A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate

Complete with dramatic drapery, vintage touches and sculptural floral installations

A charming affair in the Australian countryside, Jenn and Ben's wedding at Mona Farm was carefully designed to feel immersive and deeply personal. The ceremony was intimate and relaxed, with organic, sculptural floral designs by Film and Foliage enhancing the estate's stunning landscape. For the reception, the couple transformed a marquee with draping and lighting to create an ethereal atmosphere that seamlessly blended the lively indoor and breathtaking outdoor spaces. A playful touch came in the form of a seating chart that featured guests’ nicknames, adding to the warm, familiar energy of the evening. Prioritizing time with their guests over rigid traditions, they set the tone for a romantic celebration that felt effortless, joyful, and entirely their own. A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

It’s not the most romantic story, but we had been talking for a while over social media and were introduced by mutual friends. He then moved back to Sydney from Canada because of COVID, and we finally met at a house party in Bondi. Ben had a little too much to drink, so I messaged him the next day to check in and see how he was feeling. The rest was history.

^{The Proposal}

We love camping and taking a few days to escape the hustle and bustle of the city to reconnect in nature. We went camping at our favorite spot down by Blowering Dam in Tumut, spent the day floating on the lake, and later went for a walk up to the top of a hill overlooking the area. That’s when Ben got down on one knee.

^{The Engagement Ring}

Ben always wanted something unique that held meaning for the two of us coming together as one. The moi et toi style ring was the perfect symbol of that. A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

We wanted it to feel timeless and romantic but also playful, with thoughtful details that made it a truly special experience for both us and our family and friends.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

This was by far the most important part of the wedding process for us. Our main priority was working with like-minded people—people we’d genuinely want to grab a glass of wine with. I locked in our vendors before even thinking about the wedding itself, ensuring that we collaborated with them and trusted their incredible talents to bring it all to life. A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate

^{The Location}

Mona Farm was a no-brainer. It was the only venue we toured. We love Braidwood as a town and had visited multiple times before. The team at Mona is nothing short of magical. Coming from and working in hospitality myself, I can say their attention to detail and the overall experience—from start to finish—is incredible and should be studied. They truly know what they’re doing! Mona Farm itself is the perfect blend of understated luxury, a relaxed atmosphere, and breathtaking beauty. The estate offers so many different spaces, allowing us to take our guests on a journey throughout the celebration.

^{The Ceremony}

We were so nervous about the ceremony—mostly because we aren’t the most emotional people in the world, and the idea of speaking about our feelings in front of a crowd sounded like torture. A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate However, our celebrant, Scarlett, made the entire experience effortless and natural. We wanted the ceremony to feel intimate and relaxed, with a little wow moment, which we created with our unique take on a crinkled-look stool.

^{The Reception}

We wanted this to be all about the fun—short and sweet speeches, dinner courses timed tightly so we could hit the dance floor as soon as possible. Since we aren’t huge fans of traditional marquees, we worked closely with Make Haus to transform the space using draping and other design elements. Our goal was to create an ethereal atmosphere that blended seamlessly between indoors and out. We also had a bit of fun with our seating chart, using guests’ nicknames on the place cards, which everyone loved.

^{The Special Touches}

We incorporated a few fun, extra-special touches to elevate the typical wedding experience. We had a portrait area where the Offset Portraits team set up during both our cocktail hour and reception, allowing guests to have fun and get beautiful portraits of couples and groups. The Offset team was amazing—all photos were edited, processed, and delivered that night! It was incredible to share them with our guests right away, especially since traditional wedding photography often focuses on the couple and the overall setting rather than individual guest portraits. We also had a cigar bar and a cocktail tower during cocktail hour, which was a huge hit with our guests. A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate

^{Our Favorite Moment}

A wedding can be overwhelming for the couple, with everyone wanting to see and talk to you while the photographer is trying to capture as many moments as possible. Don’t get me wrong—it will be the best day of your life—but taking a few minutes for just the two of you is so special. We stepped away from our reception for just five minutes to watch the sunset together, and it was a surreal moment for both of us.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

I knew I wanted my ceremony dress to be classic and timeless—something I would still love in 30 years. The Corston gown I chose was actually the first dress I tried on. When you know, you know. I paired it with a tennis necklace my dad gifted me for our wedding and Gucci shoes that added a bit of fun to the look. For my reception look, I wanted to have a bit more fun. I knew I wanted a mini dress with a drop waist. Working with Rhonda from Rhonda Hemmingway Couture was such a fun experience—she is truly an expert in her craft. Creating something bespoke with her was an absolute dream, and I’ll forever be grateful for how perfectly she brought my vision to life. I paired it with a Vivienne Westwood pearl choker, Jimmy Choos, and dark red nails, which I thought was a fun way to mix old-world and modern styles.

^{The Groom Looks}

There’s nothing better than a perfectly tailored tuxedo on a man! Ben worked with Brent Wilson to achieve just that. A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate

^{Our Bridesmaid’s & Groomsmen’s Looks}

For the getting-ready look, I thought it would be super sweet to have my bridesmaids wear blue as my something blue. Paired with little white bow kitten heels, they looked incredible! For the wedding itself, I wanted something classic while still allowing my bridesmaids’ personalities to shine. It was important to me that they felt their absolute best, which is why I let them choose their dress, shoes, hairstyle, makeup, and jewelry. A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate We went with black floor-length dresses and a statement piece of gold jewelry. I also had a bridesman in my bridal party, and to make him stand out from the groomsmen, we put him in a black tuxedo. Like Ben, the groomsmen wore classic tuxedos. The only difference was that Ben opted for a three-piece suit with a waistcoat, while the groomsmen did not.

A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate

Our Advice

^{For The Planning Process}

Start early so you can tackle things bit by bit at a leisurely pace. INVEST IN GREAT VENDORS and make sure you’re like-minded—spending a little more than we had budgeted to secure the best in the business was the best money we ever spent. There’s a reason they’re the best! Lock them in early—they’re in high demand. TRUST your vendors and work with them—they’re experts in their field. Sit down and figure out what’s important to you and what’s not. Is that expensive cake really worth it? 80% of our wedding guests didn’t even know there was one! As a couple, understanding your priorities first will help guide you on where to invest and where you can potentially save. A Blush and Berry-Infused Wedding at a Luxurious Australian Estate

^{For On The Day}

You’ll hear this over and over, but make time for just the two of you—even if it’s only five minutes! Don’t feel pressured to follow traditions or do what you think is expected. Ben is a nervous public speaker, so instead of giving a speech during dinner, he opted for a short thank-you speech during cocktail hour when everyone was standing and the atmosphere was more relaxed. It helped ease his nerves and allowed him to fully enjoy the reception. I don’t love dancing, but having a first dance was really important to Ben. So, we compromised by doing it right at the start of the reception—after a couple of margaritas during cocktail hour. That way, it was done and dusted, and I could relax for the rest of the night!

^{For Post-Wedding}

This might be controversial, but we didn’t go on our honeymoon right after the wedding. We had a three-day celebration, and by the end, we were exhausted. My social battery was at zero, and we wanted to feel fully recharged for our honeymoon, so we waited a couple of months—and it was one of the best decisions we made.