A Nature-Loving Palm Springs Wedding: Kelly & Ken

Kat

July 2, 2012

Ahh Palm Springs... one day I will be in you. But for now, I'll have to make do with lusting over Kelly & Ken's incredible wedding. Is everyone in Palm Springs as effortlessly cool as these two? The wedding was held on the Bob Melk Estate, a privately owned home. "Ken and I met and bonded because of music", Kelly told me. "We fell in love through creating music together, so it’s a huge part of our whole story. One of our favorite songs 'Albatross' by Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. It has followed us through our courtship and became our processional song."

A Crazy Carnival Wedding: Dustin & Tara

Kat

July 2, 2012

Well who doesn't love a carnival? Exactly... no one. Hence why I'm super excited to share Dustin & Tara's epic adaption of a traditional carnival theme into a totally non-traditional wedding. The couple were married at home. They transformed their own backyard into the perfect carnival setting. They had a kissing booth 'altar', a bouncy castle for the kids (and big kids), a bell ringer, a snow cone machine, a popcorn machine and a photo booth! There was a paddling pool filled with rubber ducks and big carnival-style posters for everyone to take home with them. Carnival-style round lights were strung all around the garden and big wooden picnic benches, bales of hay and over 200 balloons decorated the space. They served old fashioned sodas and grilled hot dogs with tons of beer and cocktails. Even most of the guests dressed up to fit in with the theme. "We had a lion, a lion tamer, a ring master, someone on stilts and a ton of top hats and mustaches", Tara explained.

A Music Themed Wedding : Lucy & Allan

Kat

July 2, 2012

Lucy & Allen met in their teens (Lucy was 15 and Allen was 16) and although it took them 10 whole years to finally admit that they liked each other, they had no doubts when it came to getting married. "Al was so nervous on the wedding day that the venue opened the bar early and gave him a shot of vodka!" Lucy laughed. "I was the total opposite. I had no doubts, jitters or cold feet, I just wanted to be Mrs King."

A Sunday Kind of Love: I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

Kat

July 1, 2012

On Thursday Gareth & I packed up our bags and heading northward to the West Midlands for our next School of Rock Blogging workshop. It's the forth one we've done together but it doesn't get any easier. I'm still an annoying nervous wreck in the morning "Gaaareth have you got the cables? Did you save the slideshow? Is there petrol in the car? Oh hurry up we're gonna be laaaaaate!" I don't know how he copes with me actually!

A Desert Engagement Shoot: Lindsay & Mike

Kat

June 30, 2012

This week I instagrammed (is that a word now?) that I was missing the desert... and jeez, Lindsay & Mike's engagement session isn't helping me much.

A Laidback Backyard Wedding: Jeremy & Laura

Kat

June 29, 2012

Oh Jeremy & Laura how the hell did you get so awesome? I'd like to bottle some of it up and sell it... Backyard weddings always get me excited. Not only is having a wedding at home a lovely symbol of starting your married life at a place that really means something to you, but it also means you don't have to drop £10,000 to hire an empty space.

A Boxing Engagement: Jmie & KC

Kat

June 29, 2012

I have another amazing engagement shoot from Rex of WeDoItForLove for you this morning. I've said it before and I'll say it again - no-one does engagement shoots like those Filipino wedding photographers! Jmie & KC love contact sports, particularly boxing, so theming their shoot around this was a really fun way for them to celebrate their engagement. "People usually choose themes where they will look really beautiful", Rex told me. "So it was really awesome that they chose a theme that's was a bit gritty and less beautiful. It also didn't need so much styling as they already owned all the kit. The shoot was devised around the 'actions' which made it really fun to do."

Thursday Treats: 28th June 2012

Kat

June 28, 2012

Welcome to that time of week again! As you read this I'll be mid-flow talking all things blog at my School of Rock blogging workshop in Birmingham. I'm seriously excited about this one as a few familiar faces have booked onto it (OK I'm lying... exchange the word 'excited' with 'nervous' and you're getting closer). I'm sure once I get going it will all be OK though... eeeek! If you're interested in attending one of my workshops, keep those eyes peeled, as I'll be announcing the next location and date on Monday 9th July. This event sold out in just 8 hours (OMG!) so you'll have to be speedy if you want to come on the next one.

Pin Wheels, Paper Flags, Tattoos & Love: Christina & Paul

Kat

June 28, 2012

now. I've tried to quit it but then he keeps luring me back with emails like "Heygirl, you're gonna LOVE this wedding!" and then I'm right back again...all smitten and stuff. That's exactly what happened when I saw Christina & Paul's epic wedding. I've died and gone to Rock n Roll wedding heaven.

A Spaghetti Western, Day of the Dead & Frida Kahlo Inspired Wedding: Jess & Martin

Kat

June 28, 2012

Jess & Martin's quirky wedding fills my heart with glee. It seems that these days, it's not the wedding details I'm falling in love with (although seeing the pretty/cute/alternative/awesome ideas that people come up with is ace) but the people behind them. How can you not fall in love with these two? "We wanted a relaxed, quirky and easy going wedding that was easy for most people to get to, so set it close to where we lived in Stoke Newington", Jess told me. "We love the funky yet friendly atmosphere of this area and are passionate about where we live."

A Quirky New South Wales Wedding: Nat & Michael

Kat

June 27, 2012

The New South Wales wedding of Nat & Michael was full of quirky touches - starting with the bride's awesome pink & blue locks and 1930s wedding dress of course! "We really wanted to keep our wedding cool, calm and casual without missing out of a bit of glam and class!" the bride told me. "We stuck with the motto 'Our day, our way' and tried to make sure that it was just a bunch of fun for everyone. I was the boss of planning, but that didn't mean that Michael wasn't represented- I've been to plenty of weddings where it feels like the groom didn't get his say and we talked everything over and came to a consensus. Really the whole planning process was a breeze because I stayed really calm about everything and just let things happen naturally. There was only one 'freak out' moment in the whole year and a half we were engaged and that was about the boy's suits, they very nearly ended up without any because we had a hard time finding something that suited everyone. Everything just fell in to place, and I think it was because we didn't get our heart too set on anything and just went with the flow."

