Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

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The Inspirations: David McNeil

Kat

April 25, 2012

Wedding photographer David McNeil and I have been friends for a long time, waaaay before I started my blog or he started shooting weddings. We worked together at the shopping channel and having someone, basically alongside me for the whole time I've run my business, has been pretty amazing. We've advised each other (David is notoriously brilliant at advice!) and seen each other grow into our businesses and make a success of our passions. It's been pretty magical really. We've shot together, we've traveled to Vegas together and we've learnt a serious amount of stuff about this crazy little industry of ours together. So, who better to interview this week than the man that I've seen start from diddly squat and grow into his business like a complete and utter pro?
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A 1950s-Inspired Shoot with a Brightly Coloured Modern Twist

Kat

April 25, 2012

1950s wedding inspiration isn't going anywhere, but these days I'm loving seeing shoots that have taken from this era but added a modern twist to it. Whether that be with bright pops of colour, modern accessories or quirky details (aren't the bouquets in the shoot the coolest?!) This shoot organised by The Sugared Saffron Cake Company and certainly landed smack bang in the middle of this new-wave of modern vintage styling. I'm thrilled to share it with you today.
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Find Your Wedding Photographer with Specialens

Kat

April 24, 2012

Struggling to find a wedding photographer? After something very specific that you haven't been able to find? Well give Specialens, a website that specalises in sharing wedding photographers, a try? "We are solely focused on helping brides-to-be find their special wedding photographer in as fun and easy a way as possible." they say. "When we first had the idea of Specialens, the main thing we had in mind was to create a unique approach. We tried to incorporate all the questions and criteria a newlywed couple could possible ask when searching for their wedding photographer."
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Measuring Success & Being Grateful

Kat

April 24, 2012

Last week I was invited back to my University to give a talk on blogging and social media, which I wrote about here. Quite apart from the usual nerves and the unusual emotions of being back there, it started me thinking about success or more-so how one might quantify it. On the way I texted my best friend, who I'd met at Uni, to tell her where I was. "Ahhh how exciting," she replied "How long since we left, 6 years? How the hell did we both end up all successful and stuff?" and so I started writing this article in my head...
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A Colour Pop Bridal Shoot

Kat

April 24, 2012

"Waking up to a dark sky and torrential rain, the day started with two long suffering, bare foot models scampering through puddles and sheltering under crochet blankets", photographer Becky Mitchell wrote. Luckily for all involved the shoot was to be held indoors, in an old school building. The inspiration for this shoot came from wanting to create something simple but delicate, pretty and soft - pastels juxtaposed with a bold and bright and neon edge.
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A Picnic Wedding: Alex & Denise

Kat

April 23, 2012

The inspiration for Alex & Denise's Brighton wedding was for it to be "just like a big picnic". They used local suppliers (including the caterers who used local produce and supplied locally produced champagne) where possible and DIY'ed the rest! "Our inspiration was for it to be like a big picnic - although without having to sit on the floor!" Denise told me. "I found mini picnic baskets that were used as the centrepiece on each table. These were filled with chutney, pickles and breadsticks. We wanted the wedding to be really relaxed – I've always disliked formal situations. I also wanted there to be lots of colour. For the meal we had a blanket set up on the floor for any children that got bored of the adults. We also did a play area with a wigwam, dress up box and colouring books. Although on the day they mainly opted for running around the field like lunatics."
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Wedding Planning Advice

Buying a Vintage Wedding Dress: Everything You Need to Know

Guest Contributor

Sarah Brookes

June 2, 2025

If you’ve always dreamed of wearing a vintage wedding dress, you’re not alone. Vintage has always been a popular choice for alternative brides, but it's a growing trend in the more mainstream wedding industry again too. Nearlyweds wanting to make more sustainable, eco-friendly choices are increasing looking at vintage gowns. And when Alex Cooper, of the Call Her Daddy podcast, chose some vintage pieces for some of her recent wedding looks, it only further highlighted this as a trend for Gen-Z brides. 
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Bouquet on a Budget: How To Have Beautiful Budget-Friendly Wedding Flowers Without Sacrificing Style

Kat

Dionne Kraus

May 26, 2025

The cost of flowers has risen significantly since the pandemic. Many growers went out of business, and those that stayed had to rethink their operation - cutting production and wastage to maintain sustainability. There has also been a push for eco-friendly practices, which means investing in new technology. Factor in rising wages, transport costs, Brexit-related border checks, and soaring business expenses for growers and florists alike, and you’ve got some seriously pricey stems.
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Just F**king Say It: 5 Controversial Opinions for an Unforgettable Wedding Speech

