Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

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A Black & White Checked Couture Gown

Kat

April 29, 2011

There were two things that I loved as soon as I saw this shoot - the model's gorgeous red hair and that dress! Very Vivienne Westwood inspired on both counts...and we all know how much I adore a bit of Vivienne. The shoot was set up to promote dress designer Nicki Hill's new range of bridal gowns. Based in Southampton UK, Nicki is famed her stunning couture gowns. Dresses like this one are made to order and created in her own studio.
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Thursday Treats – 28th April 2010

Kat

April 28, 2011

Happy Thursday people! First off I have to give a huge shout out of love to everyone for your excitement and support over the Jasmine Star London workshop. I am thrilled at the response and so inspired by you all to get stuck into even more organising. This is going to ROCK! Secondly, I have a bit more news. Mark Niemierko, wedding planner to the stars, has asked me to attend his first Mark Niemierko Academy, a training course for wedding planners being held in The Dorchester in May (more info here). I'll be guest speaking about blogs, getting your work featured and doing things your own way! I'm honoured to have been asked and I'm looking forward to being able to share some of the knowledge and insider info that I've gained over the past 3 or so years
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Kei & Wilson’s Three-Day ‘Camp Kasal’ Island Wedding

Kat

April 28, 2011

Kei & Wilson three-day wedding which they affectionately dubbed 'CAMP KASAL' (Kasal is the Filipino word for wedding.) On the first day the couple welcomed their guests, who all stayed over at their venue, and they had an intimate "Welcome to Negros" (Welcome to the Island) evening dinner. They served local delicacies such as batchoy (noodles), inasal (grilled chicken), kadios (A local stew) and apan apan (sauteed leaves). The wedding ceremony took place the following morning and was followed by a tree planting, a traditional breakfast and fun activities. At lunch the guests were treated to a "Boodle Fight" (a military style of eating where guests sit on long tables and the food is served on top of the banana leaves) lunch roasted pig, grilled fresh fish, steamed veggies and ensalada (salad with tomatoes and salted eggs).
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A Super Cool Britanna Shoot

Kat

April 28, 2011

So the big day is tomorrow. As I've said previously, I'm not doing a huge homage to the royal wedding on the blog (there's enough royal wedding fever elsewhere thank you very much!) however this shoot, inspired by the event, really caught my eye this week. I love it for it's slight sex pistols/1970's punk edge.Cool Britannia indeed! The shoot took place in Regent's Park, London last week. Bride Noelle hand made her vintage-inspired floaty dress. "We decided to do this cherish the dress shoot with a Great British theme, just in time to celebrate the royal wedding," photographer Rebecca told me. "We also tied in a fairytale them as the royal wedding is set to be a true British fairytale. Noelle also brought along her pet Pug percy for the shoot, who was just adorable and loved rolling around on the British flag."
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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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