Undercover Bride: The Wedding Dress Boutique

Kat

April 16, 2012

So Roo and I came up with a new blog series idea...she's going undercover. Many wedding blogs who review the places they visit only write about the good stuff - the glittering service, the elegant decor and the impeccable attention to detail...but you know we're not like other wedding blogs. Sure, when the service is good we'll be telling you about it, but similarly when it's shocking, we ain't holding back! And judging by Roo's experience on her first assignment it's going to be a very interesting series indeed!

Desperate Housewife: A Personal Project by Joanna Brown

Kat

April 16, 2012

I love wedding photographer Joanna Brown. LOVE. I'm always blown away by the weddings she submits to me, and I'm thrilled to feature her work on these pages whenever I can. So imagine by unadulterated joy when she asked me if I'd be willing to model for a personal project she was working on.

A Sunday Kind of Love: Anastasia Radevich’s Lost Civilizations Shoe Collection

Kat

April 15, 2012

If you're a shoe fetishist like me then you're about to die over what I have to show you. Did you ever think an underwater world could be resurrected into shoe-form? Well, behold - the Lost Civilizations Shoe Collection from Anastasia Radevich.

DIY Tutorial: Twine Wrapped Letters

Kat

April 14, 2012

Hi there fellow RocknRollers! Some of you may already know me from www.cabinetsofcuriosity.co.uk but for those that don't, I thought I'd share some pearls of wisdom with you. My name is Holly and my business Cabinets of Curiosity which specialises in eclectic, event styling including handmade stationery & decorations. Kat featured my own wedding which took place last October and there were a lot of people asking about the twine wrapped letters on my guest book table. So, I thought I'd make a little tutorial for those of you out there who would like to have a go! If you would like some initials or lettering for your big day but don't have the creative fingers, please email my site with your requirements! Big thanks to Kat and thanks for looking!

An Adventure Shoot: Kirsta & Alec

Kat

April 13, 2012

The eagle-eyed amongst you might recognise Kirsta & Alec from their amazing Mexican Art wedding that I featured in February. Well they're back, today with their amazing post-wedding shoot...and Krista has new (omgsoawesome) pale blue/grey hair!

How to Write a Press Release That Will Actually Get You Featured: A Guest Post by Debbie Carlisle

Kat

April 13, 2012

Before I entered the heady world of the wedding industry I worked for nearly two decades (gulp) as a journalist. I worked as a reporter and then news editor on regional weekly and daily newspapers and also wrote health and beauty features for a glossy magazine – all of which means I have spent a frightening proportion of my life reading press releases. Press releases are a great way of sending information and news about your company, product or service to journalists and bloggers quickly and easily. While it is no substitute for face-to-face meetings, a well-written press release backed up by strong images is a godsend to busy journalists who don’t have time for countless meetings and networking events and can just cut and paste your copy into a last-minute gap on a page. On the other hand, a poorly-written or presented press release can do more damage than good, leaving the recipient tearing their hair out, reaching for the delete button or, in the very worst cases, blacklisting the sender for being rude and stalker-ish (no really…)

A ‘Circus Freaks’ Styled Shoot

Kat

April 13, 2012

This shoot, arranged by wedding photographer Beth of True Love Photo was originally planned to be shot outside. However due to unforeseen rain (boo) the shoot was moved into a studio. However I have to say I love the results (yey!) and the studio backdrops and lighting add a whole new and slightly mystical dimension to the images.

Thursday Treats: 12th April 2012 – Partying at Choccywoccydoodah & Our 4 Year Marrieversary!

Kat

April 12, 2012

After being really poorly last weekend and spending pretty much all of my birthday and Easter feeling sorry for myself, I was back with a vengeance this week and ready to party! It's been a busy old week in Rock n Roll Bride-land to say the least! Yesterday I went to see the lovely Elbie to get myself re-pinked before heading to the writers and bloggers party hosted by the fabulous Choccywoccydoodah at their brand new central London store.