Guest Contributor

Mary Costa

May 22, 2025

If your wedding speech sounds like it was written by ChatGPT on a caffeine crash, you’re doing it wrong. This isn’t the time for safe, sweet, and forgettable. It’s your one chance to light up the room, speak from your heart, and maybe even make your grandmother blush a little. If you’re going to speak at your wedding (and I think you absolutely should), now’s your time to just f**king say it. Here are five controversial (but genius) techniques from speech coach Susie Ashfield on how to ditch the fluff and deliver a wedding speech people will actually remember.
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Alternative Lingerie Options for the Unconventional Nearlywed

Guest Contributor

The Sugarcoated Company

May 21, 2025

When you think of "bridal lingerie", what comes to mind? Ivory lace? Strapless bras? Shapewear that flattens more than it flatters? Yeah… same. But if you're here, reading Rock n Roll Bride, chances are you’re not looking for “tradition” wrapped in tissue paper. You’re planning a wedding that’s unapologetically you. Which means your lingerie shouldn't be some beige afterthought, it should be part of the fantasy.
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Feminism, Equality & The Meaning of Your Wedding Flowers

Rachel Darwin

Erica Whiting

May 20, 2025

Do you ever play the people-watching game in big train stations? As somebody who first met my now-husband under the clock at Waterloo, I love giving back-stories to strangers as I wait. My favourite time to do it is when I spot somebody carrying a bunch of flowers. I wonder if those ranunculi mean “congrats on the new job”, or if those red roses mean “I’m sorry for being a prick”. Whatever the meaning, when it comes to flowers, there is always a message being sent. And, sometimes, there is even a whole secret language in bloom. So, why not use your flowers to help send the messages you want to on your wedding day?
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Las Vegas Weddings

Vintage Pop Punk with a Hint of Viking

Kat

Elope in Las Vegas

January 17, 2025

Grace and Kurt’s story began when they met as 12 year olds, but life took them in different directions until they reconnected at 25. When it came to planning their wedding, they opted for an unconventional approach that reflected their love of pop punk... with a hint of viking! They eloped in Las Vegas and hired Elope in Las Vegas who handled everything from the photographer, the planning, hair & make-up and the ceremony.
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Tattooed Weddings

Fantasy Themed Bilingual Welsh Wedding

Kat

Leesha Williams Photo + Film

May 30, 2025

As a gay, non-gender conforming couple, tradition wasn’t something AJ and Ryan felt obligated to follow. That freedom shaped every part of their day into something intimate and imaginative. "We had no expectations on us so we could make it our own, start our own traditions", they wrote. "We skipped pretty much all of the normal wedding traditions bar not seeing each other the night before the wedding. We kept that one for the excitement and to give each other space to decompress after the hectic build up."
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Love Letters in the Woods: A Festival-Inspired Forest Wedding

Kat

Marta Ramazzotto

May 15, 2025

Elizabeth and Daniele chose Taipana, Italy, as the backdrop for their summer wedding. Surrounded by trees and wild greenery, they wanted a day that felt both relaxed and personal, blending rustic charm with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. They filled the space with fairy lights and and custom touches that reflected their personalities, leaning into their love for live music and nature. “We wanted it to feel like a festival, with a bit of edge,” Elizabeth explained. “Something that felt truly like us."
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Gothic Weddings

Photo Shoots

Dreamscape: A Floral Daydream in a 300-Year-Old Country House

Kat

Kirsty Mackenzie

May 12, 2025

Dating back to 1724, Crowcombe Court is a stunning example of English Regional Baroque architecture nestled in the heart of Somerset. Home to the Carew family for generations, the house remained in their care until the 1960s. Since then, it has been lovingly restored to its former grandeur and now serves as a breathtaking exclusive-use wedding venue, proudly owned by The Gilchrist Collection.
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Luxury Vampire Themed Inclusive Wedding Shoot

Kat

The Rose Reflective

December 11, 2024

I recently saw a Thread where the poster pointed out that luxury wedding workshop shoots often exclude marginalised couples or those with tattoos, piercings, or other alternative styles. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how accurate that is! As you know, I’m all about celebrating alternative shoots and weddings (obviously!), but just because someone doesn’t appear to be straight, white, or fit a certain body ideal doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in the luxury end of the wedding market.
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Bet on Love: A Gender Non-Confirming Wedding Fashion Shoot

Kat

Jamie Y

November 14, 2024

Issue 58 was dedicated to EXPRESSING YOURSELF and doubling down on who you are for your wedding. So, we thought a shoot showing some gender nonconforming attire options was the perfect choice. Shot in Las Vegas in collaboration with That Chapel Downtown and P3 Events, our model Zara embraced both their masculine and feminine sides to create a shoot that contrasts the two and looked absolutely incredible in both!
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