancy awards dinner...and I like dinner...and awards... (OK promise I'll shut up now!)
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Pastel Colours for a 1950s Inspired Wedding: Emily & James

Kat

June 14, 2012

As soon as I laid eyes on Emily's incredible silver embellished 1950s inspired wedding dress I was smitten. What an utterly gorgeous bride and a completely beautiful wedding. I couldn't wait to get it on these digital pages of mine! The couple were married at Edes House, Chichester and had their reception at the groom's father's house in Bosham. "We wanted our wedding day to completely reflect James and I", Emily told me. "This was something we kept in mind during the whole process, as I think it is easy to lose sight of what and who weddings are for, when you are surrounded by so many people in the wedding industry telling you that you absolutely need this and definitely need that. 
We both adore the 1950s and the pastel shades, and I really feel like these things were very present in the whole day. We also chose from the beginning which things would be the most important to us - these ended up being the food/drink for James and the flowers for me. We chose a catering company who were very local and produced the most delicious food. We hand picked each of the types of alcohol we chose, with Arundel Ales coming from Sussex and the cider coming from Appledram which is just around the corner from the reception."
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A Quintessentially British Wedding on the Queen’s Birthday: Jess & Dan

Kat

June 14, 2012

Jess & Dan's wedding was quintessentially British with the theme carrying through from the attire to the cake to the DIY reception decor. Why the theme you ask? Well the wedding was held on the weekend of the Queen's birthday! The couple were married at Edes House, Sussex and had two reception venues, both of which were within the grounds of Chichester Cathedral. Their afternoon wedding breakfast was held at Vicars Hall and the evening party was at George Bell House.
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The Inspirations: Ruth Crilly of A Model Recommends

Kat

June 13, 2012

Ruth Crilly was always a model I was aware of. With her trademark teeth and her ridiculously luscious blonde hair, I'd seen and admired her on billboards and in magazines for a long time. I'd even watched her early foray into modelling on the Channel 4 series This Model life (which, if you're in the UK you can see watch on 4OD). So you can imagine my surprise when, at a cover shoot for Wedding Magazine last year, I walked in to see Ruth getting made up! I'm not going to lie, I was slightly intimidated to meet her but I need not have been. She's a truly LOVELY person as well (gaah don't you just hate that!?)
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Button Moon, Moomins, Rainbow Petticoats and a Wedding in a Cave: Caroline & Johnny

Kat

June 12, 2012

When wedding photographer Sassy of Assassynation told me she'd booked a wedding through a feature on my site last year I was super thrilled. However my excitement was pretty much quadrupled when she them told me the bride was wearing a short dress... with a rainbow petticoat... with glittery turquoise leopard print wedges and ankle socks... oh yes and that they were getting married in a cave. I think died and went to wedding heaven right about then. Caroline & Johnny were married on a Monday, on the 14th May this year. The ceremony was small - just the two of them, the celebrant and Sassy and her husband Ian, who not only photographed the event but acted as witnesses. The ceremony was at Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall. "One fabulously weather proof venue!" the bride laughed. "Subterranean lake, 500 candles and really dangerous steps for the clumsiest bride. What could possibly go wrong?"
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Marketing Your Wedding Business & How to Avoid Being a Spammer

Kat

June 12, 2012

It's difficult this self-promotion thing. On one hand you want to scream and shout about your latest venture, and on the other you're slightly paranoid and embarrassed about the whole ordeal (how frightfully British!) It's a fine line between forging a successful marketing campaign and coming across as an annoying spammer, and so today, dear reader, I thought I'd compile a few tips that I've picked up over the past few years. Of course this isn't a finite list, it is merely a collection of musings I've gathered together after being at the receiving end of one too many terrible marketing campaigns.
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Rock and Roll Americana & Kitsch: Jennifer & Ryan

Kat

June 12, 2012

On a warm day in March, Jennifer & Ryan married in an Americana inspired wedding. "We have always had a bit of an obsession with America," the bride told me. "It all started after we first visited New York together five years ago and fell hard-and-fast in love with the people, the shopping, the bars, and the food (hello blueberry pancake stacks!) We had originally planned to get married in New York, but when we found out that not all of our guests would be able to make it across the pond we decided to bring a slice of New York to the wedding!"
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