Matt and Rachael are personal friends of ours, so this was a super fun surprise to be a part of! They have four kids and just celebrated their 11th anniversary, but are still SO in love. Matt called me one day and ran this idea past me and we brainstormed up this really fabulous plan to get Rachael in her wedding dress so they could renew their vows. He and I both talked to her about doing a trash the dress session and getting her hair done for it...blah blah blah...we got the family all positioned in the church waiting, had her walk in to the sanctuary to "get pictures with the stained glass windows..." And here's how it went down from there...:)
Her daughter was waiting around the first corner for her, to hand her the bouquet. This was the first hint of any kind of a surprise.
The whole thing took place in the same church they were married in and as she approached her father at the door, he was holding the phone. On the phone was her brother who, at her wedding, had told her "I'm love you and I'm going to miss you" right before she walked down the aisle. It made her sob then, and it made her sob again today.
I love how Rachael's dad is looking at her as if he's giving her away for the first time...it's so adorable!
And Matt cracked too...it was a very sentimental ceremony.
Eleven years, but it looks like their first kiss...
Rachael had mentioned to Matt that she really liked the stain glass windows in the church...so we made sure to capture those artistically.
Love this one! :)
Are they gonna smash it???
Oh YEEESSSS they are!
And to keep us honest, Matt and I planned that we really WOULD take Rachael out to the beach to trash the dress...ever so nicely, of course!
Matt's kiss still knocks her veil right off. :)
You'll see this image (and a couple others) featured soon in Shore Brides Magazine...watch for it!
Rachael is such a good sport. I mentioned how cool it would be to do pictures up in the light house and she was like, "Matt, help me climb up there!" Check it out...and was it worth it?? OHHH YAHHH...
Matt and Rachael, congratulations! You are fantastic. Fantastic friends and wonderful examples of a God-blessed marriage. We love you guys!