The Inspirations: Fur Coat No Knickers

Kat

June 27, 2012

Yesterday Gareth told me that I use too! many! exclamation! marks! He said it's like laughing at your own jokes (well... hell, I think I'm a hoot!) So he's probably not going to enjoy reading this intro because a gazillion exclamation marks are definitely required to convey to you just how much I love the girls I'm interviewing today (!!!!!!!) Laura & Emma run the amazing Fur Coat No Knickers, a vintage wedding dress shop in the heart of London. But this isn't any old vintage shop, oh no, the girls pride themselves in their attention to detail and attentiveness to all their brides. They're well known for how they 'pimp' each of their gowns to make it perfect for the individual girl. Whether it's shortening, nipping, tucking, letting in, letting out or it's adding petticoats, giant bows, straps or applique details... no detail is left out when making sure each and every one of their brides leaves with the wedding dress of their dreams.

Tattoos, Skulls & Baroque n Roll!: Rachael & Aaron

Kat

June 27, 2012

I've been looking forward to seeing and blogging Rachael & Aaron's wedding for so long! So we first met when they came to a party I hosted for my blog readers. We were all nervous (especially me who had 200 people to talk to!) but I loved sharing paint pot cocktails with them and hearing about their wedding plans. Our paths crossed a number of times after that; at wedding fairs, at my blogging workshop and of course on Twitter! Rachael is probably one of my most loyal and awesome twitter followers! We spoke online so much they I really felt like I was a part of their wedding. That's one of the most rewarding things for a wedding blogger like me!

A Handmade Countryside Wedding: Elaine & Drew

Kat

June 26, 2012

The cute countryside retreat of The Barn at Timberlake Farms was the perfect venue for laid back Elaine & Drew. They started their day with a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony and ended with a dance contest! "We wanted to be comfortable, and we wanted our guest to be comfortable too", wrote Elaine. "We tried to do that while still honoring the importance of the day, and the formal nature of the ceremony being performed in the Greek Church. Our aim was to create a picnic-feel, but with tables and chairs. And we weren't afraid to cut the traditional wedding elements like tossing the bouquet or renting a limo. Instead, we held a very serious dance contest complete with engraved trophies. And, we got a free car wash on the way to the reception!"

Why You Should be Selfish

Kat

June 26, 2012

Selfishness is never an attractive quality. Whether it’s a room full of toddlers fighting over the same toy or a friend who dumps you for her new boyfriend, selfishness is repulsive... or is it? Sure, the word selfish has negative connotations, but today I want to encourage you to remember that it's not always a bad thing to look out for number one... and especially so when you're trying to run your own business.

Clockwork Heart & Eyelash Dream: A Victorian Steampunk Shoot

Kat

June 26, 2012

Time travel. Steampunk. Victoriana. Turn of the century industrialism. If you love any of these things then you're going to die over this shoot, sent over from Ireland by the fabulous Chemistry Photography. "We put together this shoot with an amazing crew of 20 creatives including designer Alice Halliday (she's the glowing goddess who designed Florence Welch's infamous cape), Pearl & Godiva (styling genius and vintage hire guru), and rockstar make-up artist Kathryn O'Neill (she rocks the wedding world and all the Irish mags)", photographer Kait told me.

A Humanist Lewes Castle Wedding: Sara & Lucy

Kat

June 25, 2012

Sara & Lucy were married in a humanist ceremony at Lewes Castle, just outside of Brighton (they did the 'legal bit' a few days before in Brighton register office). Both girls wore coloured dresses. Sara found her 50s floral number at Fur Coat No Knickers and Lucy wore a a grey dress from Pretty Eccentric. The low key reception was held at Bill's Cafe, an organic restaurant in Brighton, which didn't need much decorating. However they added a few personal touches with the table names, the bunting and the flowers. "Bill's organised all decor", the girls told me. "They were amazing."

The Name Game: Should you Take your Husband’s Surname When you Marry?

Kat

Jamie Hopper

June 25, 2012

Kathryn Underwood was always last to be called in the school register. I'm not sure why it bothered me so much that I was stuck on the end every time, but it did. I felt like an outsider and I longed to be all snuggy in the middle with the Matthews' and the Smiths' and the Jones'. "It's OK though", I justified to myself, "when I get married I'll never have to be at the end of a register ever again..." And then I married a Williams.

A Sunday Kind of Love: Life is Beautiful

Kat

June 24, 2012

Oh it's all too easy to focus on the bad things that happen to us and ignore (or more likely not notice) all the simple and beautiful things around us. Which is why I'm thrilled that Charis has started a cute new blog to celebrate all things beautiful. I was thrilled when she asked me if I'd like to take part (you can see my entry here) and you can too! "To me, this concept is a simple gallery of positivity". Charis writes. "Life is Beautiful. There is so much beauty in life and so much joy to be had and shared. This blog is just that. A place to share your beautiful life. What makes you smile? What lifts your spirits? What makes you stop and be glad you're alive? Please share you beautiful life with us."

Watch the David Fielden 2013 Collection Catwalk Debut LIVE

Kat

June 23, 2012

Known for his groundbreaking bridal designs and never following the crowd, the amazing David Fielden chooses to forgo the industry pressure to launch his new collections at the London bridal industry show, favouring to do his own epic catwalk show in Milan.