wedding week | the funky bride

So, we all know the grand traditions of marriage and weddings. The something old, something new. The bride getting walked down the aisle by her dad. The first dance. And those traditions are great and make a wedding here in America, well, a wedding. (They have other fun traditions in other countries…very interesting Google search if you get bored!)

So, I thought we would dedicate today to the funky bride, the bride who wants that tradition but with a little spin. A way to make it her day. A way to stand out in the midst of all the white tulle. For those brides that route for the underdog and enjoy going against the grain a little, this post is for you, you funky bride:)

Easy ways to be a funky bride

Throw out those white shoes!
This is beginning to be a big trend that is completely awesome in my book. Fun and funky shoes! Love this because its a very simple thing to do and so fun. Let me tell you, coming from a person who is with the bride right by her side most of the day, you will get so many guests who comment about loving your shoes! I have yet to hear a comment about white shoes, just saying. Make them red, make them to match your bridesmaid’s dresses, wear boots, make them your something blue…so many options to have some fun with!

Change the veil up!
Again, easy to do and allows you to be a little funky without going all the way and having some crazy wedding. Birdcage veils are becoming quite the style lately. I love the way some people can pull these off. Combine with some awesome makeup and hair, these look amazing in pictures!

Want to go a little farther and not even have a veil? It’s etsy to the rescue! Well, I’m sure you could get these elsewhere but who doesn’t love an excuse to shop at etsy:) Wedding headbands. Just go type it in and you’ll find hundreds of unique headbands that go from feathers to flowers. A couple that I love…

love love this one by BeSomethingNew

Love this one…a little flower option for ya. by Mandizzle

Then this one which is more of a pin but equally as awesome! by Pink and Pigtails

Show some spunk in your theme!
As you are picturing your wedding, don’t be afraid to go there. Let your style shine! From your invitations to the decor, run with it! Take chances! Step out of the box! Here is some great advice from Kat at the rocknrollbride.com

I didn’t realise you could do things differently
When I started planning my wedding I thought you had to do the church-then-a-nice-hotel-reception thing. If I did it again I’d keep the church, as this means a lot to us, but I’d go less formal and more personal. I’ve had pink hair since I was 16 – I had pink hair when I met my husband and it was pink when we got engaged, but I went brown for the wedding to keep people happy. Looking back, I wish I’d kept it pink, because it’s pink again now and probably will be for the new few years. Brides often tell me: “I thought my ideas were weird, but now I’ve seen weddings that do things differently, it makes me feel more comfortable about having what I want.”

If a supplier doesn’t get your vision, DIY
I asked my florist for pale vintage colours. The reality? Bright Purple. It didn’t matter on the day, as I was so excited about getting married, but looking back I think, “Urgh, they’re not what I wanted,” and I wish we’d done them ourselves. Consider sourcing your own wine, too – it’s often cheaper to buy it and pay corkage, plus you get nicer stuff – and bringing in caterers if the hotel food isn’t great. It’s extra work, but so worth it.

It’s who you’re marrying – not where – that matters
When the venue cancelled three months before our day, I just thought “I want to marry Gareth. If we get married in our parents’ garden it really doesn’t matter.” After phoning lots of places, we found an amazing venue that was available, but twice the price. So my Dad (who can be scary!) rang the old venue and made them pay the difference as compensation, so we got a much better place for the same price.

Horrible bridesmaid dresses are a crime against humanity
No one should be forced into an ill-fitting frock. Our bridesmaids chose their own nice LBDs and shoes – but often it’s the boys who let the side down. The bride spends hours (days, even) choosing a dress she feels gorgeous in, while the groom wears a hired morning suit. Get him to wear what he wants to wear, not what he thinks he should. Gareth wore a sharp custom made suit and skinny tie costing £450 and looked fab, plus he got to keep it.

Bring a Rock n Roll Bride isn’t about rock and roll
She’s someone who doesn’t conform to what other people expect of her. So if you’re really into punk rock and tattoos or deep-sea diving, then put that into your day. A wedding’s not about being cool or copying someone else 0 it’s about doing what’s right for you.

So, lesson of the day?
Be you. Let you shine through even in all the traditions that a wedding brings.