Rachel + Tommy by Natalie Joy Mitchell - Together Journal

Our vision was an elevated dive bar vibe.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We are Rachel and Tommy! We love the simple things. We enjoy driving along the California coast with our dog, Murphy, in the back of the truck. We love steak and wine nights at home, bonfires in the yard, spending time with friends and family, hitting the local pub, being near the ocean, and going on adventures. Tommy loves to surf and mountain bike, while Rachel enjoys hiking with the dog and doing yoga. We never miss a chance to swim, and we are truly best friends.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

Although we knew of each other through mutual friends in the past, we really connected in San Francisco. We were both living in the Sunset District and frequented similar dive bars around the city. I guess you could say we bonded over a mutual distaste for fancy places. We also shared a love of camping and travelling. First impression: Rachel thought Tommy was funny, and Tommy thought Rachel was hot.

When did you first realize that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

We decided to move to Australia for a year, where we explored the country, lived in a Land Cruiser, and made more memories than we could have ever imagined. We also fell even deeper in love during that year and knew it was going to be us forever. Spending time with each other’s families sealed the deal.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. What styling and visual elements worked best for you?

Our vision was an elevated dive bar vibe. We wanted everyone to have fun—eat, drink, and dance! The wedding was on a sternwheeler in Mission Bay, which provided all the style we needed. So, we kept things simple with white tablecloths and tea candles. We didn’t even have flowers, which almost gave our wedding coordinator a heart attack! She also asked if something was wrong with the cake, and I told her it was minimal on purpose—it was perfect in our eyes.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Throughout the planning process, we kept saying the same thing over and over: Don’t stress out. It’s literally just a party. Our best advice is to try to picture a centrepiece from any wedding you’ve been to in the past. Once you realise you can’t remember one, you’ll realise that the only thing that matters is yourselves, your people, and celebrating your love.

Tell us about your main outfits—what was unique, is there a story?

Tommy wanted a very classic black and white suit—no frills, just classic. Rachel wanted something timeless but also wanted to feel hot. She bought her dress from a bridal shop in San Diego and worked with her mom to make some alterations. The woman who altered the dress was AMAZING. Details: Bridal Alterations San Diego.

What was one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on?

The most important thing for us was the playlist, which Tommy curated over several months. Our photographer was EVERYTHING. She made us feel so comfortable and captured our old-school vibe in a unique way. Also, the Friday before our wedding, we all went to a baseball game at Petco Park to kick off the weekend. GO PADRES!!!

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

Rachel woke up with an ear infection on the day of the wedding, and Tommy’s college bestie Jake (who’s a doctor) called in some emergency drops to save the day. We felt no stress—we stayed present and just lived it up!