A DIY & Foodie Wedding: Kathryn & James

Kat

April 12, 2012

Kathryn & James' wedding is one of those beautiful events that just prove to me that the details, the fluff and the stresses of making your wedding 'cool' just don't matter. Simple personal touches, friends, family, laughter and love are what make the world go round - why should it be any different for wedding? I fell in love with this couple as soon as I saw the first photo in their wedding set. The love that oozes from these two is palpable and I'm seriously honoured and thrilled to share that love with you all today.

A Day of the Dead Shoot for Madeleine Bride

Kat

April 12, 2012

I have a feeling this is another one of those bridal shoots that you're going to either love or hate. Me? Well I love it! Pushing the boundaries of bridal fashion and taking influences from things that inspire you outside of the wedding world excites me greatly. It's shoots like this, set up by millinery & headpiece designer Madeleine of Madeleine Bride, that reinvigorate my love of the alternative and remind me that yes, it's not for everyone, but oh boy is it exciting to see something different!

A DIY Church Hall Wedding: Zoe & Richard

Kat

April 11, 2012

Sometimes I see a wedding and I literally can't wait to learn more about it and (hopefully if the photographer and couple agree) write it up to share it with you lot too. Luckily for me, in this instance both parties were more than thrilled to share this wedding with us today, particularly because newlyweds Zoe & Richard found wedding photographer Joanna Millington on this very wedding blog. Hurrah! Their DIY, family-central wedding was held at Christ Church in St Albans. "When we were first engaged I asked Richard if he knew where he wanted to get married," Zoe explained. "He said he didn’t want to get married anywhere but Christ Church St Albans. It was my childhood church on the estate where I grew up and where Richard and I went to school. We knew it wasn’t exactly the idyllic wedding venue – a flat-roofed, slightly tired and drab looking carpeted church with very green curtains – but it was home. We had our reception in the same place. Luckily they had just built a shiny new hall attached to the old church building, which was very handy. No one (apart from us) had to venture out into the rain!"

The Inspirations: Tattooist Mike Harris

Kat

April 11, 2012

I always loved sleeve tattoos on women, so when I finally got up the courage to get one done myself I really did my research to get the very best artist I could. Mike, and the London studio he was working in at the time, was recommended to me by a heavily inked friend when I said I was looking for a cartoony, colourful and fun design - nothing to serious, just like me I guess! After spending 18 hours together I got to know Mike pretty well. I was surprised to find out he was so young but this along made me respect him even more. He is incredibly talented, devoted to his career and seriously inspirational. The perfect candidate for this week's Inspirations interview if you ask me!

The Secret Glamour of Hollywood: A Styled Shoot for Alexandra King’s 2012 Bridal Collection

Kat

April 11, 2012

Secret Hollywood glamour was the inspiration for this shoot, set up to promote the new range of wedding dresses from British designer Alexandra King. "The shoot was originally based on the morning after the Oscars, a hazy, sun kissed feel with the soft prettiness of the dresses against the cold concrete and run down beach," Alexandra told me. "As if an Oscar/wedding party traveled down to the beach in Lost Boys and here was the morning after. The shoot then developed to two more locations. To shoot the look book, we found a village hall which had the perfect school play feel to it with a velvet curtained stage and lighting that gave the models the appearance of being a puppet show.The abandoned 1960s caravan images gave a trashy contrast against the dresses again and I love the way some of the images have a romantic gypsy feel to them."

WIN One of Five Free Trash the Dress Bridal Shoots with Photographic Blonde

Kat

Photographic Blonde

April 10, 2012

Don't worry you don't literally have to trash your dress (well unless you want to!) to enter this contest with wedding photographer Photographic Blonde! Photographer Emily would like the opportunity to shoot some kick ass Rock n Roll Brides and what could be a better way to do that then to ask you lot if you'd like to model for her? Not only will you have a great day but you'll have some really fun and unique photographs to keep forever.

