Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

Short Dress

Retro 1960s Wedding with a Moroccan Vibe: Jo & Aki

Kat

December 5, 2012

Jo, a taxidermist, & Aki, a web designer, were married at Byzantium, a quirky bar and restaurant in Bristol. The Moroccan decor added an interesting touch to the celebration. The room was decorated with Moroccan lanterns, pipe cleaner animal and personalised cocktail stirrers. Some friends made them a guest list tree surrounded by candles and glass beads, flowers and fairy lights. Jo made some taxidermy through her company Death & Glory Taxidermy. "I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by a lot of very talented people", explained the bride. "It’s very easy to get caught up with the idea of doing everything yourself but if you've got people around you that can (and want to) help, then let them! In the end our photographer (Noel was already a professional wedding photographer - handy!), invitation designer, guestbook tree makers, band, 'priest' and florist were all friends. It made the whole day much more personal and special and really helped us get the most out of our budget."
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Rock n Roll Concert Wedding: Jenifer & Chris

Kat

December 3, 2012

Happy Monday y'all! Now I know it's unconventional, but Monday is totally my favourite day of the week. I'm always up early and excited about what the the week might hold. It's kind of like a fresh start every seven days don't you think? Oh what a nerd I am! Well, even if you're not quite as excited about it being Monday as I am, the Rock n Roll stylings of Jenifer & Chris' epic concert wedding are sure to put a big old cheesy grin on your face - it sure did mine!
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Rainbow DIY Wedding in a Vineyard: Brianna & Alex

Kat

November 28, 2012

Oh rainbow weddings, how I adore you. To me, there's nothing more exciting than getting a wedding just like Brianna & Alex's in my inbox on a drizzly November morning. Talk about brightening up my whole week! The outdoor location is like a dream, and one that this gorgeous pair completely decorated themselves. They literally hand made everything - all the decor, the paper flowers and even the bride's and bridesmaid's dresses! Everything just works so well. The wedding was held at Canungra Valley Vineyards in Brisbane, Australia.
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Twisty Tree Roots on the Banks of a River

Kat

November 27, 2012

"This project, the visual telling of love and passion, was inspired by late nights, acoustic guitars, and solo vocalists", writes wedding photographer Kelsea of Simplee Photography. "It is a collection inspired by all the things that I love, things that are beautifully interesting... details stripped down into elements." On the banks of a river, where twisty tree roots meets an Autumnal glow, Kelsea found her perfect location. Wanting to shoot something simple, natural and organic, she selected a vintage dress, feather earrings, masks from Russia and bits and pieces from here, there and everywhere.
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Purple, Dinosaurs & Peacocks: Lauren & Matt

Kat

November 27, 2012

Purple. Dinosaurs. Peacocks... These were the things that inspired Lauren & Matt's October wedding. Although the theme wasn't really intentional, by incorporating the things they just really liked it totally worked! "Our ethos for our wedding was that we were going to what we wanted and not what people expected", wrote Lauren. "We picked and chose aspects of tradition that we liked and binned those we didn't. We had a humanist ceremony which isn't like a registry wedding - it's a lot more personal. We tied a Celtic knot which we practiced loads before hand! My friend did the reading of 'A Lovely Love Story' by Edward Monkton, which is about dinosaurs and dinosaurs are awesome! One of our other close friends gave us the book as an engagement present and we thought it was apt as a reading. We also had a dinosaur cake topper!"
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Comic Book & Superhero Wedding: Holly & Anthony

Kat

November 26, 2012

Happy Monday you lovely little critters - have I got a wedding to start this week off with a bang or what!? Unusually I was actually submitted this wedding by the groom and via twitter because his gorgeous bride, Holly, was nervous about doing so. Er, girl, are you KIDDING me?! I'm dying over your wedding. The comic book, superhero and geek chic radness is just too good. This is one of those weddings that I genuinely wish I'd been invited to!
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Vegan Vintage Sideshow Wedding: Andi & Brian

Kat

November 16, 2012

After four years of dating, Andi & Brian were engaged while on a trip to Australia. Brian proposed while they were visiting Luna Park in Sydney, which is affectionately referred to as the 'Coney Island of Australia'. So when it came to planning their wedding this was their starting point. "We really wanted to have a wedding that was very fun and non-traditional, so we kept with a vintage Coney Island/sideshow theme", explained the bride. "It was perfect for us. Having the right décor was key in making the vintage-y, Coney Island feel that we were hoping to accomplish. We were so lucky to work with great vendors who were excited to help, especially Obnoxious Antiques who we rented the vintage carnival and sideshow pieces from. They also provided the sideshow banners that were hanged throughout the venue. A friend even painted a custom sideshow banner of Brian, me and our dogs!"
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A Very Mod Wedding: Paula & Mark

