Rach and Dave had already been married before, so when it came to planning their wedding together, there was a freedom to ditch the traditions they didn’t like, and embrace a new direction. “As a second wedding for both of us, we did it the way we wanted, if it didn’t mean something to us we didn’t do it.”

Always dreaming of a winter wedding, they chose local spots that held meaning for them, they invited just 40 guests, and they even ditched bouquets for glasses of champagne (and an incredible champagne tower, which we had to include in The Champagne Issue). Tones of gold, marsala and blush embracing the chilly air, and Little Black Bow Photography behind the camera documenting every personal, romantic detail.

It was a beautiful, if not perfect day for the couple, who met when Rach’s sister was moving house and her husband’s friend volunteered to help. Dave asking Rach to marry him at her 40th birthday party, surrounded by family and friends (and aptly, at the very same venue where they ultimately, celebrated their wedding!).

For the ceremony, Rach chose a beautiful long sleeve lace Grace Loves Lace gown. “I chose it because it was perfect for the ceremony mood we were trying to create.” She added a special piece to finish her look. “I wore Dave’s grandmother’s Sapphire ring as my something Old, something blue & something borrowed. It had been passed down to his mum when his grandmother died, and we lost Dave’s mum suddenly just after we got engaged so I knew I wanted a piece of her & a piece of his family history with me on the day.”

Rach and Dave held their ceremony in a very favourite local spot -Illalalung Park at Morpeth.  “We chose Illalalung Park at Morpeth as we would often sit at the pub across the road and admire the park & say that’s where we want to get married when the time comes.”

The floral details, styled by Petal Bang tied back to the romantic styling, says Rach “For my flowers I gave my florist a brief out line of what I liked – roses & orchids and the feeling we were going for. The rest I left to her to work her magic with…”

Rach and Dave put their children at the centre of the day, including walking down the aisle to an acoustic version of “Simply The Best”. “We have both been married before and it was important to us that our four kids had a role in the wedding, so my 10yr old daughter Lucy had her own moment to walk down the aisle on her own, the eldest boys walked me down the aisle and Dave’s 11yr old son Zac was just happy to sit in the front row & watch it all.”

Adds Dave “I remember seeing Rach at the top of our aisle, both of our eldest sons walking her down arm in arm, and then thinking to myself, this is exactly how I pictured being married. I remember having beers and sharing it all with family and friends all together. I remember wiping tears away every time I looked at Rach, she was simply stunning.”

Rach and Dave didn’t want pomp and tradition for their ceremony, they wanted a relaxed feel and they got it. The proceedings officiated by Monty King.  “We wanted the ceremony to be relaxed, a real extension of us & our personalities” explains Rach. “The bridesmaids didn’t carry bouquets they walked down the aisle with a beer or a glass of champagne. The ceremony was relaxed and just the way we had hoped it would be, plenty of beers & laughs.”

The couple handed the stress of their day over to wedding planner Wild Rose Events. “We loved getting to be creative and take all these elements of things I liked and had ideas about and bringing them all together to work as one vision for our day. Just to see everything I had worked on, thought about, planned all come together in the most perfect way was so amazing to see. All of the venders I chose were amazing and went above & beyond to make our day the most perfect… I can’t pick one, it’s like trying to name a favourite child.

Trust in those vendors you have chosen, you chose them for a reason, trust that they will make it happen for you, they have got you & you won’t be disappointed. And get an on the day coordinator… it’s worth every cent and more!!!”

Dave wore a navy suit from yd. Clothing and paired it with cufflinks given to him by Rach as an engagement present. She tells “I also gifted him a Bee lapel pin to wear on the day… as he calls me Hunny… and I say you can’t have “Hunny” without a bee.”

For the reception, Rach switched to a silky frock by Lexi Clothing. “It was the total opposite to my wedding dress and that’s why I chose it. I also wore neon orange heels by Steve Madden as I wore Steve Madden flats with my wedding gown.”

Favourite local bar Commercial Hotel Morpeth hosted an evening reception for the couple.  “It was where we got engaged and couldn’t imagine it anywhere else. We kept it really simple; we didn’t want too much stuff… especially at the reception as we wanted it to feel like and intimate cocktail lounge.”

The celebration continued! Rach and Dave kicking off the dance floor with a first dance to “King for a Day” by Anderson East.

Congratulations to you both Rach and Dave! Thank you for allowing us to share in your day and thank you to Little Black Bow Photography for sharing today’s beautiful story with us.