these using a predominantly white palette with blue and pink highlights for an elegant feel. They enlisted the help of venue styling company Limelight Wedding Emporium to bring the venue to life with the elements they wanted. The couple opted for faux flower trees placed at the end of the aisle and at the bottom of the stairs, along with white chair sashes. They utilised the bridesmaids’ bouquets as centrepieces for half the tables with candelabras and bud vases adorning the rest. Meanwhile, the focal floral display from the signing table doubled up as the top table arrangement. “We were so well looked after with food and drink throughout the day,” Rachael shares. “This was fantastic because I’m a hangry person and Harry has a few allergies.” The wedding party was served pastries in the morning while they got ready and the guests enjoyed the canapés during the drinks reception. The three-course wedding breakfast, featuring a lamb roast, was followed later in the evening with fancy hot dogs and fried chicken cones. “Nobody went hungry, and the team was fantastic at catering for dietary requirements,” Rachael says. The bride wore an Essense of Australia gown with custom sleeves. She’d gone along to a sample sale, just out of curiosity, and ended up walking away with the one! She knew she wanted a fairly simple, princess-style dress based on her usual style, and this was just the elevated version she was looking for. The groom and his party all wore matching tuxedos. Meanwhile, the bridesmaids were dressed in gorgeous satin twist dresses with mismatched white heels. A live violinist played as the bride and bridesmaids walked down the aisle and stayed for cocktail hour. “She made so many classics sound elegant and beautiful,” Rachael remembers. The couple look back most fondly on the moments they didn’t plan or predict, such as stealing five minutes together after the photos and looking out from the top table to see everyone they love in one room. Having now been there and done that, Rachael has some sound advice for soon-to-be-weds: “You’ll be given so much conflicting advice, but the most important thing is to figure out your budget, what you both want and what your priorities are, then run with it. Nobody who loves you should criticise your choice. Secondly, worry less and enjoy the engagement and planning process. By the time you’re standing at the end of the aisle you’ll no longer care which shade of napkin you picked!” REAL WEDDINGS 27
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