While jealously isn’t an attractive trait we must admit we’re envious of every individual who got to experience this banger of a love fest. A story of rolling countryside, live music, hay bales adorned with blooms and a mechanical bull to boot, Fred and Zoë’s wedding was a cowboy-chic extravaganza where loved ones were encouraged to ‘outdo the bride and groom’.
A blend of DIY, local Canberra wedding industry talent (shoutout Asha Kidd behind the camera), topped off with thoughtful contributions from family and friends – love built this bash from the ground up. And we’re not surprised that Fred and Zoë chose to host at Majura Valley Farm. It’s where they live, work, got engaged, and their close proximity to this special place offered flexibility to plan freely. “We curated a very special event with details that truly reflected our love for each other, the land, local businesses, and a good dance party!”
Such a beautifully personal and bespoke celebration, we HAD to pick the newlyweds’ brains on standout wedding day elements, their wildly cool custom looks, and the farm proposal that kicked this event into action.
A proposal on the farm
The details: local flowers, foodie friends and live music
“Our live bands truly brought the energy we wanted to our reception. The flowers by Spiral Botanicals were some of the most breathtaking flowers I’ve ever laid eyes on, with locally grown stems, fruits and vegetables adorning every surface. The mechanical bull did not disappoint, and there was a competition between almost all of the guests for who could stay on the longest! We were thrilled to showcase some of our wonderful friends at the wedding, including food from the National Press Club, cocktails and spirits from Ambrosia Distillery, and local beer, wine and produce from Canberra suppliers and the farm. We had our own curated first dance to Take on Me by A-ha, bold horns on the dancefloor with Lucy Ridge and the Derby Widows band, and DJs late into the night.”
Modern unconventional bridal with a Western-inspired twist
“My dress was made in London by the incredible Immoral London. I envisioned a Pre-Raphaelite look with a western twist! I found her pieces on Etsy and instantly fell in love with her corsets dripping in jewels. There was no pondering, we got right to work planning the dress of my dreams. It was a perfect experience from start to finish.”
A sentimental, custom-made Reigner suit
“Fred had his eye on the Reigner suits for a while. It was about designing something meaningful, tattoos on fabric, so to speak. The design included native flora and fauna, symbolising sentimental moments in our family life, and the undulating mountain scape seen on the Majura Valley farm. James Noble was great to work with and had Fred looking smick on the day. If you’ve got your eye on a Reigner suit, get your skates on because it’s incredibly worth it and it takes a few months to create your masterpiece.”
Honouring loved ones
“We had the design of Fred’s late father’s family crest stitched on the left inner side of his suit, close to his heart. We also had his father’s close friend be our celebrant to be closer to him.”
Unique Wedding Ideas: How the couple scheduled their speeches
“We sprinkled our speeches from family and friends throughout the reception to feel the gentle waves of love rather than a tsunami.”
A DIY wedding, powered by loved ones
“This was a very DIY wedding! We made our own wedding bands, I made the wedding favours from local beeswax, we drew sketches from the farm, and our graphic designer friends designed our invitations and handled all of our personal touches. My bridal hair, make-up, parts of my dress and my necklace were made by my darling friends.”
More good stuff | Most unique wedding ideas
Fresh off the press, shop our Real Wedding Special Issue 11 to meet more couples who unapologetically wed their way, or explore quirky Aussie weddings in the Hello May Real Wedding section.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Asha Kidd Cinematographer Stevie Reinhart Event Manager Jordan Hodge via Dionysus Florist & Bridal Hair Piece Spiral Botanicals Stationery & Signage Daniel Da Cruz (Friend) Venue Majura Valley Farm Catering National Press Club of Australia Food Trucks or Carts Ambrosia Distillery Cake Maker Mia Hennock (Friend) Other Desserts Family Wedding Favours Zoë (Bride), Daniel Da Cruz (Friend) Hire Items Inflatables R Us Sound Hire Sound Production Lighting Entertainment The Three Amigos, Amanda Stuart, Nick Stuart, John Stuart, Jameson Kentwell, Lucy Ridge and the Derby Widows, Mr Michael Celebrant Michael Traynor (Friend) THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer Immoral London Second Look Skirt Jameson Kentwell (Friend) Shoes Old Gringo Accessories Millie Savage, Cristina Rosselli (Friend) Hair Nettie Gillen (Friend) Makeup Cristina Rosselli (Friend) THE GROOM Suit Reigner Clothing Shoes R.M. Williams Grooming Kundalini Hair
