Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

Short Dress

Quirky, Colourful, Kitsch

Kat

August 25, 2009

I am crazy in love with Tanya & Mark's amazingly colourful DIY wedding! The event took place in Tanya's parent's backyard in Northampton, PA and totally reflected the couple's quirky, colourful, kitschy nature. They really put 100% of themselves into the day. Tanya made the invitations, the felt flowers, the centrepieces and most of the decorations herself and all of the tables were covered with unique vintage fabric sourced from various places throughout the wedding planning. One of my favourite details had got to be the pink flamingos everywhere though! Tanya says she has a slight obsession with John Waters so this detail was a must! Tanya found her and her Bridesmaid's dress from Ebay and her amazing red birdcage veil from Events and Occasions. Her shoes were from Modcloth and her red petticoat was found at Unique Vintage. Thanks to Tanya and Mark for sharing their day and all the gorgeous details with us! Credit: Matt Stanley
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Thrift Store Find

Kat

August 25, 2009

A few months ago, photographer Jennifer Williams' sister found this gorgeous vintage dress in a thrift store for $10. Being the helpful sibling that she is, she knew it would be perfect for a photoshoot and so bought it right away. Jen wnt on to tell me the whole story: The minute I saw it I couldn't wait to plan a shoot centered around it! I couldn't get those old images of Bonnie and Clyde out of my head from the old 1967 movie. Most of my inspiration was centered around that, although I mixed and matched decades into my own take on vintage fashion. Then I found out we had permission to shoot at this salvage yard and the shoot became this beautiful classy take on grunge. As weird as it sounds, that is the best way I can describe it. Credit: Jennifer Williams Photography
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I Love This!

Kat

August 24, 2009

So I saw this wedding on I Love Lolliblog the other day and was instantly smitten. Then when photographer Christine Chang submitted the wedding to me as well I thought 'what the hell' and have decided to break my self-imposed rule of not re-blogging. This wedding is too damn special and too damn rock n roll to pass up! The gorgeous Bride Kristi, who owns her own jewellery company named Diamond Willow designed and DIYed the whole wedding - from the centrepieces to her stunning peacock bouquet, the boutonnieres and her own flower hairpiece. She wore a sample gown designed by Lian Carlo and her Mum altered the neckline and made the train detachable for dancing. The Bridesmaids have got to be some of the most gorgeous I have ever seen, rocking their Betsey Johnson frocks, white platform shoes, babies breath bouquets and personalised 'knuckleduster' rings designed by Kristi herself. Thanks to Christine for sending me these and to I Love Lolliblog for sharing them to begin with! Credit: Christine Chang via I Love Lolliblog
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Glorious Gorgeous

Kat

August 18, 2009

After featuring one gorgeous Elizabeth Dye dress today I appear to be on a roll, as photographer Julie Randall just sent me this wedding day shoot and guess which designer the Bride is wearing? For your photographic geeks, this session was shot using "my trusty Hasselblad to get a nice mix of film and digital" For everybody else just stand back and soak in the beauty... Thanks to Julie for sending me this glorious gorgeousness! Note: The voting for the NY film shoot winners is hotting up y'all! If you haven't voted yet then you better get a wriggle on...
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Fashionable

Kat

August 8, 2009

Jenny & Ian got married in San Francisco this March. Jenny has a particular interest in high fashion and editorial photography and so the couple really wanted to bring this feel into their wedding. Everything from her Ulla-Maija dress to her amazing and unique birdcage veil/hat combo from Designs By Kristen, from her short reception dress by Priscilla of Boston Platinum Collection designed by Kenneth Pool to her Yves Saint Laurent shoes - every detail rocked that fashion look. I also completely love their reception details. The had a Chinese Banquet at Tai Pan Restaurant in Palo Alto, the theme of which is reflected by details such as their stationary, the flowers and their adorable anime inspired cake topper. Thanks to Rachel for sending these in...I heart them. Credit: Studio Castillero
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Infused.

