Weddings

Rachel & Kle’s Pared Back Beach Elopement

Words by Hannah Pronesti / Images by Stories by Ash
March 30, 2016

We’re swooning over today’s barefoot bride and groom. With their Fingal Head beach wedding beautifully captured by Ash of Stories by Ash, Rachel and Kle’s simple elopement has reminded us what marriage is all about.

This pair did things a little differently, in that neither of them popped the question. With their two children in tow, neither Rachel nor Kle was in a rush to tie the knot – “We always talked about getting married as if it was some romantic future possibility.” Rachel tells us. “We quietly had some rings made, planning to elope one day on a family holiday. It took us a few tries to make it happen but we finally got organised at the last minute on a holiday to visit friends in Brisbane.”

Being so relaxed about marriage, you can imagine these sweethearts were also happy to go with the flow when it came to planning their wedding. A friend suggested Fingal Head for their location and they built a neutral/blue-hued colour palette around the beach. “We didn’t have an intentional theme, but I suppose it evolved naturally as things came together in the weeks before the wedding,” Rachel tells us, and we have to agree, their elopement couldn’t have come together more perfectly.

Pared back beach elopement, Brisbane / Photography by Stories by Ash

Rachel did her own hair and makeup and donned a feminine dress from Forever New - somewhere she admits she wouldn’t usually shop - that she had picked up the week before. The definition of effortless beauty!

Rachel’s gorgeous native bouquet was crafted by Ash - photographer and woman of many talents apparently! “When Ash generously decided to make me a bouquet she asked about our colours and went with what we were wearing.”

Rachel and Kle couldn’t have been more grateful for their celebrant Paul Voge. “We would have been completely lost without Paul! He made us think about writing our vows in a whole new way and delivered the most humorous and beautiful ceremony.” Rachel tells us, adding, “He even carried our overloaded picnic basket!”

Rachel and Kle’s wedding advice is simple: “Be flexible. There were so many elements of our wedding that evolved naturally, without the pressure of expectation. Because we were relaxed about everything we were able to focus on each other and the moments, rather than being distracted by things not going to plan.”

After the ceremony, Rachel, Kle and their little wedding crew wandered down a forest path, where close friend and witness Alarna had styled a sweet little picnic. With soft vintage-looking rugs and some delicious-looking charcuterie, the newlyweds were able to kick back and enjoy the party.

Rachel and Kle’s picnic is one we’d quite like to join and they feasted on an assortment of delicious cheeses, dips and cured meats. We can’t take our eyes off that mouth-watering cake of theirs and Rachel confirms our assumptions – “The sour cream chocolate cake from Jocelyn's Provisions was absolutely delicious.”

Aside from a jack-of-all-trades, Ash from Stories by Ash is first and foremost a photographer – and a damn good one at that! “She captured the day in the most candid and love filled way.” Says Rachel. “You wouldn't know looking at the photos, but we are both awkward in front of a camera and Ash has an amazing skill to make herself invisible, yet capture the most detailed and intimate moments.