Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

Books

Chris & Courtenay’s Pirate Ship Wedding

Kat

April 4, 2011

Chris & Courtenay had a "Book Nerd/Steampunk /Pirate/Sci-Fi" themed wedding which was held on The Hawaiian Chieftain, a historical replica of a 1880’s trading ship. "We really wanted the wedding to reflect who we were, and a celebration of what we loved about each other," the couple told me. "We wanted to be able to have a killer party with our closest friends and family and not compromise our tastes and values. Our venue came complete with cannons (which they fired off for us in celebration!) The double edge of this was a headcount of under 40, which was great to us, but some people just assumed they would be invited who were acquaintances and we had to explain this wasn't an everyone in the world kind-of affair." Courtenay wore a custom dress from Dark Garden Corsetry and shoes from Fluevog. "The Dress is a combination of Victorian and Indian influences, made out of silk dupioni in lavender/gold and a wedding sari from an Indian bridal store in Berkeley," the bride continued. "I knew that a dress from a traditional bridal store was never going to feel right. Mostly because of all the beautiful dresses available at those places they were never going to fit my curvy 5’2” short waist-ed frame. Autumn at Dark Garden was able to perfectly capture and create my personality and vision into an awe inspiring corset and bustle skirted wedding dress."
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Michelle & Deborah’s Romantic Parisian Themed Wedding

Kat

April 1, 2011

Michelle & Deborah's touching ceremony was one of the main reasons I wanted to share their wedding with you all today. Quite apart from all the beautiful and individual details the couple put into their day, the readings and poems that they selected for their ceremony made this wedding really special and signified their relationship perfectly. They chose Shakespears Sonnet 116, a section from the children's book "I Like You" by Sandol Stoddard and "I carry your heart with me" by E.E Cummings for their vows. Finally in order to include the fight for equality they read the Massachusetts ruling on marriage. They thought it was so simple and basic and spelled out what marriage meant to them in a perfect way. "FROM GOODRIDGE V DEPT OF HEALTH (Mass. 2003): Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. Without question, civil marriage enhances the “welfare of the community.” It is a “social institution of the highest importance.” Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family… Because it fulfils yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution, and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life’s momentous acts of self-definition….It is undoubtedly for these concrete reasons, as well as for its intimately personal significance, that civil marriage has long been termed a 'civil right'."
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You Rock My World

Kat

July 19, 2010

Alex & Lisa met 13 years and discovered a mutual love of music, books & film "We met nearly 13 years ago and the one thing that brought us together was music. He was wearing a t shirt of my favourite band and I fell for him" Lisa told me. "When we started dating we would wander around London checking out music shops, flicking through CD and vinyl to add to our collections and then head to a local cinema to catch a film. We probably spent more time in the records shops in Soho and a cinema than anywhere else. Many of those films we saw are now our favourite films and we probably know them inside out. I read books like there is no tomorrow and Alex is slowly coming round to that after having spent a lifetime reading comics and graphic novels. I bake cakes every weekend and while I enjoy making them, Alex enjoys eating them so when we are out I always take him to a cake shop so we can have a treat. I am also the official photographer in our relationship and I have the cameras and stacks of photo's to prove it. Alex helped me buy my first SLR and he sat in front of the camera on many occasion to help me with college projects"
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Bibliophile

Kat

June 12, 2010

I usually only put one post up on a Saturday, but I have to admit that I wanted to share this engagement shoot as soon as I could...and plus, the submissions have been coming in at such a rate of knots since I posted my How to... Get Your Wedding Featured on a Blog post (which I'm not complaining about of course!) but I do feel like I have a lot to get through this week! Alister & Rachel are having a gothic & diy wedding on a mountain vineyard in a few weeks. The wedding is sure to be super detail-heavy and I can't wait to share it! However their engagement session was actual quite impromptu. "They wanted a Gothic yet bibliophile theme with a twist for the main part of the shoot, hence the books, vinyl and rug. Then for the rest of it, we simply found some killer locations and let them do their own thing; smiling, laughing, whatever went!" photographer Julian told me.
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Lucky in Love

Kat

May 31, 2010

Erik & Chelsea have a love of antique-y things: of books, of vintage treats and of the 80's! "We set out to showcase Erik's passion for cooking & Chelsea's English degree while creating a stylish, quirky- retro-y look" photographers Leslie & Ryan told me. "I must say we were also lucky enough to have full access to Renaissance Antiques, Chelsea's mother's lovely vintage shop! We found the lovely vintage hats there, the old tattered books, even Erik's ties."
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French Vintage Glam

