“Joyfest 2011” A Weekend-Long Festival Wedding: Jen & Rob

Kat

January 18, 2012

"A weekend of celebration" was how Jen & Rob described their festival wedding to me, and that couldn't have been a more perfect description. Stokes Barn, specialising in self-catering group accommodation, in the Shropshire hills played host. "We knew we wanted something different," explained the bride. "We wanted to celebrate with the special people who enrich our lives and who share and understand our values and beliefs. We had the idea of a festival type celebration where we could create a magical, memorable and warm weekend (whatever the weather!) of celebration, relaxation, much merriment, Peace and Love!"

A DIY Carnival Wedding at Home: Bethany & Eric

Kat

January 18, 2012

Bethany & Eric's carnival-themed wedding was held at their home, Antebellum Farmhouse in Granville, Ohio. "The inspiration for our wedding really started with our pre-civil war home", Bethany told me. "When Eric and I first saw our house with our realtor we both stood on the front porch with tears in our eyes. We had not even walked through the front door but we knew this was our home. Eric looked at me and said 'we could be married here.' He then carried me across the threshold. Sounds like a fairy tale.... But so real." The theme may have started with their home but over time 'a day and night at the fair' became their manifesto. Royal Steamline provided the perfect stationery to fit the idea. "We wanted to create a vintage carnival feeling for all ages of guests to enjoy," the bride continued. "I have an antique and interior design business named after our home, so I incorporated many antique and vintage items, furniture and props to create the scene. I searched auctions and estate sales for real vintage goblets, punch cups and plates for our guests to enjoy. I used vintage furniture outside to create a living room area that was a fabulous photo booth for all of our guests as well as the bridal party."

The Inspirations: Gala Darling

Kat

January 18, 2012

Whenever I'm asked about who my favourite blogger is or where I find my inspiration, Gala Darling's name always comes up. It's hard to explain exactly how I felt when I first discovered her blog, then called iCING, back in 2009 - here was a girl, very much like me (well we both has pink hair and tattoos!) who was making a massive name her herself in the blogging world, but doing it her own way and with such inimitable style and sparkle - something I very much wished I could one day to do too. I was lucky enough to meet Gala when I was in LA in August. I've said it before and I'll say it again, she's just as beautiful and wonderful (OK actually more so) in real life as she is online. I'm thrilled to share this interview with you all today. I hope you find her as inspiring as I do!

A Mendhi Ceremony & A Beautiful DIY Wedding: Jenni & Alex

Kat

January 18, 2012

Jenni & Alex's wedding celebration began with a Mendhi ceremony held at the groom's parents house a few days before the wedding. Their photographers Madlove Photography were there to capture this intimate event as well as their actual wedding, which was held at Rancho Guajome Adobe in Vista, CA in November. "They were such a sweet and fun couple!"explained photographers Mike & Nickie. "Their day was filled with so many beautiful details, many of which were handmade by Jenni. She DIY’ed the boutonnières, table settings, wedding favors and so many of the cute decorations. They were really able to achieve a beautiful, vintage aesthetic for the whole day."

A Heritage & Handmade Australian Wedding: Janelle & Liam

Kat

January 17, 2012

For their December wedding, Janelle & Liam wanted an aspect of heritage and an element of the handmade. They chose Eryldene Historic House and Garden in Gordon (Sydney, Australia) as the place to host their celebration. "Most of our wedding was handmade - assembled and painted by bridal party," the couple explained. "We made our own vintage fabric bunting and table cloths as well as hand made fabric napkins. We sourced over 100 vintage plates from op shops and collected jam jars from family and friends. For favours we had home made seed pouches and home made orange flavoured lolly pops. The seating chart was a window from an old home in Epping and some fence posts. We wrote on the window panes so people knew where to sit."

A Pop of Neon: A 50s Meets 80s Styled Bridal Shoot

Kat

January 17, 2012

When wedding blogger and stylist Sonia of Want that Wedding send me this neon inspiration shoot I fell in love immediately. I'm a bit of a colour fiend (no duh!) and neon is a trend that I'm love love loving on the high street right now. I'm super excited to see it filter down into bridal styling and I'd love to see some real Rock n Roll Brides rocking out this look on their wedding days. What do you think? The shoot took place at the beautiful One Marylebone, London. Their bright white 'galleries' room made the perfect backdrop for the shoot. The white setting really makes the neon accents pop! "The inspiration for this shoot came about during a brainstorming session with Kat Hill of Kat Hill Fotographie," Sonia explained. "We were discussing various themes for a shoot when this idea just suddenly popped out ‘how about a 50s shoot with an 80s twist?’ I’m not even sure who said it first but we both fell in love with the idea."

