The Top 15 Real Weddings of 2023
Photography by Georgina Harrison Photography2023 has been a year! The world has reached the highest population ever in history! Home to 8 billion people now, here are just a few of the world’s love stories we were honoured to share this year. Most importantly, it’s been a year of some truly spectacular weddings. This roundup of real weddings includes the top-performing weddings on social media and team favourites as well as some additional weddings that we just haven’t stopped thinking about. Let’s enter the world of bold untraditional bridal fashion, colourful retro wedding cakes, champagne tower fails, stylish wedding accessories, and, of course, all the love! In no particular order, here are the top 15 real weddings of 2023.
Drum roll, please! Here are Rock My Wedding’s top 15 real weddings of 2023!
MULTICULTURAL LARMER TREE GARDENS WEDDING
Asha & Kevin’s Larmer Tree Gardens wedding just had to be in this roundup. This wedding day was one hell of a celebration! A celebration of love, culture, music, food, and family. Asha & Kevin completely fell in love with Recommended Venue, Larmer Tree, and wanted to make it the focal point of their day with an epic outdoor ceremony. They created an energetic and colourful adventure for guests as they moved through 6 different locations around the venue throughout the day. Recommended Supplier, Richard Skins Photography, captured this beautiful day! With over 200 guests attending to toast their marriage, this couple created a day that would go down in our most epic weddings ever book. The red reception dress. Need we say more?
Eleganza Sposa Bridal Gown at Hidden River Cabins
One of our most popular posts on Instagram this year featured Ellie & Declan's beautiful day. Ellie & Declan married at the incredible Recommended Venue, Hidden River Cabins and celebrated their wedding over not one, not two, or even three days...but a whole week! The couple had an intimate legal ceremony and then had everyone get involved in the main event with a handfasting ceremony and personal vows. Ellie walked down the aisle in an Eleganza Sposa wedding dress and definitely stole the show. For this week-long extravaganza, the couple had a special surprise...Declan surprised the bride with this amazing vintage wedding car. Now that's a unique something blue!
GAY WEDDING WITH SECULAR CEREMONY
Alex & Chris married in a botanical-style wedding with a secular ceremony in France! The couple really wanted their big day in an industrial, green atmosphere with a few boho touches to remind them of the South of France. Their original wedding was supposed to take place in September 2020 but they patiently waited and were able to have the day a year later with their exact vision! All we have to say is, it was worth the wait! And certainly worthy of our top weddings of 2023, although that may be largely due to their fluffy dog, Snow!
mICRO WEDDING AT LAINS BARN
If micro weddings filled to the brim with love, foliage walls, incredible lighting, and smoke flares are your thing, we've got some excellent news. Claudia & Paddy's incredible wedding will be right up your street. This gorgeous couple wanted to bring in aspects of nature as well as represent their Irish and Ghanaian heritage. They did this with their foliage wall, floral arrangements, the burnt orange bridesmaid dresses for Ireland, and the printed hand fan favours and drummers for Ghana. When we say we love subtle yet effective gestures in wedding decor and style - this is what we mean! This day stood out to us so much, that it had to be included in our top real weddings of the year! Recommended Supplier, Lee Daniels Photography captured these nuances as well as the electric energy of the day flawlessly. Another way to add elegant details to your theme? Through your stationery, of course! Claudia & Paddy got the memo by picking Recommended Supplier, Bewilderly.
STYLISH RED AND PINK WEDDING THEME
We all know that black and gold is a classic colour combination but we’re so in love with this red and pink wedding theme for Koula & Michael’s wedding at Recommended Venue, Middleton Lodge! Another top performer on social media, this colour clash wedding is proof that the key to a gorgeous wedding is doing it your way! Koula & Michael wanted all the extra over-the-top vibes and went big with the wedding flowers, statement puff sleeves on the Chosen by Kyha wedding dress, and a pink champagne tower! This is what wedding dreams are made of and everything was captured by Recommended Supplier, Georgina Harrison Photography.
Hot Pink VIVIENNE WESTWOOD WEDDING DRESS
Continuing with the pink theme, (with the release of Barbie and Pantone's 2023 colour of the year being Viva Magenta, it's no wonder this colour dominated the wedding world) here's Eve & Robin's striking wedding day. Eve wore the most incredible pink Vivienne Westwood wedding dress. We've seen a lot of weddings in our time - so when our jaws drop, it must be a testament to an outstanding day. Having postponed three times due to Covid, Eve & Robin had the most colourful, fun-filled, festive party ever with balloons, streamers, heartfelt speeches, and appearances from Dolly the dog. Recommended Venue, Middleton Lodge served as the perfect backdrop for this pretty pink wedding.
LBGTQIA+ KINGSCOTE BARN TETBURY WEDDING
Lizzie & Kellie's gorgeous LGBTQIA+ wedding at Recommended Venue, Kingscote Barn Tetbury has got all of our jaws on the floor. It wasn't just Lizzie's incredible gold dress that sparkled - but the entire day shone bright. Incredible florals, fantastic bridal outfits, a tattoo station, walking back down the aisle to the 'Friends' theme tune... Can it get any better? Hint: yes, it can. And it does. The venue tied the wedding theme of edgy, grungy black, orange, and gold seamlessly. The wedding photos convey the true love of Lizzie & Kellie's special day perfectly. And that is all thanks to Recommended Supplier, Gemma Gaskins Photography.
