THE MOST PERFECT DAY
Special gestures and old-school acts made this wedding come to life
At the picturesque Braeside Chapel on the Gold Coast and on the anniversary of their fourth year together, Rachel Horn and Dean Millane tied the knot.
The couple met through mutual friends and soon realised they shared a love for the outdoors. Even before they started dating, they regularly climbed Table Top together. Years later, after an early morning climb and looking out over the captivating Toowoomba countryside, Dean proposed to Rachel.
Rachel said she always knew they’d get married one day but was shocked to learn that Dean had asked for her parents’ blessing about six months before popping the question. Dean had even picked out the perfect ring, which he had successfully hidden from his bride-to-be until the right moment.
Rachel and Dean wanted their wedding day to be personal and uniquely “them”. They wrote their own vows, engraved their wedding rings and incorporated photos of their childhood and relationship throughout their big day. As another special gesture, Rachel took Dean’s last name as her own.
On the day, bold reds punctuated their simple, clean style and Rachel’s love for flowers prompted their use of floral arrangements throughout. Their reception was a great celebration, with close friends and family giving marriage and date night advice, taking photos in the photo booth and playing the “shoe game”.
True to their love of the outdoors, Rachel and Dean honeymooned in Bora Bora and Moorea, where they swam with sharks and sting rays, explored mountains and soaked up the sun on golden beaches every day.
When asked about her groom, Rachel said: “Dean is so generous and caring. He is hilarious and is always trying to make me laugh. He is a hard worker and would do anything for those he loves. I am very lucky to call him my husband”.
In turn, Dean said that “Rachel is beautiful inside and out. She is smart and always supports me during our busy lifestyle.”
When asked about their plans for the future, the couple voiced their desire to travel in for a while, before settling down to start a family.
Rachel’s tips for planning a wedding day are to let others help and to remember that as long as you are married at the end of the day, nothing else really matters.