Husband & Wife Teams and How to Make them Work

Kat

April 10, 2012

Last week I revieved the following email from Green Room reader Kristi, "I would love to see a post about husband & wife teams (or working with your spouse/partner etc) but in a super honest way. I feel like all the husband & wife teams out there only talk about the good and not the real challenges. I myself have always hated the phrase 'husband & wife team' because it makes it sound like we were matching jogging suits and finish each other's sentences. When that is totally not us. We are more likely to argue about the shot one of us missed or the one of us choosing to many of our own photos etc. Please can you help?! P.S Viva la Rock n Roll Bride! Well Kristi that's what I'm here for - and we all know I'm going to be as super honest as possible! As one half of an accidental husband & wife team (the initial plan for Rock n Roll Bride was never for us to work together) there have been lot of steep learning curves that we've had to navigate along the way. We've had to make changes to how we live and work, mostly without any forward planning (I'm sure 'proper' business people are shuddering right now) but I do think we somehow have made it work. Like with anything business-related I think it's very easy to look at other husband & wife combos and think they've got it made, when of course, deep down, we all know they're only sharing the good stuff and keeping the real nitty gritty and blazing rows under wraps. It's certainly not all high fives and long lunches in our house, but there are a few conscious decisions and changes that we've made along the way, all of which have made a huge difference to our work/life balance.

An Alabama Cave Wedding: Melissa & Greg

Kat

April 10, 2012

Yes you did read that correctly - Melissa & Greg got married in a cave (and instantly went into my 'coolest ever wedding venue' mental checklist). "Greg and I picked up the love of spelunking (caving) during our 4 ½ year relationship and wanted to show our families what we found so beautiful about underground," Melissa explained when I asked them about their unusual choice. "The ceremony felt very romantic; low lighting, candles everywhere, glowing stalactites and the silhouettes of the people who love us the most. My stepfather Mark became ordained and performed our ceremony. It was very special to have him be such a huge part of my wedding since my father refused to attend for his own personal reasons. One of the more emotional moments of the day was when I danced with my stepfather. I hate crying but there was no holding back my ugly crying face! Greg walked me down the aisle, which was a perfect way to begin our marriage. I was much less nervous than I would have been otherwise. We broke a few traditions that I used to think were important, but now I understand exactly what a wedding is all about; it’s about man and wife and everything else is too insignificant to worry about."

The Five-Year Engagement Save The Date Sweepstakes – WIN $1000 of Amazon Vouchers!

Kat

April 9, 2012

Whenever I blog a wedding, I always ask the couples about their engagement story. I don't always include them in the final posts, but it really helps me get to know the couple and what makes them tick - how they got together, how long they were engaged and how they got from 'will you?' to 'I do'. In fact some of my favourite wedding stories have been those with interesting engagement tales. One of my besties, who was married just last month, was only engaged 3 months (in fact her now-husband did a lot of the planning before he even popped the question!) but at the other end of the scale, Emma & Pete were engaged for 3 years before their surprise wedding last year!

Something Borrowed, Something Roo: Choosing My Bridesmaids

Kat

April 9, 2012

I’ve been thinking it over a lot this past week, and I figure that we know each other pretty well by now. There’ve been ups and downs as far as our wedding journey goes – so far – and you’ve been there through it all. I reckon I’m right in saying that you all know what makes me tick, but I realise that I’ve neglected to tell you about some of those who make me tick. In this instance, I am talking of course about my bridesmaids.

An Alice vs Evil Queen Bridal Fashion Shoot: Beyond Burlesque

Kat

April 9, 2012

This Alice vs evil queen shoot took place on Hampstead Heath in London. The shoot was set up to promote the new collection of wedding dresses by Beyond Burlesque. The collection has a range of both sweet white and ivory gowns as well as more dramatic dark coloured pieces, hence the Alice vs evil queen/good vs evil theme of the shoot.

A Sunday Kind of Love: Eggs, Baby Bunnies & An Ombre Wedding Dress

Kat

April 8, 2012

Well what else could I be loving this Sunday but Easter!? I don't like chocolate at all (I know, I'm a freak) but I do love spending the day with my loved ones and taking some much needed time off work. I couldn't leave you without some Easter inspo pretty though could I!? Today I wanted to share something a little different, Melanie & Michael's sweet Easter inspired shoot that was sent over by wedding photographers Jenn & Derrek of Jennifer Sullivan Photography. If this doesn't get you in the Easter egg munching, baby bunny petting spirit I don't know what will. I hope you all have a fabulous day whatever you're up to.