Former Home and Away star Luke Jacobz has shared a sweet birthday tribute to his new wife Raychel Stuart, who is pregnant with their first child.
The actor, who played Angelo Rosetta on the Channel 7 soap, announced in July that his family was expanding – just weeks after the couple married in a Sydney ceremony.
Marking Stuart’s birthday, Jacobz shared a photo from what appears to be her baby shower, with his bride smiling and wearing a sash that reads “Mummy to be”. Behind the future parents are baby decorations and a giant balloon, which says “Oh baby”.
“To my beautiful bride. You are my sunshine, my best friend and the love of my life,” Jacobz began.
“You have taught me how to grow, how to love and how to live my best life. I would be nothing without you. I hope you have the best birthday ever. You look more beautiful every day and I am so grateful to have you in my life. Happy birthday my love.”
Fans of the actor and those close to the couple took to the comments to react to the sweet message.
“Happy birthday to your love! Have a wonderful time together and with your friends and family ❤️,” one commented.
“Very happy birthday to Raychel. Enjoy this extra special time,” said a second.
Another said, “Awww how sweet”.
Jacobz announced the news on both Instagram and The Morning Show, sharing that “2023 has been quite the year”. “Wedding in June and a baby in November!” he wrote on Instagram on July 11. “We already have so much love in our home and can’t wait to welcome our bundle of joy. I’m so in awe of my incredible wife. She’s doing such a great job.”
He ended the post with the hashtags, “#itsallhappening #grateful #novemeberbaby #itslikeareward #finally.”
After announcing the news, Jacobz appeared on The Morning Show to give his first interview about the development, revealing that he and his wife had been trying for some time to grow their family.
“Raychel and I are having a baby! We are so, so excited, we’ve been trying for quite a while, so the news happened after we planned the wedding,” he said. “We said, ‘We’re not going to reschedule the wedding just because Raychel is pregnant’, so anyway we’re thrilled.”
He explained that “poor Raychel had this beautiful designer dress for the wedding” but she was unable to wear it because of her growing baby bump. “She had to get another dress for the wedding but she looked amazing,” the actor shared.
The baby and wedding news comes after the couple had to cancel their nuptials twice due to the COVID pandemic, with the actor previously admitting he was not sure the day would come.
“So our day finally happened. 499 days apart, third attempt and we are finally MARRIED,” he began in an Instagram post on July 4.
“I am so proud to be married to my best friend. We have been through so much and now we can enjoy the rest of our lives as husband and wife.”
Jacobz and Stuart wed in Centennial Park, with Stuart ‘given away’ by Jacobz’s stepfather John. “John was just absolutely blown away to be asked to do it,” Luke told New Idea.
Jacobz and Stuart met in 2017 and announced their engagement in November 2018. They then had to spend 16 months apart due to international travel restrictions.