Why Big Companies Suck at Social Media & How You Can Avoid Doing the Same

Kat

January 17, 2012

Last week I had an email from my Dad asking how many followers on Twitter and 'likes' on Facebook I had. I told him (cos you know, he could have just taken 3 seconds to look himself!) but then asked why he wanted to know. Apparantly the company he works for - don't ask me what they do...it's something to do with software I think - want to increase their social media presence and therefore wanted a benchmark as to what some 'good follower numbers' would be. While flattered, I was confused at what relevance my social networking had to do with a massive multi-national corporation like this - one with hundreds of staff and turning over millions of £/$/€ a year. But then I realised that I shouldn't be so self deprecating and that in all reality, it's the small business that rock at using social media and the big boys that (I'm sorry but generally) suck at it.

A Back to the Future, Harry Potter & Star Wars Themed Nerdy Wedding: Jaclyn & Steven

Kat

January 17, 2012

"My husband and I are such nerds," began Jaclyn's email. "Our inspiration for your wedding came from the things we love which included: Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Star Wars, Disney, a literary theme, a music theme, etc." I loved her instantly! "We had lightsabers, owl and Weasley crown cookies, records everywhere, and my shoes caused people to call me a 'hooker Minnie Mouse' several times," she continued. "We picked the things that were important to us and did them, the rest like having a first dance, a cake cutting, a bouquet toss and garter toss were totally left out because it had no meaning to us. We had no DJ and there wasn’t even a dance floor at our venue. So many people were shocked that there would be no dancing, but at the end of the night not one person complained about it. Everyone was having such a good time they didn’t even notice that so many traditional things were missing. We just wanted to hang out and have fun, and it’s exactly what we did."

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.

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?

Ask an Expert: Flower Power   

Guest Contributor

Dale Weeks

May 14, 2025

Welcome to "Ask an Expert" - your chance to have your wedding planning questions answered by our crack team of wedding pros! Each issue of the magazine will spotlight a different wedding expert, so whatever help you need, email us with the subject line “Ask an Expert,” and your question might be featured in a future edition

How to Shake Up Your Wedding Timeline

Jon Carpenter

The Costa Sisters

May 6, 2025

There’s an age-old playbook for a wedding day: a list of ye olde commandments that must be followed. At Rock n Roll Bride magazine, we are all about throwing the wedding rulebook out the window. Here’s how to do it!

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!

Ziggy Stardust Inspired Vegas Wedding Ideas

Kat

Jamie Y

October 30, 2024

Rock N Romance Elopements is an all-inclusive elopement company based in Las Vegas, founded by iconic Vegas photographer (and one of our favourites - so much so, she shot our latest cover) Jamie Y Photography. They provide everything you need for an elopement, including venue, hair and make-up, florals, and, of course, a photographer. They specialise in small intimate elopements with 0-50 guests so it's perfect if you're traveling to Vegas to get married but you're not sure where to begin.

Alternative Meets 1960s Inspired Vegas Elopement

Kat

Zoe Snooks

October 28, 2024

When Mariela and Mat, who met in 2018 at a tattoo convention, decided to tie the knot, they knew that while they didn't have a particular theme or vison in mind, they wanted something that incorporated their love for the desert, retro decor and tattoos. They found the perfect spot in downtown Las Vegas at the Sure Thing Chapel, featuring an officiant with a twist: Hellvis, the chapel’s resident 'spooky and campy Elvis' evil twin'. Everything else just fell into place after that.

Elder Emo Meets Celtic Las Vegas Wedding

Kat

Sarah Jay

October 16, 2024

Monica and Dominic’s wedding at The Grove in Las Vegas brought a medieval touch to a venue known for its romantic almond orchard. While most couples embrace the venue’s natural elegance, Monica and Dominic transformed the space into a scene filled with gothic magic and Celtic traditions. “We are both ‘Elder Emos,’ and I have an Irish/Celtic background,” Monica told us. “So we wanted something that really reflected our roots and personalities.”

