Sara & Kev's 1950s Inspired UK Wedding

The Offbeat Bride: Sara

Her Offbeat Partner: Kev

Location & date of wedding: Rufford Mill, Rufford Country Park, Nottinghamshire, UK — 21st August 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: Our wedding was simple in ceremony but lavish in dress. I had a gorgeous red silk 50s dress and had a bouquet of white roses with diamante and black feathers, which I held with a black silk hanky. My daughters dress complimented mine with a red sash, underskirt and slip on pumps. My groom wore a Ben Sherman pinstripe suit, converse trainers, a red tie and red silk handkerchief.

Our wedding rings were handcrafted to our own unusual design, made from platinum and rose gold engraved with the date inside. My father gave me away wearing a pure white suit, black shirt and white tie.

My table place cards, seating plan and guestbook were black and red with Charles Rennie Mackintosh font and symbols. Each table had a 50s movie star photo to correspond with the seating plan. I had a guest request if she could sit at the Marilyn Monroe table and the reason for this was she came dressed as Marilyn herself!

Our first dance was not 50s inspired though, as we didn't want the usual four minutes of cringe worthy embarrassment we had the "Birdie Song." We danced alongside my daughter and her friends, it was fabulous and funny to boot. We had a jukebox loaded with songs our guests had chosen which added to the whole 50s party atmosphere.

Our friends stopped the traffic at the ford and we had pictures taken on the bridge which we've always loved. An amazing day that will hold many memories for us in the future.

Our biggest challenge: My biggest challenge was keeping calm when people confirmed then cancelled at the last minute — especially when a good friend texted fifteen minutes before I left for the wedding!

Also a few details were overlooked which at first bothered me but then I was enjoying the day too much to care.

My favorite moment: My favorite moment was leaving our local club "Rock City," dressed in our wedding outfits, after continuing the night in style and eating burgers at the stand next door. We were approached and congratulated so much that night — it was wonderful. It was also really good the hotel was two minutes away from the club!

My advice for other offbeat brides: Do it your way, however that may be. Any advice given take with grace, but still do it your way as only then will you be truly happy with the end result.

Enough talk — show me the wedding porn: