Real Vintage Music-Themed Wedding: Katherine & Yianni

There's nothing a wedding blogger likes more than a wedding with a theme, and there's no question, it's the easiest way to create a truly personalised wedding. Plus if you choose a theme at the start of your planning, you can be sure every wedding detail will hang together perfectly. Gorgeous couple Katherine and Yianni found it super easy to come up with their wedding theme - they'd met in a chat room for people who like heavy metal and rock music, so a music theme was the obvious choice! I love how they carried the motif through all their wedding details, inspired by an album's artworks, they created their own table plan, wedding favours, and wedding colour palette. Katherine put a huge amount of work into her wedding, researching every aspect, and you can really tell - every detail is pitch-perfect. Don't miss Part 2's reception shots published later today. Gorgeous pictures published with thanks to Dominic Whiten Photography.

I found my dress in the first bridal shop I visited. I took one of my oldest friends and bridesmaids, Jen, who I knew would give me honest advice. She also made me enjoy the whole experience of trying on gorgeous gowns so I didn't get stressed about finding the perfect dress. I didn’t know it was 'the one' when I first tried it on, but several weeks & many shops later: boutiques, designer, vintage, second hand {I went to them all!} it was the only one I couldn't stop thinking about. 

It's a Pronovias wedding gown, but a sample dress, so much more affordable than many of the others I tried. It hugs my curves, which I love, because my husband definitely married me for my bum! To be honest, there's so many beautiful dresses available, I’m sure several could have been 'the one' but I just couldn't justify the £3000+ price tag. 

I bought my shoes, veil, earrings & hair comb from several different bridal shops {see the details below}– the beauty of shopping around a lot for my dress meant I worked out what was on offer. My hair comb was definitely my favourite buy, a statement piece that really photographed well.

We got married on Saturday 13th October 2012, in a small village in Kent where my parents live. We had a church ceremony at St Johns Church followed by a reception at Mountains Country House in Hildenborough.

Yianni's best man Steven took him shopping for his wedding day outfit. They found a suit they liked in Reiss & went with it! Boys are quick shoppers! He was adamant he didn't want traditional top and tails, and in hindsight they made the right choice, as they look modern and slick in the pictures, and they've all got a nice suit they'll wear again.

I chose a burgundy rose from the centre of a Deftones album design as the colour for my bridesmaids' gowns, and this was then used as a general colour theme, for the ushers' ties, cake ribbon and other wedding details.

I originally thought I'd be able to buy my bridesmaids' dresses on the high street, but we struggled to find something to fit with the colour scheme. I did loads of research online and in magazines, but there doesn't seem to be a huge number of options for bridesmaids’ dresses that are classic and flattering but not frumpy.

Eventually I found a local shop that was selling Dessy so I took the girls to try some on, and we all agreed the one-shoulder full-length chiffon bridesmaids gowns looked elegant and Greek goddess-like. Also I was able to choose the exact shade of burgundy I wanted to fit in with our wedding theme. I was so pleased - they all looked stunning on the day.

My florist was Suzanne at Flowersmiths. I visited a few other florists to get ideas but Suzanne gave us the best price for what I wanted on my wedding day. I knew I wanted roses and neat rounded bouquets, and I really trusted Suzanne would do a good job. Her dedication and planning to achieve my vision could not have been bettered.

My flower-girl's little white dress came from Monsoon and I added a matching burgundy sash, to fit in with the bridesmaids dresses. She carried a basket of flower petals for confetti.

Yianni and I met in 2001 in an online chat room for people who like heavy metal and rock music. We had both just started university but I was in Manchester, Yianni was in London. I felt an instant connection with him as we both listed our almost identical CD collections – a somewhat eclectic mixture! We chatted online until December when I came home to Kent for the Christmas holidays. 

We met face-to-face for the first time in Charing Cross station, with only a grainy webcam photo for recognition, and unbeknown to me, my parents hiding behind a pillar to check out the strange boy! We went out on a few nights out as mates, and then I decided to make the first move on New Years Eve in a dingy rock club in Tufnell Park, and kissed him during what came to be 'our song' Shinobi vs Dragon Ninja by Lost Prophets. 

We made it through 3 years of endless train journeys, a further 4 years alternating weekends between Kent and London before we moved in together in 2009. I got pregnant 18 months later and although it put our plans to travel to the Far East on hold, it was to become a defining moment in our lives when our son Alexander was born in 2011. Yianni took the three of us to New York, a favourite destination of ours, in October 2011 and proposed. The highlight for me was when we bought my engagement ring in Tiffany & Co on 5th Avenue ☺

Our wedding photography was Dominic from Dominic Whiten Photography. I found him via Mountains Country House - we met up at my parents house I really liked his easygoing manner. 

