Rach and Phil’s five-day celebration of love, starting with an intimate Moreton Island elopement at Reeders Point
- 24 minutes ago
- 8 min read
An elopement, a reception, and a whole lot of love. Rach and Phil’s five-day wedding journey.
Ohhh my heart… Rach and Phil threw the rulebook all the way out the window when they reached out to chat about their five-day wedding celebration on Moreton Island.
Their plan? A beautiful mix of heartfelt intimacy and full-blown celebration, and it was nothing short of epic.
Here’s how it all went down:
Arrived together on Wednesday
Welcomed their parents, Nannas, and Rach’s sister on Thursday
Said “I do” on the beach at Reeders Point on Friday (with a picnic celebration, then dinner)
Barge to Brisbane on Saturday morning, glammed up again, and celebrated with all of their family and friends
Jet-set off on their overseas honeymoon on Sunday
When I first heard the plan, I’ll be honest… I had a few heart palpitations 😅
Tight turnaround. Unknown tides and weather predictions (too early to tell). A full reception back on the mainland. And an international flight the next day?! WOAH.
But Rach? She’s the Queen of Spreadsheets. Every outfit, item, and detail had its own suitcase. Every timeline was locked. And every moment? Pure. Magic.
And Phil? Standing right beside her with that “we’ve got this” energy. What a duo.
What they created wasn’t just a wedding. It was a five-day lovefest. And at the heart of it all was Reeders Point, Kooringal… the perfect place to say “I do.”
Rach and Phil share their advice, tips and tricks, and their vision for their Reeders Point, Kooringal elopement below, and I am so excited to share them with you.
What was your vision for your Moreton Island elopement?
“Our vision was just us and our closest family on the beach at Reeders Point, something really personal and tailored to us.”
Rach grew up in Kooringal, and Phil on Stradbroke Island, so choosing Reeders Point was the perfect choice. A moment in time where they could have the best of both worlds in one place. It was 100% worth mentioning in their script.
“This place has been part of your story since before either of you even realised it. It’s where your histories meet. It’s where home has always had salt in the air. And today, it becomes something even more. Because now, it’s the place where you say I do.”
What was your biggest concern when planning your ceremony?
“Weather!!!!!!! We were always a little worried about the weather and travel logistics.”
With the forecast of gale-force winds, as soon as Rach and Phil arrived at Kooringal, we ventured out together to lock in our backup plan. Our scout session resulted in not one, but four backup plans, and I’m so pleased to announce that Mother Nature did her thing and no backup plans were required.
What are you thankful for?
“Kerri! She was also so kind and reassuring. She took the time to get to know us and what really mattered most to make sure that our day was perfect.”
Nawwww, thanks guys, I’m thankful for the time we spent together during your epic wedding journey, the honour of sharing your hearts and story with me, and Rach for finding my soul sister in organised spreadsheets.
How would you describe the feel of your ceremony?
“Our ceremony was personal, intimate and full of love.”
Rach and Phil’s ceremony incorporated a special thank you to their family, secret messages from family and friends, their love story, “I do’s” that had us laughing, epic secret squirrel wedding vows (that I still cry over when I read them) and Ninja Vows that drove their message home. In the stillness of their ceremony, it truly was just Rach and Phil. The way they looked at each other, the playfulness and the gentleness, it’s like no one else was there. And we all felt that. Yes, there were tears and hugs and a moment in time that we will all carry with us. How lucky am I to share these moments with my couples. Honoured.
Where did you get inspiration for your vow writing?
“The vow course really helped Rach from start to finish. Phil used it to refine what he already had.”
Rach and Phil were gifted The Epic Vow Writing Course and shared:
“I loved it! I found it really helpful to break it all down and then have a simple structure to follow.”
Did you keep them secret from each other, or did you share?
“Secret vows with ninja vows!”
Watching Rach and Phil share their secret squirrel vows and ninja vows on the day reminds me of why I’m so passionate about wedding vows. They truly are the heart of the day.
Now I don’t condone secrets from your partner, EXCEPT for this one!
Keep your vows secret from each other. Please. Trust me. You’ll thank me later.
That moment in your wedding ceremony when you hear those words for the first time hits differently. It’s your own personal love bubble. It’s magic. I wish I could bottle it.
And if you decide not to share your wedding vows during the ceremony, you could always write each other a love letter to be shared on the morning of, or as well as, just like Rach and Phil did.
If you are curious, you can check out more information on Ninja Vows here.
Would you change anything about your vows?
“Nothing!!”
What are the things you would never change?
“Even though it was on a different day to our ceremony, we still included some traditional aspects like first dance, speeches and cake cutting. This really made it feel special and we got to celebrate with our friends and extended family who were not at the ceremony. It really was the best of both worlds.”
“It really was the best of both worlds.”
What is your favourite memory from the planning process?
“Catching up with Kerri at the Gutter Bar to run through the plans!”
