Alternative Weddings.

Here comes the bride, all dressed in whi- red velvet? Um, she is? Of course she is! Why not? Traditional weddings aren't for everyone, so why not add a dash of your personality with a sprinkling of a mutual interest into your nuptials.

Bibian Blue

Vera Wang 2012

The dress. Possibly the most important part of the wedding from the brides perspective. Whether you prefer big fitted traditional white dresses or thin summer dresses, the bride has to feel like a princess on  the big day. However, if white isn't for you, how about designing your own? Boutiques across the UK can provide such a service.

I have came across 'pink balloon' themed ones that resemble more of a nightclub theme than a wedding, a vintage tea party (I want this myself when and IF I get married, tea and cake, what's not to love?) and what inspires me the most, plenty of muti-cultural weddings. I don't just mean the couples but more importantly the input. Why should you chose to ignore your, for example, West-Indian background, it is who you are and reflects your family, who are now joined with another. Personally I don't like tacky OTT weddings, for example flags. Flags spread across venues like your local pub during the Euros. If done right then I might change my mind but through thorough research I have yet to find one I like.

I spoke to Phoebe Miller of www.soyouregettingmarried.com who gave me a little insight as to her site, clients and a few wonderful if at times weird companies that provide the beauty alternative weddings require.

"It all started as a way of documenting my own wedding ideas/plans and after Nov 2010 I decided to carry it on when I moved up to Leeds. I never set out to make money from it, I never even thought anyone would read it but it is now doing really well, I have a lovely loyal base of readers and I adore what I do!"

'Food plays a big part", she says "there are lots of different stalls cooking up food for your guests. The great thing is that you can have whatever you fancy. Pies, fish and chips, Thai, popcorn, ice-cream, bagels! There are numerous street food stalls that do weddings. Favourites include Fish& and Pieminster (below left)

 They will also travel." It's even possible to hire an Ice Cream van for your big day. Mine's a Zap! please.

There is nothing wrong then thinking outside the box, you want to make your wedding stand-out and be remembered for all the things it shouldn't and all the things you should. Your wedding is exactly that, yours. A day celebrating the love between one man and one woman, one man and another or one woman and another so it is important to keep it about you both. Incorporate different ideas, whether it's inspired by films (Tim Burton themed wedding was lovely, shades of black with purple) or celebrating the mix of cultures between the two. From the dress, to the venue right down to the stationary or invite designs. It might be a nice day for a white wedding for some, but how about pink, black and blue. Don't forget to invite your personality to your big day.