I researched quite a few other photographers and I was tempted by some of the more artistic styles. However after looking through Dominic's online portfolio again, we really loved his portraits and the way he captured real moments from the day in an artistic but honest way.

{Wedding Credits}
Venue: Mountains Country House  

Wedding dress: Pronovias 

Veil: Angelica Bridal

Bride's Shoes: First For Brides 

Bride's Earrings: Chez Bec 

Bridal Bag: Jane's Vintage

Bridesmaids' Dresses & Groom's & Ushers' ties: Dessy 

Groom & Ushers' Suits, Shirts & Shoes: Reiss

Flowergirl's Dress: Monsoon 

Wedding Car: Gold Drive 

Flowers: The Flowersmiths 

Make-up: Makeup By Ashley 

Cake: Classic Cakes 

Laser-cut Bunting: Come Uppance 

Photographer: Dominic Whiten Photography

♥ Want more music wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about marquee weddings? ♥

Have you discovered our free newsletter? Sign up for free! 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Wintery Star Wedding Bouquet

Frosty mornings have got me thinking about winter weddings! Take a look at this gorgeous winter wonderland snowflake bouquet. It's the perfect accessory for an ice queen bride, and a family heirloom in the making. Created out of three layers of frosted acrylic snowflakes, surrounded by crystal acrylic beads of 'ice', and tied with white satin ribbon, it's a fairytale wedding bouquet. Handmade by Etsy seller, Bridal Bouquets By Ky, it comes even comes with a complimentary boutonnière for your groom. Take a look at Ky's Etsy shop for more beautiful everlasting bouquets.

♥ Want more wedding bouquet ideas? ♥ Or how about winter weddings? ♥

Have you discovered our free newsletter? Sign up for free! 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Rustic Deer Park Wedding Shoot

Searching for real weddings on wedding blogs are a fantastic way to find wedding inspiration, but often it's the wedding shoots that come up with the truly original ideas. It's something about the alchemy of putting several wedding specialists in one room! I've fallen hard for his gorgeous rustic wedding shoot, themed around the wedding venue, The Deer Park Hotel in Honiton, Devon. Just take a look at the adorable deer theme, reflected in the laser-cut wedding stationery, cute favour biscuits and silhouette cake topper. I love the use of bullrushes in the table flowers, and the groom's tweed three-piece suit. Great inspiration for photo props for your wedding pictures - why not try fishing and archery on for size! Stunning shots published with thanks to Firetop Photography. More credits to the fantastic wedding experts who put this together below the pics!

{Shoot Credits}
Stylist – Sue Fyfe-Williams - Synergy Styling and Photography
Photographer - Venetia Norrington - Firetop Photography at Synergy Styling and Photography
Designer – Kate Walker Bridal
Tweed suit –The Scotland Shop
Hair – Bridal hair by Helen
Make up – Elle Hitchens
Florist – Claire Hassall from Haughty Culture
Cake – Nicki Knox from Eat, Sleep Cake
Bunting & favours – Angie Stubbs from Bunting with love & Cookies with love
Brooch bouquet/ boutonniere - Aunties Vintage China
Chair covers – Beautifully seated -
Archery equipment – Outside Adventure Consultants Ltd
Models – Samantha and Luke “Deer” from ShootDHSmodels

♥ Want more rustic wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about countryside weddings? ♥

Have you discovered our free newsletter? Sign up for free! 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Customisable Vintage Wedding Dresses

From the moment I got engaged, I knew the style of wedding dress I wanted; simple, elegant, exquisite and vintage. Finding it in the price bracket I wanted, was harder! Throw in the fact I don't like rummaging at vintage sales, and the chances of me coming across the perfect vintage wedding dress were slim. Luckily The Vintage Wedding Dress Company solved the problem, and although I ended up buying my wedding dress from Delphine Manivet, I'd recommend their wedding gowns to any bride. Fashion stylist, Charlie Brear sources stunning vintage dresses, but she's also created a range of vintage-style dresses, under her Decades collection, so you can have the vintage effect, without the tiny sizes, and scuffed hems. I love her latest additions to the collection - each gown is customisable, so you can create your own, individual look.