MARGATE DREAMLAND THEME PARK WEDDING
A dream(land) of a wedding at Margate Dreamland? It wouldn't be a roundup of the top weddings if this day wasn't included. Vikki & Beth's colourful celebration was a rollercoaster from start to finish. And we mean that in a literal sense - because their theme park wedding featured everything we love about them - rides, food, joy, music, and most importantly, love. Recommended Supplier, Kirsty Mackenzie Photography was able to capture the individuality, quirkiness, diversity and beauty of this day superbly. It's truly a gift to see such a unique and wonderful wedding. Speaking of gifts... Vikki & Beth chose Recommended Supplier, Prezola as their gift list service of choice.
BLACK WEDDING CAKE & DECOR
With the release of the TV show, 'Wednesday', gothic vibes are back and better than ever. Think modern gothic Addams family wedding and you have Laurel & Tom's incredible wedding day! This couple had fun and alternative styling for their gothic day with a black colour palette. From a breathtaking black wedding cake, black bridesmaid dresses and black coffin signage, too! Laurel & Tom wanted to encapsulate their style and wow their guests...they were wowed and so are we! Recommended supplier, Nya Rue Events, was behind all the amazing ideas on this unique day!
Team Favourites
Leah Blundell - Senior Creative Copywriter
BLACK-TIE WYRESDALE PARK WEDDING
After three postponements, Nina & Lee wanted their Wyresdale Park wedding to be personal and unique. Leah loves a sophisticated old Hollywood glamour style wedding day and Nina & Lee nailed this with a subtle rustic touch! Not to mention Nina's incredible short wedding reception dress! It's so chic! The bridesmaids shone in gold with dresses from Recommended Supplier, TH&TH Bridesmaids. The classic white florals totally added to the vibes! Capturing this incredible day was the amazing Recommended Supplier, Emily Robinson Photography!
Holly Cannon - Social Media Manager
BRIGHT SEFTON PARK PALM HOUSE WEDDING
For Holly, Roisin & Ollie's Sefton Park Palm House wedding was a no-brainer for her fave wedding of the year! With bright flower arrangements, jaw-dropping table centrepieces, an incredible ruffle Emma Beaumont wedding dress AND a bride speech, this day is potentially our most Pinterest-worthy wedding of the year! Holly loves an orange and pink colour combination. The bolder, the better! The retro wedding cakes are just the icing on top too (literally)! The couple had the creative genius and Recommended Supplier, ZAZ Events, to assist with planning and styling the venue!
Julia Patterson - Product Owner
INTIMATE GILSTRAP REGISTRY OFFICE WEDDING
Julia's favourite real wedding of 2023 is Nicolle & Bassey's intimate wedding at the Gilstrap Registry Office. This stunning couple have been together for nine years and finally said their vows surrounded by the loving presence of their closest family members and the participation of their four adorable children. Nicolle was 6 months pregnant with baby number 5 at the time of the wedding! Julia not only loved the intimate family-oriented vibes of this day but was especially impressed at how the couple pulled off this special day in just 6 weeks! Recommended Supplier, Pear & Bear Photography, had the honour of capturing this special day.
Jaimee-Lee Bowes - Partnerships Assistant
PRESTON COURT WEDDING WITH BOOZE BATH
Jaimee-Lee's favourite wedding of 2023 was this hot pink special! Tasmin & Ant married at Recommended Venue, Preston Court, and decided to do things entirely their way. This meant including a bath full of booze, a shot seating plan, and fairground games with streamers and disco balls galore. Recommended Supplier, Streamadelica, provided the streamers and the decor was by Recommended Supplier, The Little Wedding Warehouse. It’s safe to say, this wedding was one hell of a party. Opting for a bespoke ceremony run by Recommended Supplier, Bex the Celebrant, Tasmin & Ant’s day was truly a reflection of them! Of course, Jaimee-Lee wanted to include a special mention for Tasmin’s gorgeous wedding dress by Recommended Supplier, Made With Love.
Jade Nash - Brand Partnerships Manager
PASTEL WEDDING THEME AT BOWERS MILL
For Jade, Lauren & Joe’s wedding day at Recommended Venue, Bowers Mill, is the top real wedding of 2023. Jade fell in love with this wedding because it's similar to her own personal style. The day was chic and fun thanks to their pastel wedding theme. From a booze bath to a beer pong table to a (collapsed) champagne tower, this wedding was SO much fun, and it’s safe to say everyone certainly enjoyed the party of the year. Jade loved how this couple embraced the 'fails' of the day wholeheartedly and couldn't stop smiling. The reception was decorated with disco balls (Jade's fave!) and pastel decor including mismatched pastel vases, candlestick holders, and painted candlesticks. Recommended Supplier, Lauren Elliott Photography, captured the day beautifully. Plus, the wedding band was found via Recommended Supplier, Alive Network! This couple certainly know how to party!
Jennifer Read-Dominguez - Editor
BLACK-TIE Minimalist CRUMPLEBURY WEDDING
The dress, the flowers, and the photography; our editor, Jen, loves everything about Shani & Romaine's wedding. In each shot taken by Recommended Supplier, True Lens Art, you'll see the romance, fun, and sheer style of the couple's big day at Recommended Venue, Crumplebury. "I also love how the green satin bridesmaid dresses from Recommended Supplier, Rewritten Bridesmaids, look against the soft minimalistic monochrome decor," she said. Romaine and his groomsmen also nailed it in suits from Recommended Supplier, TDR Bridal, while Shani looked stunning in two incredible dresses! Why settle for one when you can have two?
What's been your favourite real wedding of 2023?
And with that, the 2023 season comes to a close…but we can’t wait for 2024! Wondering what’s going to be in for next year? Head to our 2024 wedding trends to see all our predictions. To all our 2024 couples, it’s your year! We’d love to share your special day! Ask your photographer to check out our wedding submissions and you could feature in next year’s roundup.
