Many of women may dream of getting married but the reality of planning the big day can often turn into a bit of a nightmare - particularly if you're after something different from what you've seen in bridal magazines. To that end we've put together some cool wedding ideas suitable for modern brides. From a gin bar on a bicycle, to a walking wedding ceremony and literary confetti, here's how to avoid having a fussy, frou-frou 'meringue' wedding celebration.
Simply click on an image below to launch the gallery...
Cool wedding ideas: Solange Azagury-Partridge Ring
Not into big flashy sparklers? Forgo a traditional engagement ring for this 18-karat gold 'Marry Me' ring from ultra-cool jeweller Solange Azagury-Partridge.
£1,400 Solange Azagury-Partridge
Cool wedding ideas: Alphabet Bags Bridesmaid Tote
Duty-bound to help in any wedding emergency, ensure bridesmaids have everything to hand with this cool cotton tote.
£12, alphabetbags.com
Cool wedding ideas: Bonbon Balloons
Bunting is SO over - now, it's all about the perfectly round bubble balloon. Filled with helium and decorated with handcrafted strings, Bonbon offer a rainbow of colours to decorate reception spaces. Or why not have bridesmaids holding a bunch as a fun alternative to a bouquet of flowers?
£28 each, Bonbon Balloons at ruby+diva
Cool wedding ideas: Stacie Swift Lovebirds Card
There's just the right amount of whimsy to illustrator Stacie Swift's sweet Lovebirds wedding card.
£2.75 (with envelope), Stacie Swift
Cool wedding ideas: RE-Found Tattoo Brandy Glasses
Embellished with a tattoo Love heart, Good Luck horseshoe and Forever garland amongst others, these cool brandy glasses are surprisingly perfect for decorating a wedding.
£25 each, re-foundobjects.com
Cool wedding ideas: Charlotte Olympia Platforms
Featuring leopard print heels and a pretty heart detail on the back, these glamorous platforms will make a statement as you head down the aisle. Great for those opting for a modern short dress style.
£620, Charlotte Olympia
Cool wedding ideas: Big Wave Festival Flags
Having an outdoor wedding reception? Create a festival-chic vibe with these jubilant, 8m-tall handmade flags.
From £30 each, Big Wave Flags at ruby+diva
Cool wedding ideas: Borrowed Blue Striped Paper Straws
Add an on-trend Fifties feeling to your big day with these retro striped straws from Borrowed Blue Wedding. Just as perfect with a gin fizz cocktail as in an American Diner-style milkshake.
£2.95 (for 25 straws), boutique.borrowedbluewedding.com
Cool wedding ideas: Ginger Pig Pork Pie Wedding Cake
A main course and wedding cake rolled into one, Ginger Pig's three-tiered beauty is handmade at the brand's farm in Levisham, North Yorkshire. Filled with rare breed pork, prospective brides and grooms can make it bespoke with pastry decorations and a selection of savoury and fruit fillings.
From £325, thegingerpig.co.uk
Cool wedding ideas: Merriweather Council Embroidered Table Numbers
We promise we won't spill the beans if you decide to tell your guests you made these vintage-chic embroidered table number hoops yourself.
£16.58 each (approx), Merriweather Council
Cool wedding ideas: Stepping Beyond Walking Weddings
Head into the wild with a walking wedding from Stepping Beyond. Pick your route and walk to or from your wedding ceremony (with or without your party) through the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. Family-run company Stepping Beyond can also arrange for the ceremony and reception to take place outside at your chosen Hertfordshire beauty spot.
Cool wedding ideas: Hummingbird Mobile Bakery
Currently bringing its delicious cupcakes to festival goers this summer, the Hummingbird Bakery's mobile unit (and therefore cupcakes on tap!) would surely be the coolest thing ever to have at your wedding.
Cool wedding ideas: Laqa&Co Nail Polish Pen
Lower the risk of nail-varnish-on-wedding-dress incidents with an ingenious nail polish pen from Laqa&Co. Working just like a real pen, brides-to-be can quickly and neatly do nails anywhere in just a few clicks. Plus, each pen is covered in an unique artwork created by a young designer who gets a cut of the profits from each pen sold - so you'll be helping the arts too.
£10.50, Laqa&Co
Cool wedding ideas: The Travelling Gin Co.
Serving G&Ts and other gin-based cocktails from a vintage bicycle, gin fiends will love The Travelling Gin Co.'s mobile bar at their wedding. Founders Edward Godden and Joseph Lewis love taking their bicycle bar to unusual places, so the more obscure your request, the better.
Cool wedding ideas: In The Treehouse Circus Stationery
Swap staid wedding invites for this quirky circus-inspired range from Devon-based stationery firm, In The Treehouse.
£1.70 (save the date card with envelope), inthetreehouse.co.uk
Cool wedding ideas: Bookish Literary Confetti
Bookish has turned guilty-pleasure Mills and Boon novels into pretty, heart-shaped paper confetti that's ideal for scattering on tables or throwing over the happy couple. Surely it's only a matter of time before Fifty Shades of Grey confetti goes into production?
From £5, Bookish at ruby+diva
Cool wedding ideas: Lilimandrill Portrait Stamps
Make wedding stationery truly personalised with a hand-carved rubber stamp of a portrait of you and your beau.
£46.42 (approx), Lilimandrill
Cool wedding ideas: Personal Invite Tube Map Invitation
London brides will appreciate this humorous take on the city's iconic Tube map.
From 50p (for a place card), Personal Invite at ruby+diva
Cool wedding ideas: Dolly Bow Bow Floral Headband
Forgo a traditional veil in favour of a statement floral headband. Everyone from Lana Del Rey to Keira Knightley have been spotted in them this summer, and Missoni heiress Margherita Missoni gave her bridesmaids floral garland toppers at her wedding last month.
£15, dollybowbow.co.uk
Cool wedding ideas: Personalised M&Ms
Fill up sweetie jars at the wedding reception with your own personalised stash of M&M chocolates.
From £2.90 (per M&M), mymms.co.uk
Cool wedding ideas: Richard Nicoll for Topshop Bridal
Fashionista brides on a budget will love Richard Nicoll's highly-anticipated debut bridal collection for Topshop.
From £75, Richard Nicoll for Topshop
Cool wedding ideas: Cute Maps Stationery
Guests will have no excuses for being late to your wedding venue thanks to these sweet, hand-drawn maps which can be made into postcards, invitations, magnets or event maps.
From £86, cutemaps.co.uk
Cool wedding ideas: Armand de Brignac Champagne
With prices starting from £285 per bottle, Armand de Brignac Champagne (nicknamed Ace of Spades after the brand's distinctive pewter label) should probably be reserved for the top table only. However, this luxury Champagne is well worth splashing out on. Hand-crafted by a team of just eight people in the prestigious Chigny les Roses village in Champagne, France, not only is it loved by celebs such as Beyoncé and Jay-Z but it has been the world's number one Champagne.
From £285 (for Ace of Spades Brut), harveynichols.com
Cool wedding ideas: The Kingpin Suite
With a five-lane bowling alley at its core, a glitzy, Vegas Americano vintage décor and an in-house kitchen that offers American diner food alongside chic canapés from Fleet River Bakery, you'll be sure to have a memorable wedding reception at the splendid Kingpin Suite in London.
Cool wedding ideas: Wear That There Jewellery
Bridesmaids will love the pretty keepsake necklaces and bracelets from Wear That There. The East London-based company will personalise their silver and gold plated pieces with a special saying or song lyric for a truly unique memento of your wedding day.
From £68, wearthatthere.com
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