Callum is a Captain on the Saab 340 for a small regional airline and Raquel is a flight attendant at a mainline airline. We both love traveling to different countries and working hard to save for the next big trip. We also share a love for animals in particular our adopted cat Cleo.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Callum — We first started talking online for a couple of months as working in aviation our rosters did not usually align. Our first proper date was at the hospital for an infusion for me followed by sushi. My first impressions of Raquel were “Is she real?” I thought she must have been an online bot but had to pinch myself when I met her in real life.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
Raquel — We went to movie world for White Christmas and we were lining up in the main street. It started to rain. Callum protected me from the rain in the new Superman shirt he had purchased. I knew then that he was the one!
Callum — I knew when we had been dating only a few months in and on Valentine’s Day I “jokingly” took Raquel into Tiffany & Co to look at engagement rings. I was interested in the yellow diamonds from the Kimberley as I used to fly over the mine site during my scenic touring flying days out of Broome. When she didn’t hesitate for a second to start looking at rings I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. From that day I started saving for the perfect ring!
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
Callum —I thought a lot about the proposal as Raquel doesn’t like secrets. We got the engagement ring made together because I wanted her to have the perfect ring that she would love forever. After that was made at Hogans Jewellers I said that I got to decide when and where I would propose.
I had to have one surprise. She agreed and I decided to pretend to take her to lunch at Hellenika at the Calile Hotel as we were location scouting for wedding locations well before I proposed. I told her I had arranged to look at one of the rooms so she wouldn’t be suspicious. As we walked into the room one of Raquel’s favourite songs “Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls” started playing and Raquel was like that’s weird. I played dumb and continued to look around the room with her.
We then checked out the view of the pool. Anyone who knows Raquel will tell you she likes to get a good picture! I had one of the staff in on the engagement surprise and she said I will take a picture of you guys on the balcony if you like (Although she was filming us in reality). I was wearing a knee brace at the time from an injury and was “adjusting it” when I took the ring out of my bag and got down on one knee and proposed timed perfectly with the chorus of Iris in the background. She said yes! I then told her this was our room for the night.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
Raquel — I can’t think of just one element so I’ll mention the three things that come to mind. The Calile itself because we got engaged there, we wanted it to be special and the package we got included the penthouse suite which was amazing!
I looked at different options for the flowers and decided, in the end, to splurge as the flowers were so fresh and amazing. We had roses for my Grandmother who had passed and orchids for my Grandfather who had also passed. They really went with the vibe that I was going for and were perfect.
Our cake was handcrafted by Whipped Cakery in NZ. We had Alyssa come over from NZ to make the cake in Brisbane, so it didn’t get damaged transporting it. She is amazing at what she does!
VENUE: The Calile Hotel, @thecalilehotel / PHOTOGRAPHER: Kate Robinson Photography, @katerobinson.co / CELEBRANT: That Celebrant Guy, @thtcelebrantguy / HIRE, MARQUEE, CATERING & BEVERAGES: The Calile Hotel, @thecalilehotel / FLORA: Bouquet Boutique, @bouquetboutique / CAKE: Whipped Cakery, @whipped_cakerynz / SUIT: Institchu, @institchu / BOW TIE: Otaa Brothers, @otaa.brothers / GROOM’S SHOES: RM Williams, @rmwilliams / GROOM’S HAIR: Twin Palms, @twinpalms_barbershop / BRIDE’S DRESS: Raquel wore her mum’s wedding dress from 1985 / VEIL: JJ’s House, @jjshouseofficial / RING: Hogan’s Family Jewellers, @hogansfamilyjewellers / BRIDE’S SHOES: RM Williams, @rmwilliams / EARRINGS: Givenchy, @givenchy / MAKEUP: Renee Jean Makeup Artist, @reneejean_makeup / HAIR: Hair by Jessica Gibson, @junglecathair / FRAGRANCE: Ariana Grande Cloud; Bleu de Chanel, @chanelofficial / BEST MAN’S SUIT: Institchu, @institchu / BOW TIE: Otaa Brothers, @otaa.brothers / MAN OF HONOUR’S SUIT: Asos, @asos
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