Weddings

Sun Herald

Sunday April 13, 2008

By Kate Cox

Who Rachel Moon and Neil Cooke Where St Paul's Anglican Church, Seaforth

NEIL Cooke had been living it up in Britain for almost six years when he spotted the woman of his dreams across a crowded London bar and announced to his friends that she would be the "future Mrs Cooke".

Never mind they not only hadn't met but Rachel Moon, the woman in question, hadn't even noticed him - and she was just about to end her two-year British sojourn.

His confident style worked, though: three years and several huge phone bills later, the plucky property developer Neil, 32, and Rachel, 27, were indeed married, at St Paul's Anglican Church in Seaforth, with their gorgeous nine-month-old daughter Madison serving as flower girl.

A cocktail reception under a marquee in their large garden was followed by an after party at Henry Afrikas in Manly, which the happy couple attended until the wee hours.

The Cookes spent their two-week honeymoon in Fiji, including eight days at the five-star Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Island Resort on Vanua Levu Island.

The dress Rachel wore a strapless silk gown by Strictly Bridal on the Gold Coast, with a ruched long-line bodice and fishtail skirt. Flower girl Madison wore a shoestring-strap dress with matching ruched top and tulle bottom. Bridesmaids Emma Barber, Simone Leigh, Lisa Mansfield and Emma Phillips wore green raw-silk halter-neck dresses from Pin Hi in South Curl Curl.

The flowers The bride and bridesmaids had bouquets of oriental lilies and pink roses from Berries Floral Design in Bilgola Plateau.

The food Simon Ekas Catering provided a range of delicious cocktail canapes, including zucchini flowers, barramundi burgers and salt-and-pepper squid.

The cake Sugar Princess in Narraweena prepared a chocolate mud cake, with four tiers of individual desserts below, including lemon meringue pies, strawberry tarts, profiteroles and cheesecakes.

BEST WEDDINGS

Who Michelle Iddon and Conal McCullough

Where Long Reef Golf Course, Long Reef

Michelle first met Conal in 2001 during a stint as a camp counsellor at Camp Chipinaw in the US. They soon became inseparable and were even married while at the camp, by a nine-year-old celebrant, with pipe-cleaner wedding rings. They decided to make things official in 2007 with 85 of their nearest and dearest. The couple honeymooned in Thailand before returning to London, where they are living at present.

Photo Schwartz Photography

Who Emma DeCean and Andrew Murison

Where Loxley on Bellbird Hill, Kurrajong

Although they had been attending the same church for two years, Emma and Andrew first met in 2005 when they were appointed leaders of their youth group. Soon after they started dating, then travelled to Europe together in 2006. The couple celebrated their February wedding with a honeymoon to the Cook Islands and New Zealand.

Photo Wolter Peeters

Who Emma Hughes and Nick Choldcroft

Where Prince Edward Park, Cabarita

Emma and Nick first met 10 years ago when they were both working for a printing company, but it took four years for their office romance to begin. Six years on, Nick surprised Emma with a proposal over dinner at one of their favourite Italian restaurants. The couple wed in March, in front of more than 100 family and friends, followed by a 10-day honeymoon in Fiji.

Photo Fraicam Photography

We'd love to see your wedding snapshots. Please send them to Caitlin Chang, GPO Box 506, Sydney 2001. We apologise but photographs cannot be returned. Or you can send digital pictures to weddings@sunherald.com.au. They should be 15 centimetres wide at 1MB in JPG format.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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