Kat

August 5, 2009

Gina & Aris' wedding was infused with gorgeous details reflecting their stunning venue - Portland Classical Chinese Garden. I think it does without saying that Gina's Stephanie James Couture dress is ridiculously gorgeous (it's one of those dresses I never tire of seeing!) but I am also loving their adorable flower girl in her oriental inspired outfit + parasol, the origami paper flowers and the cute teeny tiny cupcakes and pink & blue bird cake topper. Thanks to Sean for sending these my way! Credit: Sean Morrison Photo
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Vintage Rural

Kat

August 3, 2009

Part three of Caroline Ghetes' modern vintage bridal sessions landed on my online lap this afternoon and it's a corker. This final installment has much more of a country feel - the shed, the field, the horses, the cowboy boots, the rustic, casual florals (made by Caroline herself!) - but that doesn't stop me from having a hell lotta love for them. The model's dress was supplied by etsy seller Lorimarsha (it's the same dress as used in the 'aviation' shoot) and her pink hairpiece was by Chamberry Cherry, who can also be found onEtsy. Clicky here for part one and two... Thanks to Caroline for sharing her newest work with us.
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Elopement Joy

Kat

August 2, 2009

I got sent a great photo session and a sweet sweet story from photographer Heather Kincaid yesterday and I just had to share. About a month ago I received an email from Amanda asking if I was available “for a photo shoot the last week of July.” Kind of a cryptic email… Having already shot their engagement session last year, I knew it wasn’t for that. So I had no clue what she was talking about. In a second email she revealed that she and Viet were planning to get married at the courthouse– just the two of them — and wanted me to come along to document their very intimate wedding day. I was so surprised! They made the decision that after eight years of being together, they didn’t want to wait any longer to be husband and wife and decided that on July 27th, their eight-year anniversary, they would make it official. It would be just the two of them making their commitment and celebrating their love for one another.
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An Urban Fairytale

Kat

July 30, 2009

Hurrah! Part two of Caroline Ghetes' amazing vintage inspired bridal sessions is live! This second installment has a much more modern twist to it as Caroline wanted to show how vintage fashion can work in super modern, urban suroundings. She scoured Etsy for the majority of the gorgeous pieces to go in this shoot. The ever so popular 50's style tea dress was from ghmarketplace, the sparkly tulle veil was handmade with vintage material from the 1940's by Liaison, the pink and the peacock hairpieces were by Chamberry Cherry and finally the dramatic bouquet was actually made by Caroline herself. (Just in case you missed it, Part one is here) Thanks again to Caroline for sharing these with us. I am waiting with baited breath for the third and final installment!
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Mischievous

Kat

July 27, 2009

I was lucky enough to meet both Eliza (the photographer) and Ly (the model) who sent me this trash the dress session to me a while back on a now rather infamously drunk night out in London! I can safely say the fun and frolics you see below perfectly reflecttheir slightly mischievous personalities. Isn't the shot with the sun coming down just phenomenal? ...and the deers are just amazing, you don't get this is California! (I knew there was a reason I lived in England after all) Credit: Eliza Claire
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Skater Chick

Kat

July 21, 2009

I am super duper excited about this wedding/wedding day shoot (as you can probably tell because I've featured about 40 photographs!) I saw this wedding on one of my favourite non-wedding blogs Rockstar Diaries. The enviable gorgeous girl behind the site also produces her own hairpieces which is how I first got a glimpse of the gorgeousness. I immediately emailed the photographer and couple begging to be able to share their god damn crazy awesome wedding. Thank you to Cristi Dame, Naomi of Rockstar Diaries and the couple Amy & Matt for sharing this kick ass skater chick wedding!
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When She Used To Rock n Roll

