‘Magical and carefree’ nuptials for school teachers
Peta Philp & Ryan Shave – Married at Marion Hotel
EVERY wedding is unique and for Peta and Ryan, it was animated ogre favourite, Shrek, who inspired, in part, their wedding vows.
“Ryan and I are big children at heart and there were some Shrek lines … we promised each other we would grow old together but we wouldn’t grow up,” Peta says, adding Shrek figurines were on the couple’s wishing well. “There were laughs, some happy tears and it felt magical and romantic.”
For Peta, 41, the most special aspect of all, was having her dear mum enjoy all the festivities. “Mum, aged in her 70s, is in a wheelchair and has a lot of health problems but managed to stay until we walked through the archway at the end of night,” Peta says. “Having Mum and Dad there until the end meant the world to us … they have supported us so much.”
The couple also paid homage to the bride’s namesake.
“We had a photo of Peta and all the Peters … Peter is the groom’s middle name, the father of the bride, the father of the groom, an uncle and a cousin-in-law,” laughs Peta.
Sarah Burns was matron of honour with Kayla Norman as bridesmaid while Jason Buckley was best man and Brett Burns the groomsman. Little Carter Burns was the couple’s page boy and Scarlett Smith was flower girl.
The couple first met at their local, Charlton’s Pool Lounge, in 2004, reconnecting more than a decade later via a dating app when Ryan was living in Melbourne. “The connection was instant … in August 2019 Ryan moved back to Adelaide,” Peta says.
Ryan, 39, proposed on a “freezing” beach walk at Port Noarlunga. Peta is the daughter of Peter and Kay Philp, of Woodcroft.
Ryan is the son of Peter and Ann Shave, of Morphett Vale.
Written by Rebecca Whitfield Baker for Sunday Mail Adelaide