♥ Want more wedding dress ideas? ♥ Or how about vintage weddings? ♥

Have you discovered our free newsletter? Sign up for free! 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Yellow-Themed Vintage Wedding: Kat & Ben

This wedding is a serious peach, packed with wedding details galore, and tonnes of wedding inspiration. I'm loving everything from the wedding flowers {pom pom buttonholes - woohoo!}, linen suits {chic boys}, pageboy flags and programme fans. But there's more! The mismatched table vases, the yellow parasols and the giant flower in the bride's hair. Everything is perfect, not least the Our Labour of Love photography - yum!

♥ Want more garden weddings? ♥ Or how about more yellow-themed weddings? ♥

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter. 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Mother-of-the-Bride Traditions

Weddings can bring up the stickiest of situations. Butting one family up against another, and adding the stress of a big day can lead to fireworks. Luckily there's a whole bunch of wedding traditions that'll help take the sting out of certain decisions. So if you're worried about where your in-laws should sit on the top table, what the mother-of-the-bride should wear, and which side of the church is bride or groom,  you're going to love these Top Wedding Traditions.

{Product Credit} Wedding bags by Alphabet Bags

1. If you choose to announce your wedding in a newspaper, traditionally it is the father of the bride who takes the step, and pays the bill.

2. The mother-of-the-bride should choose her outfit first, and inform the mother-of-the-groom of the colour and design. This way, there's no risk of accidental matching! My mother's favourite company is Jacques Vert.

3. Traditionally the bride's family pay for the wedding, and the groom's family contribute to the groom's and ushers' suits, the wedding flowers, and wedding transport.

4. During the wedding service, the parents of the bride sit on the left side, in the front seats. The groom's family will then sit on the right side. Immediate family take up the next few rows, on their appropriate side depending on their relationship to the groom or bride. Friends then sit behind family. It's best to put a little note to reserve the front few rows.

5. British wedding traditions state that the bride stands to the right of her Father. They lead the procession, followed by the bridesmaids and pageboys.

6. The groom's mother is seated first {usually by the head usher or another sony}, about 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. The mother of the bride is seated just before the processional (again, usually by the head usher). The bride's mother is the first to be escorted out (usually by her husband) after the bride and groom leave.

7. The first speech is traditionally given by the father of the bride, ending with a toast to the bride and groom. The groom then thanks the bride's parents and the guests, before making a toast to the bridesmaids. Finally, it's the best man.

 8. British wedding tradition dictates that the top table should be, from the left: chief bridesmaid, groom's Dad, bride's Mum, groom, bride, bride's Dad, groom's Mum, best man. If this is too difficult {divorced parents, etc}, then why not consider asking each set of parents to host their own table?

♥ Want more wedding traditions? ♥ Or how about real weddings? ♥

Have you discovered our free newsletter? Sign up for free! 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Gorgeous Glittery Wedding Jewellery

Once you've found your wedding gown, you're going to want to accessorise to the max, and I've fallen for this gorgeous wedding jewellery. Discovered on one of my rambles around Etsy, it's just the right combination knock-out and chic, without being too glitzy. The shop is called Luxe Deluxe and it's a one woman show, run by Adrienne in Edinburgh. Lovely, large ivory/white swarovski pearls are stacked with rhinestones and tiny Swarovski crystals, and swing below sparkling rhinestone set sterling silver studs. It looks like you're wearing the real thing, but the price-tag tells the truth!

♥ Want more wedding jewellery ideas? ♥ Or how about more wedding accessory ideas? ♥

Have you discovered our free newsletter? Sign up for free! 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Blue-Themed Boho Wedding: Abi & Nath

If you're an eco-bride, a hippy-chick, or you just love the great outdoors, you're going to adore this countryside wedding. Abi and Nath fell in love with their venue Fforest Farm in Wales, and encouraged all their friends and family to come down and celebrate with them, before bedding down in tipis and tunnel tents for the weekend. I'm loving their free spirit, the gorgeous rural venue and the fact they did their wedding their way. DIY brides can take inspiration from the handmade cake, dress and entertainment, all of which was done by friends and family. Get those people working for you! Other stealworthy ideas include the Monsoon bridesmaids dresses {cheap and chic}, the white bunting {always my fav}, and the thistles, which are becoming a bit of a Before the Big Day trend this week. Gorgeous pictures as ever from Hannah at  Kinver Miles Photography - we heart her work big time!

♥ Want more blue-themed wedding? ♥ Or how about more boho weddings? ♥

Have you discovered our free newsletter? Sign up for free! 

Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.