Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

UK

Olivia & Mark’s Shabby Chic Detailed, Outdoor Elegant, Rock n Roll Wedding

Kat

July 27, 2010

I was excited when I featured Olivia & Mark's engagement session a few weeks ago (they are another Rock n Roll Bride couple and found their photographer Lisa Devlin on the blog) but when Lisa sent me in their wedding the other day I was even more excited! I really do have the best readers don't I!? "Olivia & Mark are originally from LA and wanted to give their friend's and family a quintessentially English experience for their wedding" Lisa told me. "When we woke up in The Cotswolds to the sound of lashing rain, I thought they were going to get the full glory of a British Summer and it would be wellies all round. Their optimism was infectious and everything was set up for an outdoor ceremony in the grounds of Barnsley House, although some bin bags were left on their paper lanterns until the last moment. This has got to be one of the most gorgeous venues in England and the sun came out as Olivia crossed the lawn with her Dad, causing Mark to well up. I loved that she went for full-on glamour with lashes and deep red lips, it went well with her dramatic dress. Her close friend, Josh was the 'bridesmaid' and did such a stirling job, I'm thinking of hiring him for other weddings."
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Laura & Harry’s Locally Sourced, Eco-Friendly, Midsummer’s Nights Dream, Vintage & Totally Rock n Roll Wedding

Kat

July 26, 2010

Excuse me one second while I scream "EEEEEEEK!" at the top of my lungs, because that's exactly how I felt when I first saw Laura & Harry's eco-friendly, vintage-heavy, Rock n Roll inspired backyard wedding. Oh yes, I really do love to feature true Rock n Roll Bride weddings - ie weddings of those that I was able to help and inspire with my little blog. Laura & Harry actually found their fabulous photographer Rosie Parsons and Laura's gorgeous vintage Fur Coat No Knickers dress after seeing them on the site. Yey!
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Nick & Hannah’s Game Playing, Fancy Dress Celebration

Kat

July 20, 2010

Nick & Hannah had a 3 day wedding at Christian retreat and conference centre Lee Abbey. The celebrations started with a day of fun activities for all their guests including archery, mountain boarding and zip wiring through the forest. Not only that, but all their guests were invited to wear fancy dress. That sure made for lots of laughs and some awesome photographs. The couple made an extra special effort, coming as Robin Hood and Maid Marion. Hannah had even worn her Grandmother's own wedding dress in memory of her.
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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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The Glorious British Summertime

Kat

July 19, 2010

How much do I love Hayley & Lucas' adorable English countryside engagement shoot? Almost makes me proud to be British! The ever-lovely Lisa Devlin captured the couple in Sussex as they wanted a countryside location and with the yellow flowers, Hayley's outfit and the glorious British summertime light (yes, it does happen sometimes) the scene couldn't have been more perfect. Over the last year or so props have been massively popular in weddings and photo shoots however Hayley & Lucas wanted to keep their shoot simple - just them. They did opt to bring some flowers though and Donal at Pollen came up with the spiky posy of zingy yellow chrysanthemums to contrast beautifully with their rural, natural setting.
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A Sunday Kind of Love – Restoration Cake

Kat

July 18, 2010

This week's Sunday Kind of Love goes to the one and only Charlotte Gamble of Restoration Cake. Not only did she make me the must gorgeous, beautiful and yummy cake to celebrate the launch of the new look Rock n Roll Bride but she is quite frankly an utter darling and deserves all our love and adoration! PLUS she has just had the most awesome pin-up inspired shoot with Rockabetty Studios and so I'm delighted to share these exclusive piccies with you today too! Who would have thought cake-making could be so glamorous and Rock n Roll!?
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Retro Art Deco Kitsch

Kat

July 13, 2010

I LOVE a bit of retro kitsch and Caroline & Jim couldn't be more perfect at pulling this off if they tried. The shoot took place in their own Art Deco apartment in Brighton (just check out the exterior shots!) which has been decorated with an eclectic mix of bits and bobs collected from all over and ranging in era from the 1920's right through to the 1970's. I adore everything from the authentic mirror, clocks and Princess Anne collectible mugs to the incredible wallpaper and all the retro furniture. Jim is 'Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer' , a brilliant musician playing all over the country at gigs, weddings, parties and festivals. Caroline has a complete passion for fashion as she works in the fashion industry in London. The pair both embrace everything retro and nostalgic in fashion and styling, so their style was spot on for this style of shoot. The couple both wore all their own clothes to give a completely genuine portrayal of themselves and who they are as a couple.
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Under the Spotlight – The Sage, Gateshead

Kat

July 12, 2010

When planning our wedding I found organising the venue the most stressful. As soon as we got engaged I wanted to get the venue sorted as, really, the whole day - the theme, the style and the ambiance - anchors around the setting. For the modern, urban bride, The Sage, Gateshead could well be the answer. Set just outside of Newcastle, The Sage offers a modern and affordable way to get married in style. The venue offers 3 rooms available for wedding hire.
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An Irregular Choice – A Wonderfully Theatrical British Wedding