Kat

April 25, 2010

Rebecca & Michael wanted a French/Hollywood vintage glam style shoot to signify their engagement. They loved the idea of having a whimsical, vintage feel and Rebecca’s inspiration was that she wanted a shoot that really meant a lot to them as a couple. The fascinator she wore belonged to her grandma when she was young for example. "We were able to create some old Hollywood romance in a local cafe" Australian photographer Tenielle told me. "It looksed as if it belonged in the French countryside. The Cafe we shot at was called ‘Cafe Bouquiniste’, and the owner Meredith has a love for Paris, Books and all things French as you can tell."
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On the Southbank

Kat

January 29, 2010

I was lucky enough to feature photographer Jodie Chapman in my Under the Spotlight series this week...and now I'm lucky enough to be the blog that she selected to showcase her newest engagement shoot which took place on the Southbank of the River Thames in London. Jodie knew this shoot would be perfect for Rock n Roll Bride and that I'd go crazy for the old books, the London Underground map, the old telephone boxes (does anyone use telephone boxes anymore?!) and the London buses, as well as the various quintessentially London locations such as The Tate Modern (which, even though it's a horrific 1970's building, she still made look awesome!) Thanks to Jodie for sharing these with us Credit: Jodie Chapman Photographer
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An Extra Special, Stylish & Quirky British Wedding

Kat

December 11, 2009

The UK is seriously on fire this week and I've got another fantastic British wedding so share with you. However this one is extra extra special as Sally & Peter actually found their photographer, Kate, through Rock n Roll Bride! Woo to the Hoo! Kate talked all about Sally & Peter and their wonderfully eclectic day on her own blog: I am in actual love with Sally's purple shrug and woolen gloves. What a ridiculously stylish and wonderfully quirky couple. I love it all! Thanks to Kate for sharing this wedding and I am so happy that in a small way I was a part of it! Credit: Depict Photography
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Lover’s Day Out

Kat

October 24, 2009

The gorgeous and ever lovely Josephine Sicad sent these over to me yesterday telling me the story of the engagement session of Yvon & Moyo. Remember her own engagement session that I featured a while back - Nobody Can Be Uncheered by a Balloon? (her own words) Well this one is just as glorious! The idea was 'A Lover's Day' a day in the life so to speak. I literally drooled as I checked these out. You will too! Thanks to the amazing Josephine for sending these over. It is always a joy to receive a n over excitable email from you! Credit: Josephine Sicad Photography
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I Saw a Shooting Star on my Wedding Night

Kat

October 15, 2009

Do you remember Anna & Ryan's Old Fashioned Love Affair wedding? Well, Mysi & Craig, the photographers of that soiree sent me their very own wedding - they got hitched a few weeks after! Mysi & Craig got married at a lodge in the middle of nowhere, near her parent's house in Illinois. They made a lot of the details - throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the DIY! They created their own programs to look like newspapers and got their invites printed onto handkerchiefs, the design of which was by the amazing etsy artist Heather Jenny.
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Make it Perfect

Kat

October 14, 2009

Isn't this just one gorgeous couple? They seriously should be models methinks! Photographer Amelia travel to Utah to shoot this 'engagement' (the couple are actually already married, but hey why has a fact like that gotta stop you?!) I really do love props like the old books and the suitcases. They can make or break a shoot and these have certainly made it perfect. Thanks to the delightful Amelia for sending these in. Mwah! Credit: Photos By Millie
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The Tiny Bride

Kat

August 30, 2009

I literally adore photographer Sarah Pukin's way of wording these images. I really can not compete. Enjoy this and enjoy these gorgeous images! The Tiny Bride. Once upon a time there was a girl who met a boy. The boy was in a band - when he saw the girl his heart grew and he knew she was the one. The girl gazed up at him and thought “could this be love at first sight?” As the boy came closer the girl reached her hand out - as he grabbed it they both knew that they were soul mates. They fell deeply in love. As time passed the boy and the girl got married and here are a few pages of their story. Thanks Sarah. You rock! Credit: Sarah Pukin Photography
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Love Story

Kat

August 28, 2009

With a wedding that took place in a public library (Boston to be exact) what better than copies of 'Pride & Prejudice'' as favours and a passion in their portraits that could rival the greatest love stories. The backdrop provided almost a gothic feel to the images - the shadows; the low, moody lighting and the colours of the old books - all give such a romantic feel of history and grandeur. Thanks to Lauren for sharing these. Credit: Person + Killian Photography
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Real Rockers

Kat

July 6, 2009

So I was going to wait until tomorrow to share these, but I think I can't actually wait. I received an excitable email from photographer (and sister of Matt, the Groom to be) Joy Wilson, telling me all about how great her bro is (aww) and what talented musicians both he and his fiance Fran are. Fran even wrote a song that was used in the show 'The Biggest Loser' recently (it's shown during the daytime here in the UK and I have to admit to being slightly addicted to it on my days off work!) Thanks Joy!
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