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Chitter Chatter with Kat Williams, the brains behind Rock n Roll Bride, one of the biggest wedding blogs in the world

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Kat-Williams-Rock-N-Roll-Bride
Image: Shell de Mar

With the latest addition to our family there’ll be a few subtle changes to the schedule of the blog for the coming weeks while I’m adjusting to life with our new baby.

I’ll still be posting the very coolest real Jewish weddings every week, but there’ll also be a brand new feature running where I interview all sorts of inspirational women in the wedding industry whom I greatly admire. These women successfully combine running their own business with married life and in a lot of cases, raising a young family.

The series is called Chitter Chatter and the twist is is they have to answer my questions in just 140 characters or less….

Today I’m chitter chattering to one of the world’s most influential wedding bloggers, Kat Williams of the almighty Rock N Roll Bride. Back in 2007 Kat saw a niche for alternative wedding inspiration and ran with it! Kat now works on the blog, and the ever growing Rock n Roll Bride brand, full-time alongside her husband Gareth, and is also one of the headmistresses at The Blogcademy, a two-day blogging workshop that she co-founded and runs with prolific US bloggers Gala Darling and Shauna Haider.

What was your first job?

Sales assistant in Holland and Barrett.

Tell me more about your career before launching Rock N Roll Bride

I was a shopping TV producer for Bid TV (RIP!)

How do you cope with running two growing businesses: Rock N Roll Bride and The Blogcademy?

Its a lot of work, BUT I LOVE IT. Genuinely. It doesn’t feel like I ever have to ‘cope’ with it because I just love doing it all so much.

What inspires you to keep growing and developing both your businesses ?

I’m fiercely competitive! Ha!

What obstacles have you overcome along the way?

The usual – people letting you down, long hours, trolls, lack of social life… It’s all worth it though.

Kat Williams Rock N Roll Bride_0002
Image: Madeline Kate Photography
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Chitter Chatter with Charlotte O’Shea, Blog Queen and founder of Rock My Wedding

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Charlotte-OShea
Image:  Anna Clarke Photography

With  the upcoming  addition to our family (our due date is Saturday, same as the  Duchess of Cambridge’s no less!) there’ll be a few subtle changes to the schedule of the blog for the coming weeks  while I’m adjusting to life as a mama of  two.

I’ll still be posting the very coolest  real Jewish weddings  every week, but  there’ll also be  a brand new feature running where I interview all sorts of inspirational women in the wedding industry whom  I greatly admire. These women successfully combine  running their own business with married life and in a lot of cases, raising a young family.

The series is called Chitter Chatter and the twist is is they have to answer my questions  in just 140 characters or less….

Today I’m chitter chattering  to  a doyenne… a ‘queen bee’ wedding bloggess, and superstar creative mama. It’s the  one and only  Charlotte O’Shea, founder and MD of Rock My Wedding, the phenomenally  successful UK wedding blog that launched in  2009.  A few years later, the ‘Rock My’ empire grew when Charlotte launched  the hugely  popular  Rock My Style, a lifestyle blog for women  covering beauty, fashion, travel, food, interiors and family.

Charlotte lives in the West Midlands with her husband James, and their one year old daughter, Mabel Rose.

What was your first job?

My first job was in retail with House Of Fraser – I was a Morgan Girl! Think lycra boob tubes and chain mail crop tops (actually don’t – tragic doesn’t even cover it.)

Tell me more about your career before launching Rock My Wedding and Rock My Style

I was an Account Manager for a small yet very successful technology and web design company, I learnt a hell of a lot about everything to do with running a business and then some.

How do you cope with running two growing businesses:  Rock My Wedding and Rock My Style?

I employ a very VERY talented bunch of folks. And endeavour to be as organised as feasibly possible. Oh and biscuits – essential brain fuel.

What inspires you to keep growing and developing your businesses?

My dedicated team and our loyal stylish readers are a constant inspiration, as is my daughter Mabel. No two days are the same – the diversity of what we do generates constant creativity.

Charlotte O Shea
Image:  Little Beanies
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10 amazing outdoor wedding venues in the UK

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outdoor-wedding-venues
Image: Ross Harvey

Today’s post is written by the super cool  Deirdre McGinnis  from Chic & Boutique Wedding Venues. Deirdre curates only the coolest, hippest and most fabulous  wedding venues on Chic & Boutique  and  I’m thrilled that today, especially  for Smashing The Glass, she’s picked out ten  extraordinary outdoor wedding venues  in the UK.  These ten gorgeous  al fresco  gems cover every kind of style and taste, and are suitable for capacities of 50 to 500.

Do you dream of getting married outdoors under the British skies?  Are you a child of nature? The sort who longs to commune with the outdoors and feel the weather on your face, even if it is British weather? Believe it or not, London and the UK have a veritable bounty of outdoor venues available for wedding receptions and ceremonies, and I’ve picked  out my top ten today, for your perusal.

Whilst the venues we’ve selected here can’t offer you, say, a Malibu sunset, what they can offer you is a fresh, open air  experience alongside the beautiful elegance of an English Wedding. If you’ve ever considered having your  chuppah outdoors, you absolutely need to acquaint yourself with these fabulous  al fresco venues.

Kew Gardens, Richmond, Surrey
(Max Capacity 400)

Kew-Gardens-wedding

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Smashing Wedding Dress Details: Sleeves

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Kate-William-wedding
Left: The Duchess of Cambridge by Hugo Burnand  / Right: Olivia Palermo —  Oliviapalermo.com

by Karen Whybro

One of the most common things we are asked for at the boutique is a dress with sleeves. Thank goodness for Kate Middleton who brought sleeves back in a big way! And since Olivia Palermo showed us that covering up doesn’t have to mean dressing down, wedding dresses with sleeves have been a huge hit. With so much choice out there right now, how do you choose a sleeve which will suit you and your wedding?

Think fabric and vary length

There’s more than one type of sleeve and the choice of length and fabric can change the look entirely. From half cap to full length, the length of sleeve can change the feel and appearance of a gown and the bride within. If, like a great deal of women, your arms aren’t the favourite part of your body, where a sleeve ends will affect how you look and feel on the day.

Lace-sleeve-wedding-dress
Monique Lhuillier dress by The Chriselle Factor via Bridal Musings

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‘Q&A with Karen Cinnamon’ – a return interview with the Save The Date wedding podcast

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Karen-Cinnamon
I had so much fun when I was interviewed last  December for the Save The Date Podcast that I jumped at the chance to meet  Aleisha, the head honcho of  Save The Date, for a sequel.

Aleisha came to  my London home last week to record a special Wedding Q&A episode and I answered everything ranging from  what’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen at a wedding, to my favourite affordable wedding dress designers, to helping a Jew-ish bride-to-be who felt under pressure from her mother to include too many Jewish traditions in her upcoming wedding.

You can listen to the podcast here or here, or by pressing the play button below.  I hope you find it useful and if you’d like me to answer any  other questions, feel free to leave a comment below, or email me at karen@smashingtheglass.com

Thanks for having me Aleisha!