Kat

July 20, 2009

Kirsten & Josh’s wedding not only had a fun, retro feel, but they really went all out with their 1950’s diner theme. I am crazy in love with the Brides entire outfit - from her Dorothy ruby slippers to her cute polka dot dress made by her Mother and friend Marnie Rogers, who designs clothes for Wintersun. The gorgeous Bridesmaid had a rockabilly style to them - especially their amazing hairdos! For the reception, the couple went all out for a 50's diner theme, where they designed and made everything themselves. The centrepieces were giant lolly jars and each table had a different type of old school lolly, which was the name of the table ("Sweethearts" "Milk bottles" "Ice creams" "Jelly beans" etc) The place cards were black & white candy striped lolly bags with everyone's names on them, each painstakingly tied with little red ribbons. The placemats were old records that they picked up in an op shop and they had little gifts for everyone on the table - mini erasers in the shape of burgers, fries, hotdogs and donuts, plus vintage metal wind up toys. Each table also had a diner style spring loaded napkin holder, salt and pepper shakers and tomato and mustard bottles. Then best of all, for dinner they served burgers, hotdogs, pizza and fries. I bet their guests were thrilled - no boring wedding food for them! The celebrations continued into the night with the couple having their first dance to 'I remember the Bride when she used to Rock n Roll' by the Stray Cats, finishing the night by swaying along to 'Earth Angel'. Thanks to the Groom's Mother Rhonda for sending me this wedding and to the couple for putting together all the awesome info for you all.
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The Wedding Tree

Kat

July 18, 2009

I am so over the moon to be the first blog to bring you this amazing wedding. Paul & Cassie's day really couldn't be anywhere but Rock n Roll Bride though surely? From her cute cute dress, to their kick ass tattoos - from the simply sweet ceremony site (just plastic chairs and autumnal leaves) to all the adorable personal touches (I am crazy in love with their thumb print wedding tree 'guest book'.) There is in fact nothing I don't love and I could go on with a big old list of everything I am swooning over right now. However it's probably better for me just to share the photographic joy oui? Thanks to the wonderful Jonas Peterson for the Rock n Roll Bride exclusive!
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Been Done? Who Cares?

Kat

July 8, 2009

You know this about me already but I'm a huge activist for being yourself on your wedding day, however crazy, out there or even mundane (oh yes) that may be. As all the veteran readers will know, I ran a contest for free wedding photography a while back, and have now gotten to know our winners pretty well. I was chatting to the Bride to be, Vana, on the phone the other day for no joke, literally an hour about all things wedding (jeez that gal can talk he he!) and I'm sure she won't mind me telling you this, she was running a few of her newest wedding ideas by me to ask my opinion as to whether I thought they had 'been done' (for some reason she thinks I must be some kind of expert on such things…) I said this to her, and on her recommendation I am now going to say this to all of you...do not worry about tack, or about being over the top or if something you really want seems to be springing up everywhere in blog-land, and has therefore ‘been done’. Just remember this teeny tiny pearl of wisdom…Your guests won't have been scoring the Internet looking for wedding ideas for the last year so will have no idea if something has 'been done' or not! To me, our wedding was not completely nuts. We kept it quite simple with a black and white theme and a few personal touches, but we had so many people saying to us it was the most stylish and cool wedding they had ever been too...they hadn't spent the last year looking at other people's weddings and comparing themselves after all! So don't doubt yourself... Are you lusting after that cute Stephanie James Couturedress but are worried that in 10 years time the cute short dress look will look as dated as the poofy sleeved meringues of the 80’s? Pah, if I got married in the 80’s I would have wanted to remember the 80’s…2008 was the greatest year of my life and I want to remember that year through my wedding pictures. Have you have been dying to have cupcakes as your wedding cake ever since you started planning your wedding, but are worried because now everybodyseems to be doing it? Well a lot of people that are getting married may be yes, but everybody in the entire world?...erm no. Are you worried that your wedding isn’t cool enough because you spend all day looking at weddings that seen so much crazier/chicer than yours? (You are not alone by the way, I felt the exact same thing) You are more likely to regret planning a wedding in a style that wasn’t really ‘you’ than one that perfectly matches you and your fiancé’s tastes. So quit stressing about what other people will think and just do it already...and then send me the photographs afterwards! Now for a couple of trends I love and therefore don't care if they've 'been done'. Let me know if I've missed any of your favourites!
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Chivalry Isn’t Dead

Kat

July 8, 2009

Whoa what a lot of votes we've had for the Tinywater contest winners so far! That is amazing - and only 1 day down! I held off posting yesterday to give the voting the best chance at the top spot so I now have some catching up to do. Check out this Anglo-American wedding, where the American Groom even did the right thing and asked the Bride's parents permission to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage. Cute! Thanks to Solaria for sharing this wedding.
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