Luke and Rachael’s story began much earlier than most. They first met while at school together at The King’s School in Ottery St Mary, although at the time their paths didn’t quite align. It wasn’t until 2018 that they reconnected and began going on dates, travelling between Exeter and Portsmouth to see each other. From those early meetings, the relationship quickly grew and, as they say, the rest is history.
The couple have now been living in Portsmouth for over six years. During that time, Rachael has built her successful Pilates business while Luke has continued his career with the Ministry of Defence. In 2025, Luke proposed during a trip to Madeira, and soon after they began planning their wedding for October 2026 in the beautiful South Downs.
Although Luke had moved away from Exeter, Sharif Tailoring had remained his trusted tailor for many years. His first experience with us was back in 2017, when we tailored his Army service dress. So when it came time to think about his wedding suit, he knew exactly where he wanted to go.
Once the bridesmaids’ dresses and colour palette for the wedding were finalised, Luke was able to begin the enjoyable process of designing his suit. Together we explored different cloth options, styles and details before settling on a cloth that perfectly complemented the autumn setting of the wedding and the overall look of the day. The result was a fully bespoke suit, carefully tailored to Luke’s measurements, with thoughtful details that made the piece completely personal to him. It was a pleasure to be part of that process and to see the finished suit come together.
The couple chose the beautiful Farbridge in West Sussex for their celebration, an exclusive wedding venue set within the rolling countryside of the South Downs. The ceremony took place at St Mary’s Church in Fittleworth, a charming and historic church that provided a wonderful setting for such a special moment.
Rachael’s gown was chosen from Anya Bridal Couture in Hampshire, while the day was captured by Hampshire wedding photographer Jonny Gouldstone, whose relaxed and natural style perfectly suited the atmosphere of the day.
For us at Sharif Tailoring, it is always special when clients return for important moments in their lives. Being part of Luke and Rachael’s wedding journey, from tailoring his Army service dress years ago to creating his bespoke wedding suit, has been a real privilege. We wish them both every happiness for the future.
