Rachel & Matthew
If you aren’t afraid of colour and love a wedding full of beauty and life then the colourful Yarra Valley winery wedding of Rachel & Matthew will delight your senses with its beautifully bright floral arrangements, stunning photographs and beautiful moments all captured by David Campbell Imagery.
The couple met through friends, Rachel remembering “We met through a mutual friend during university. We initially met at a friend’s birthday in 2004 and didn’t see each other again for a year after that. We hooked up the following year on NYE and began dating a few months after that, once I’d I returned from my US trip. As they say, the rest is history and we’ve been together for over 10 years!”
Bernadette Pimenta Couture created Rachel’s gown and veil, the bride remembering “My dress was made by the talented Bernadette Pimenta. I chose a smaller bridal boutique because of the personable nature and unique bespoke pieces in her collection. I was inspired by Kate Moss’ bohemian wedding and wanted my day to have a slightly rustic feel, whilst remaining classic and elegant. Essentially, Matthew and I wanted anyone to pick up the photos and not know what era or time period the wedding was held in. The dress was made from a beautiful thick Dutch lace imported from Europe. The unique lace detail suited me more than the traditional laces that are featured on other gowns I had tried on. This was also complemented by a capped the 1920s inspired veil, which was custom made to suit the dress. The experience was amazing. Bernadette was also open to collaborating on ideas and alterations.”
Stunning bright floral arrangements by I Heart Flowers were a feature of the day, Rachel explaining “The flowers were made from a spectacular colour palette of bright pinks, fuschia, orange, yellow, green and black. Colour was a very important element of the day and was woven through the floral arrangements and styling.”
Rachel and Matthew chose Stones Of The Yarra Valley for their wedding, the bride explaining “We fell in love with France on a trip to Europe a few years ago and have always been inspired by their simple and tasteful way of life. We held the wedding at the Stones of The Yarra Valley, a gorgeous venue half an hour from Melbourne, with a vineyard and an elegantly restored rustic chapel and barn.”
Rachel walked down the aisle with her parents to Fire and The Flood by Vance Joy.
Father Brendan Hogan of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish officiated the ceremony, Rachel remarking “We opted for a traditional Catholic service, accompanied by readings we had chosen and written for our special day. We wanted the ceremony to be as stress-free as possible and didn’t want to worry about writing our own vows. After all, we’d been together for over 10 years, so putting all those feelings onto paper, we felt we couldn’t do it justice.”
I Heart Flowers continued the bright colour through the reception. “Zoe Webb our florist from I Heart Flowers, was amazing at helping us tie the finer details together. She went over and above to really make our day extra memorable!”
Of the first dance, Rachel remembers “We didn’t take lessons or do any special preparation for the day, so I’d say our form wasn’t great! Our first dance was to Romeo & Juliet by Dire Straits. It brings back so many memories and the various times we’ve watched my favourite movie, Empire Records.”
Of their photographer, Rachel remarks “David Campbell is one of the most talented photographers we know. Dave and I had worked with each other a few years back in the media industry, however, he left to pursue a career in photography – something he was hugely passionate in. Dave was such a joy to work with and such a legend for battling the rain with us. Looking at the photos, he really captured the essence of the day.”
The bride changed into a vibrant red gown for the reception, telling “I had a customary gown change during the reception. I opted for something a little more traditional, changing into a modern take on a Chinese Cheongsam dress. As my background is a mix of Malaysian Chinese and Filipino heritage, I thought it would be nice to make a nod to my Asian roots.”
“My dad’s speech was the highlight of the night. He made the entire room laugh and cry. Dad is typically not one to show his emotions, especially given his conservative upbringing. It was an emotional, touching and heartfelt speech that showed how proud he was as a father. Definitely a memory I will treasure forever, and one I will never forget.”
“Our favourite part was putting the music compilation together. It was a nice touch getting guests to request songs for the wedding. One thing I learnt was to keep song lists short and know what to play next. There were only 2.5 hours allocated to dancing, so we didn’t have enough time to get through my 200 song playlist!”
Congratulations on your marriage Rachel and Matthew! Thank you for sharing your day with us! Thank you also to David Campbell Imagery and I Heart Flowers for sharing today’s celebration with us!
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