Shotgun Wedding Meets Backyard House Party

Kat

Phoebe C

May 13, 2025

Byron and Rose's wedding was the ultimate blend of laid-back rebellion and deep personal style - think shotgun wedding energy meets backyard house party, with a punk twist. Hosting it at the a family home kept it intimate and unruly in the best way (but did mean it was a lot of work to organise!)

Just the Two of Us (and Hellvis): Vegas Vow Renewal Without the Rules

Kat

The Costa Sisters

May 12, 2025

When they first met at the Brighton Tattoo Convention in 2015, Lauren and Glyn never imagined they’d one day be getting married - for the second time - under neon lights with a rock’n’roll Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas. But to mark five years of marriage, that’s exactly what they did: a vow renewal and the honeymoon they never had, all rolled into one.

Budget Conscious, DIY “Forest Goth” Wedding

Kat

Bellanet

May 8, 2025

Justin and Kelsey didn’t set out to throw a wedding for anyone but themselves. "It’s for us, not them," Kelsey said, and they stuck to that from start to finish. They had a limited budget, so did everything from the cake, flowers, props and decor themselves. "The theme was forest goth... basically using all the decor from our home!"

Colour, Chaos, and Commitment: A Sure Thing Chapel Wedding

Kat

Of Color and Hue

May 7, 2025

Angel and Shane didn’t want a wedding that felt too staged. They wanted a day that made sense for them, built around colour and joy with zero pressure to fit someone else's idea of what a wedding should look like.

Fancy Dress Halloween Wedding with Autumnal Colours

Kat

Raw

March 3, 2025

Shannon and Jennifer’s wedding was an autumnal celebration wrapped in Halloween spirit. They embraced the season’s colours, filled their venue with pumpkins and autumn leaves, and invited guests to lean into the theme by partying in fancy dress.

Setting Intentions and Embracing the Magic: A Candlelit Nighttime Ceremony

Kat

Sofia Katherine

February 25, 2025

Amanda and Cody’s wedding was a night to remember—literally. With a theme built around the deep blue hues of twilight and the glow of candlelight, they designed a ceremony that reflected their love for the beauty of darkness without relying on the usual horror tropes.

Married by Hellvis on Halloween at Sure Thing Chapel

Kat

Petite Cherry Photo

January 31, 2025

Melanie and Daniel got hitched on Halloween at the Sure Thing Chapel in downtown Vegas. The chapel handled everything for them—the officiant, the flowers, and even recommending the photographer—making the whole process completely stress-free, even as Vegas first-timers. They didn’t technically invite any guests; the people who came kind of invited themselves!

Moody November Wedding at a Gothic New York Mansion

Kat

The Cardinals

January 22, 2025

Meghan and Chris’s November wedding was held at a gothic style mansion in the Catskills, New York. They were entranced by the venue, which was filled with rich history, and stunning woods surrounding it. They really tried to make it their own; the first dance, for example, was done behind a curtain with a spotlight so their 75 guests could only see their silhouettes. They also had a tarot card reader as an option for guests who didn't want to dance in the evening.

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!

Ziggy Stardust Inspired Vegas Wedding Ideas

Kat

Jamie Y

October 30, 2024

Rock N Romance Elopements is an all-inclusive elopement company based in Las Vegas, founded by iconic Vegas photographer (and one of our favourites - so much so, she shot our latest cover) Jamie Y Photography. They provide everything you need for an elopement, including venue, hair and make-up, florals, and, of course, a photographer. They specialise in small intimate elopements with 0-50 guests so it's perfect if you're traveling to Vegas to get married but you're not sure where to begin.

Forever Ever: A Colourful & Retro Wedding Shoot at Hotel Clermont, Atlanta

Kat

Ashley White Photos

October 22, 2024

At the heart of Atlanta’s vibrant creative scene, this styled wedding shoot at Hotel Clermont brought together retro flair and boho charm with a fresh, inclusive twist. Originally built in 1924, the hotel’s eclectic yet nostalgic interior was the perfect backdrop for this collaboration between local vendors and visionaries.

She’s Electric: A Pink & Green Bridal Shoot for Rock n Roll Bride Magazine & That Chapel Downtown

Kat

Erin Roberts

September 16, 2024