Brad and Rachael

Brad and I became best friends while studying PDHPE teaching together at university. After 10 years of friendship including travelling overseas together, we finally became more than just friends and a wedding soon followed! Brad’s proposal was perfect – completely relaxed, just like we are, but still very special. I was shopping with my sister when I got a phone call from Brad saying his car had broken down at the beach. Annoyed at the inconvenience, I went down to help sort it out. When Brad came into sight he was standing in a love heart he had drawn in the sand holding a bunch of red roses and a special little box! I couldn’t stop giggling and after a heartfelt speech and proposal I finally said ‘Yes’.

My parent’s backyard which lies on the riverbank, was the perfect choice for our ceremony and reception. We had a silk lined marquee set up with white ottomans and cocktail furniture throughout from North Coast Party Hire, so our guests could relax and mingle easily.

Our theme was pretty, fresh and coastal (as Brad and I are both beach lovers) with a touch of bling. We decorated the venue ourselves with help from family and friends. Brad’s mum made pomanders that hung in trees, dad made bamboo aisle runners, I made table centrepieces and marquee decorations. Lanterns and glass baubles hung in the trees surrounding the lawn, mum planted white flowers throughout the garden and we had tea lights in the gardens to give it a magical feel.

The morning of the wedding my mother and sister in law did our makeup as we listened to girlie songs, drank champagne and ate nibbles while the boys went for an early surf. Our jewellery was from Lovisa and my gorgeous shoes from Wittner matched the ruffles on my dress!

Our bouquets from The Enchanted Florist in Lismore, perfectly reflected the fresh and pretty theme of the day, consisting of white lisianthus, calla lilies, singapore orchids, berries and a sprinkling of diamantes! On my bouquet I attached a brooch from my nanna who has passed away, as my ‘something old’.

It rained just as the girls and I arrived at the venue. We had planned to walk down the aisle created on the riverbank, but with a quick change of plans we moved the ceremony into the marquee. It ended up turning out beautifully anyway with Brad and I saying our vows in front of a table with pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days. Some of them had passed away so it was like they had front row seats to all the action!

 

Luckily the rain stopped in time for us to get our wedding snaps which were taken by Brad’s dad Frank Rasborsek who has been photographing weddings for over 20 years! It rained on both our parent’s wedding days and they are both still together after 30 years or so, so we consider the rainy weather good luck!

I was so lucky finding my dress by Mia Solano from Luv Bridal in Logan, buying it straight off the rack – and on sale! The bridesmaid’s dresses were from the same designer and we attached a crystal brooch at the neckline to match the bling on my dress. We had a cocktail reception with a roving selection of finger food including a huge variety of fresh seafood straight off my dad’s fishing trawler! Our 3 tiered white and chocolate marble mud cake from Greg’s Cakes in Ballina was served as dessert. Guests created an aisle and threw silver confetti in the air as we entered the reception!

We had a treasure box for guests to place their gifts. It was inscribed with ‘Live, love, Laughter and Happily Ever After’ – a gift from Brad’s parents.

Brad’s best friend, a country music star, and her husband sang a rendition of ‘We got tonight babe’ by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton, which they sang together at their own wedding. It was a very special surprise and brought a tear to my eye!

We wanted an uplifting, fun song for our first dance so we chose ‘Somebody like you’ by Keith Urban our favourite artist!

Because it had been raining, there was mud everywhere on the lawn, so by the end of the night my dress was black underneath and everyone had their shoes off, but no one cared. We were all having a blast, dancing the night away. Despite the rain the whole evening was so much fun, we pretty much laughed our way from stop to finish and we wouldn’t change it for the world!

 

Ms Gingham says: It looks like this wedding was so much fun… all the photos are full of smiles and laughter you can’t help but feel happy for Rachael and Brad!

Rachael says: “I guess you could call me a laid back, easy going kind of girl who feels so incredibly lucky to find such a incredible hubby. Planning our wedding was one of the most exciting and fun things I have ever been involved in and it really brought out a creative side in me which I never knew I had!”