'We actually met on Facebook,' reveals Raechel. 'Rob is the guitarist of one of my favourite bands, I am a singer and we had many mutual friends on social media. We got chatting about music, the industry and other subjects and were friends for some years before we became romantically involved.'
Rob proposed during a laidback summer's evening in their lounge while the couple were listening to Beck's 'Morning Phase' on vinyl and drinking wine. 'Rob simply asked me there and then. It was intimate, extremely special and very 'us',' says Raechel.
With their original plans of a large wedding celebration being thwarted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the couple came across Millbrook Cottages and decided to steal away for an elopement wedding deep in the North Devon countryside.
Arriving some days in advance of the wedding allowed Raechel and Rob the opportunity to unwind in the spellbinding setting. 'We spent a couple of days discovering Millbrook with gorgeously picturesque strolls in the woodlands, chatting to the resident chicks, cats and other animals, and venturing out for meals,' says Raechel. 'By the morning of the wedding we felt relaxed and refreshed and ready for our big day.'
A pretty colour scheme of sherbet peaches, antique rose and foliage set the tone for their 'vintage, shabby chic and relaxed' celebration, including hydrangeas, roses and foliage in the bouquet, buttonhole and Raechel's hair. Raechel wore a gorgeously embellished gown by Justin Alexander, while Rob donned a blue linen suit.
Their summerhouse ceremony provided the couple's most cherished moments. 'For me, it was seeing Rae walking up the steps towards me and the look on her face,' says Rob. Meanwhile, Raechel cites: 'Saying our vows and knowing that we meant every word of them.'
The newly-weds then enjoyed champagne and photos around the sun-lit grounds before retiring to their cottage to relax ahead of their sumptuous evening feast. This was prepared by their 'outstanding' private chef and planner for the day, Justine Wood, and served in the candlelit sanctuary where they had taken those all-important vows.
A vegan afternoon tea featuring the likes of veggie wraps, spring rolls, pakora, courgette hors d'oeuvres, and vegan brownies and scones proved the perfect taste bud primer for their supper of oysters, mussels, seasoned mushrooms, cauliflower tempura, green tofu curry, sweet potato curry, sorbet with berries, rose and chocolate fondant, and vegan Eton mess.
'Our wedding was truly amazing and as it was just the two of us, really focused on what getting married is about,' she says, reflecting on their dreamily intimate day. 'We had a team of people around us who were on hand when we needed them but maintained a polite distance to let us enjoy the intimacy and joy of our day.'
'Don't make a wedding about other people,' she advises other couples. 'Make a list of what really matters to you and stick to a budget. It's really easy to get carried away with costs of 'favours' or 'invites' ' the truth is, what matters on the day is the both of you. Don't let others steer you to a day that you'll get lost in.'
Photography Michelle Ley Wedding Photography michelleleyphotography.com
Venue Millbrook Cottages & Estate millbrookestate.co.uk
Dress Justin Alexander, Shades of White shades-of-white.co.uk
Hair Hair by Hannah hairbyhannah.net
Flowers Alice Shaw Flora aliceshawflora.co.uk
Planner & private chef Justine Wood