What is your favourite memory from the ceremony or your wedding day?
Rach shared “Phil's reaction when he turned around to see me!”
Phil shared “Rach walking down the 'aisle'.”
What was your highlight or your "must-have" for the reception?
“Our highlight of our reception was being introduced as husband and wife surrounded by all of our family and friends. We also snuck back up to the Venue after our guests had left for a quiet moment just to take it all in. It was so worth it.”
Rach and Phil planned the ultimate celebration balance. The intimacy of a beach elopement with the energy of a reception surrounded by everyone they love. That sneaky little moment to slip away together after the party? That’s the gold right there. Time to breathe, connect, and soak up the magic you just created together. More couples need to do this!
What would you change if you had your day over again?
“Allow a little more time for family photos before our guests arrived as it took a bit longer than expected and made everything else run a bit late.”
Rach and Phil’s Top Tips for your Moreton Island Elopement!
"Stay by your partner's side during the day. It goes so quickly, and it's easy to get separated."
"Take the time to enjoy the lead-up. Planning gets stressful, so dedicate time to spend together and celebrate being excited."
"Stick to your vision!"
"Don't let external negativity or doubt get in the way of having the day you both want."
"Have a great spreadsheet!"
"We used a wedding planner for our Brisbane reception since we had the ceremony on the island the day before. This was the best money we spent. She took all the stress out of our day, all we had to do was show up!!"
Anything else you would like to share with other couples?
“Cake tasting boxes make for a great date night! Turn it into a fun game with a detailed ranking system. While planning can be stressful, remember to take the time to enjoy the process.”
Cake tasting = date night goals, and Rach and Phil absolutely nailed it.
If you're keen to create more of those playful, love-soaked moments during your engagement season (the kind that have nothing to do with timelines or to-do lists), here’s something you’ll love: Keeping the Spark Alive While Planning Your Wedding (No Wedding Talk Date Night)
Rach and Phil’s Moreton Island Wedding Dream Team:
Rach and Phil chose their dream wedding and reception team based on who they connected with and who fit within their allocated budget. Sharing that:
“Everyone was incredible and we recommend all of them.”
Moreton Island Elopement and Celebration Wedding Team
Ceremony Location: Reeders Point, Kooringal
Planning Team: Moreton Island Weddings
Photographer: Annie Dawson Photography
Catering, Styling, Arbour and Picnic Celebration: Sunset Picnics and Platters
Hair and Makeup: Rachael Jones Artistry and Fiora Beauty Co
Transport: Moreton Island Adventures
Accommodation: stayz.com
Elopement dinner: The Gutter Bar
Brisbane City Reception Team
Reception Location: Eagles Nest Brisbane
Wedding Planner: Weddings and Events by Bethany Cook
Photographer: Annie Dawson Photography
Content Creator: UGC with KJ
Entertainment: IDo Music Agency
Hair and Makeup: Rachael Jones Artistry and Fiora Beauty Co
Cake: Petit Crumb
Flowers/Balloons: The Paper Blooms Co
Rach and Phil share their experience of working with Kerri Watkins Celebrant.
“We have been to 5 other weddings in the past year and no other celebrant even comes close!”
Why did you choose Kerri Watkins Celebrant?
“Kerri was someone who specialised in weddings on Moreton Island, and then the instant connection we felt after our first meet!”
How would you describe Kerri Watkins Celebrant to other couples?
“Kerri was absolutely amazing. She took the time to learn all about us personally and as a couple. The whole journey felt so personalised and not like just another client. She gives so many tips and tricks along the way that always seemed to arrive in our inbox exactly when we needed it. We have been to 5 other weddings in the past year and no other celebrant even comes close!!!”
How was the overall experience of working with Kerri Watkins Celebrant?
“Everything about the experience working with Kerri was incredible, from the genuine passion to the connection, personalised approach and the actual delivery!”
What was one valuable piece of advice that Kerri Watkins Celebrant shared with you?
“To stop, take a second, and soak it all in. It all goes really fast, and you only get this moment once.”
More kind words from Rach and Phil left on Google.
“Kerri was truly incredible, and we’re so thankful she was our celebrant! From the very beginning, she took the time to really get to know us and understand what mattered most, making the whole experience feel so personal and meaningful. She was supportive through every step of the process and made us feel completely at ease. Her vow writing course was also a huge help! Kerri made our day so special - we honestly can’t thank her enough.”
Rach and Phil, thank YOU. Thank you for sharing your hearts and your vision. Not just with me, but with everyone who reads this post and dares to imagine doing things their way. You reminded us all that choosing your version of love over tradition is never the wrong call. And every time I stand at Reeders Point at sunrise, I think of you both and smile.
Are you dreaming of an intimate elopement on Moreton Island followed by a celebration back home with your favourite people?
Let’s chat. I’ll help you bring it to life with ease, heart, and a whole lot of logistics magic. You deserve the best of both worlds, just like Rach and Phil.
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