If ever there was proof that rain on your wedding day can feel romantic, it’s Montana and Archie’s elegant wedding in the Swan Valley. With beautiful soft sage tones, French chateau-inspired surrounds and a ceremony between downpours, their day was filled with the kind of beauty you can’t really plan for. Thankfully, photographer Willie Thow and videographer NA Studios Weddings were there to capture every fleeting moment, from the emotional vows to the laughter that carried through the rain.

From the moment Montana and Archie matched on their dating app, they hit it off instantly. “We realised that we share a lot of common interests. I knew she was the one as soon as we started dating,” Archie shared.

There was a period of time where Archie and Montana were travelling around, and upon their arrival back in Perth, he thought it was the perfect time to ask that almighty question. “I popped the question during a fine dining experience specially arranged for her birthday at a restaurant in Crown Perth,” he explained.

Archie chose a sand-coloured suit set from Peter Jackson, paired with a white dinner shirt and a black bow tie. “I wanted to match with my wife’s gown and the vibe of our wedding.”

Their wedding party was made up of close friends on both sides. The groomsman wore a light grey suit, and the bridesmaids wore a collection of sage green dresses from Archela Bridal.

Montana fell in love with a gown from Archela Bridal, particularly its dreamy, romantic design and soft, sparkly tulle. “She loved the A-line dress as it was neither too formal nor too casual for our outdoor ceremony.”

Nestled in the Swan Valley, Brookleigh Estate was the perfect venue for this modern wedding. “It has very beautiful scenery and gardens. As my wife and I are both in the architectural and urban planning field, we fell in love with the French chateau-inspired property when we were considering different venues. We exchanged our vows in front of family and friends at the terraced area of the Chateau with the beautiful architecture as a backdrop,” Archie explained.

“As for our reception, it was held at The Lakeview Room, which is the estate’s newest function space that provides an expansive view of the gardens and lake outside, as well as a beautiful sunset! For better or for worse, it was also the only rainy day within weeks of hot summery temperatures, so I would say our day was definitely unforgettable!”

Montana walked down the aisle with her father to a cover of “You Are The Reason” by Calum Scott. She entered through the stable and walked out onto the terrace in front of the Chateau.

Even equipped with paper parasols and fans to beat the heat, nothing could have protected the guests from the downpour that was about to hit as the couple had their ceremony. “We wanted our ceremony to have a sweet and emotional feeling, but it rained suddenly just before the start of our ceremony. We only had a short window with no rain, so we had to improvise and complete the ceremony before the downpour. We left our reading in the capable hands of our lovely celebrant, Lin from Just Auspicious.”

While they wanted to keep things modern, it was still important for Montana and Archie to include a version of the traditional Tea Ceremony after their ceremony to honour their Chinese roots. “The Tea Ceremony is a symbolic ritual in our culture that represents respect, gratitude, and union between two families when a couple weds,” Archie explained.

Perth is known for its hot, dry summers, with locals used to going months without rain – and yet! It poured on Montana and Archie’s day. “This goes to show that things don’t always go according to plan. That said, the rain did not stop us from getting married, and we chose to see it as a shower of blessings instead. We were also lucky to have helpful vendors who handled the unexpected situation professionally and smoothly, ensuring the ceremony could proceed. It truly made our wedding day memorable!”

If there was one vendor who stood out to Archie and Montana for their incredible work, it was Ultimo Catering! “We had planned to have our pre-reception canapes session at an outdoor space at the venue – the Jacaranda Garden. However, it started raining during our ceremony. After a quick discussion with the catering team post-ceremony, they were very accommodating and managed to come up with backup options on the spot. The canapes session was then promptly changed to a different location before the rain became heavier.”

Working with their florist, Blooms By June, Archie and Montana chose a green-and-white palette with just a hint of pink. “We decided to go pink to add to the celebratory and auspicious atmosphere, rather than red, which is more common in Chinese cultures and weddings. Some natives were also included in the florals as they are my wife’s favourites. We decided to go with tall flower stand arrangements as statement features for our ceremony (as recommended by our florist) so that they would frame us beautifully for the most important moment when we said ‘I do’,” he explained.

“After the ceremony, the flowers were repurposed onto our bridal table for the reception. We kept it simple, using bud vase flowers on our guest tables.”

The five things that made Archie and Montana’s wedding so special for them were;

“1. The rain;

2. We did have a bubble tea cart from Perth Bubble Tea Cart for the pre-reception session.

3. Decorations;

4. Family & friends were there to celebrate with us on our special day;

5. Live DJs and music.”

Willie Thow was the photographer for Montana and Archie’s modern wedding, capturing all of its radiant beauty. “I have been friends with Willie for a long time, but he still handled his services very professionally for the day. He is passionate about his photography and has higher standards than we, the couple, when it comes to getting those perfect shots!” Archie shared.

For Archie, the easy-breezy morning was his favourite part of their day, along with the overall light atmosphere. “My favourite detail of the day was the preparations earlier, before the ceremony. We made sure we had ample time to set up and get ready without rushing. A few of our friends kindly came to help, and we exchanged banter and light-hearted conversations, which made the process memorable. I also had a lot of fun during the short games prepared for the dinner reception. They were engaging and involved all guests. The atmosphere was lively, and everyone had a great laugh!”

This is the advice Archie wants to share for couples planning their own outdoor weddings: “If you choose to have an outdoor wedding with spectacular views, it’s important to plan for unpredictable rain, wind, or extreme heat. Having a sheltered or indoor space as backup will help to ensure the day can still run smoothly regardless of weather conditions,” he explained.

“Choosing reliable and experienced vendors is equally important. Not only do they provide quality services, but they are also invaluable for time management and coordination, while remaining highly adaptable to unexpected situations. With the right team in place, you can simply relax and fully enjoy your special day.”

A huge congratulations to Montana and Archie on this beautiful celebration! And thanks to Willie Thow Photography for capturing all these moments, and thanks to Blooms by June for sharing it with us.