Kat

November 14, 2012

London. The 1960s. Mod. These were the inspirations for Paula & Mark's big day. The couple met at a rhythm, blues & soul night run by Mark in a bar in Bethnal Green, so the theme was very 'them'. "We bonded over our love of vintage fashion and music", wrote Paula, "I couldn't believe my luck when we were introduced, we hit it off immediately. The bar has changed owners since, but we always smile when we go past it. It holds happy memories of parties and beautiful friends in immaculate vintage fashions dancing to great music and having fun."
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A Musical & Modern Wedding: Katie & Adam

Kat

October 29, 2012

"Without wanting to sound too sucky I've read Rock n Roll Bride for years, even before I was engaged", wrote newly-wed Katie, who married Adam in Leicestershire in September. "I loved looking at the photography and the different styles & ideas out there. So as soon as Adam popped the question I had a great starting point!" The entire wedding had a music theme - from the vinyl motifs, the homemade posters, the guitar pick favours and the concert venue table names, "Music was a really big inspiration for us, from the background music to the first dance & church music", the bride continued. "Everything was carefully planned and picked to fit our theme. The vinyl theme continued all the way from the invites to decorations around the venue."
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Idyllic Camber Sands Beach Wedding: Jo & Rob

Kat

October 26, 2012

Jo & Rob were married at The Gallivant Hotel, an eclectic, shabby chic coastal hideaway. Once a former retro motel on the edge of Camber, the hotel is located right opposite the sand dunes and beach of Camber Sands - what a perfect and idyllic spot to get married! In fact it was even more perfect for this romantic pair because Rob proposed to Jo whilst flying kites on this very beach! "With its beautiful British beach side charm we knew straight away it was the perfect place for us to get married", began Jo.
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A Retro Glastonbury Wedding: Beth & Jonny

Kat

October 22, 2012

Oh Anna Hardy you do have a way with that camera of yours. A way that makes everything dreamy and beautiful and cool all at the same time... although to be fair, I think you had it pretty easy with Beth & Jonny, like, how totally smokin' are these two!? And Beth's second dress by the epic Delphine Manivet is AMAZING. I love me that high collared cape thingy! The wedding took place in Yorkshire in June. They had an informal registry office wedding in the morning with just a handful of their nearest and dearest, then got changed and had a big Glastonbury themed ceremony & reception with all their friends and family. As devoted Glastonbury goers, Beth & Jonny chose the weekend that the festival should have been on this year so that all their future anniversaries can be celebrated there! "Originally we wanted to marry in the woods, and have a tipi reception in a field", began the bride. "This turned out to be seriously and surprisingly expensive, and finding a field for rent in the north of England was pretty much impossible. When we went to see the venue at Broughton Hall it was a miserable day to say the least, but even in the rain, the place looked awesome."
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A Low Key Belfast Wedding & A Bride with Lilac Hair: Terri & Garreth

Kat

October 16, 2012

Ever since working on the Ice Cream Dream shoot, where Elbie wore a lilac wig, I've been a little obsessed with this colour hair. If I was ever in the market for a deviation from pink, it might have to be my next move. Anyway so, as you can imagine, I loved Terri, and her wedding to Garreth, just as soon as I saw it. The day was split into three parts. The first, a ceremony at Belfast City Hall, was followed by lunch at Made In Belfast (who I've featured before - remember?) Then for the afternoon celebration and evening party, the wedding moved to The Secret Garden at Filthy McNasty's.
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An Eclectic Vintage & Bric-a-Brac Wedding: Emalie & Duncan

Kat

October 10, 2012

Getting engaged on the top of Toyko Tower in Japan in 2010, Emalie & Duncan's wedding was never going to be traditional. With a bride rocking mermaid green hair and a groom adding a much needed modern twist to the tweed suit, this couple wanted a wedding that screamed 'them'. A field in Cookhill, Evesham was chosen as the location and the pair were married outside, in front of a homemade giant heart shaped flower wreath.
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A 50s Wedding Inspired by Back to the Future: Laura & Chris

Kat

October 2, 2012

"We've never really been a 'weddingy' kind of couple so after the initial haze of getting engaged and buying all sorts of wedding magazines and stuff, we realised there wasn't a whole lot out there that was really very 'us'," began Laura, who married Chris in August this year. "At one point I'd even considered getting a traditional wedding dress and being a lady for a day but luckily all was saved when we went to see Back to the Future when it was re-released at the cinema. As soon as I saw the dresses at the enchantment under the sea dance, I realised that I knew what I wanted for our wedding."
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A Colourful Country Garden Fete Wedding: Tom & Jenny

Kat

September 27, 2012

The DIY wedding of Tom & Jenny took place in Kent in July. After a church ceremony, their low key reception was held in Tom's parent's back garden. The bride wore a short wedding dress from Yours Truly Bridal Shop in Maidstone which cost her just £180 with a gorgeous headpiece was by a Rock n Roll Bride favourite, Crown & Glory. Alongside her lucky bridesmaids, she wore Vivienne Westwood/Melissa Lady Dragon shoes and instead of bouquets they all carried a single giant faux flower stem, bought from Hobbycraft costing just £2 each!
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