Kat

July 12, 2010

I woke up this morning to the news that the Rock n Roll Bride Mad Hatter shoot had been blogged by Irregular Choice shoes! Seriously, how glad am I that Vivienne Westwood didn't deliver my shoes on time and Irregular Choice saved the day? I feel like all famous and stuff... I thought then it only appropriate that I blogged this gorgeous Irregular Choice bride that I'd been planning to blog this week. I saw a few pictures of bride Sophie-Jayne in her amazing Ian Stuart dress and Irregular Choice shoes on the Schuh facebook page (they blogged about our shoot too!) and knew I had to find out more about this wedding. Sophie-Jayne & Jason got married at Sophie's old College by a Reverend who used to be one of her teachers. After the very personal ceremony, everybody was transported to Sophie-Jayne's parent house for the reception in her Dad's Old Route Master Bus!
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Best of Blogs – Issue 10 ~ Rosie Parsons & The Photography Parlour

Kat

July 11, 2010

OK confession/apology time again. I'm forgoing this week's Sunday Kind of Love post. Eeek...don't be mad. Thing is, wedding season is nuts and I have so much awesomeness to blog that I only flippin' forgot to blog this month's Photo Pro Magazine article. Deary me. Bad Kat. So I'm sacrificing today SKOL (heheh) to share this with you instead. It ain't that the love has ended - far from that. In fact I've got so much love for so many of you at the moment that I couldn't narrow it down to one person ANYWAY...so win win. There, I now feel justified in my decision!
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1950’s Diner-Style Charm

Kat

July 8, 2010

Holy 1950s wedding awesome Batman! I love it when a couple really get into a theme and do it so well - so well in fact that their photographer Al Overdrive even dressed up as a 1950's style reporter (photo below) Michelle & Craig got married in style at Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Everything screams 1950s retro rockabilly charm - from the pink Cadillac and the diner style grub (giant hotdogs, create your own burgers, fries, waffles, pancakes, ice cream sundaes, Oreo cheesecake!) to the Vivienne Westwood shoes (of which I will never tire) and Michelle's custom 'Beverlywood' Dolly Couture dress.
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Stevie Wonder played at our Reception!

Kat

July 8, 2010

I don't often post weddings that aren't shot by a professional wedding photographer as I am so passionate about everyone having amazing wedding photography, however there are definitely some instances when I'm happy to make an exception. I am proud to make the 'wedding' of Stacey & Dave one of these exceptions. The pair were at Glastonbury music festival last weekend (actually I think it was the week before, man I am behind with my blog posts!) and got engaged, hurrah! Their friends suggested they get married then and there as Glastonbury is famous for people rocking up and getting married in wellies, surrounded by mud and music! This year however it was 30 degrees and although the 'wedding' isn't a legally binding one (silly UK wedding laws) this is certainly going to be an awesome memory for the couple.
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Primrose Hill Pretty

Kat

July 7, 2010

Olivia & Mark's pretty and quirky London engagement session makes my heart sing! The pair actually said that they found the Primrose Hill location (where they live) a little twee so their photographer Lisa made a real effort to find some none puke-worthy spots including a cool graffiti wall ( "I was a bit 'been-there-done-that' until I saw it, if graffiti could ever be vintage, this might be it. Mostly heart themed with a chalky quality, I LIKE!" Lisa explained) a Banksy mural, the front door of Gwen (Stefani) & Gavin and Jamie (Oliver) & Jules' houses (shh!) the canal and the top of the hill.
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Mad Hatter Rock n Roll Bride ~ Candy Floss, Beach Huts & The Great British Seaside

Kat

July 6, 2010

It's that time of immense excitement for me again, when I finally get to share with you a 'lil project I've been busying myself with behind the scenes. Unbelievably this shoot has been in the pipeline for over a year but it's only now that I've had the time to get it all organised properly! The Photographer I first met Eliza Claire just over a year ago at the very first 'Rock n Roll Bride meet'. We met in a teeny cocktail bar in central London. We drank cosmopolitans and mojitos and talked way into the night about business, photography and changing the face of the UK wedding industry...and look how far we've come in a year! At this first meeting we talked about doing a photo shoot together and would you believe it's actually taken this long to get it together. However, as always, the wait was soworth it as within this past year we've got to know so many more amazing people in the industry, a few of which we asked along to join in the fun. "My thoughts on the shoot were to do something different, bring out the softer side of Rock'nRoll Bride! You've done a gothic shoot and a Punk-rock shoot, I wanted to show your softer, feminine side. Tiffany and I were definitely on the same page when it came to ideas for this, and the Whitstable location really grew from that - getting you out of the city, and wanting beach huts!"
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