Pink Pony Club-Inspired Wedding at The Freedom Hub
Emily (she/her) and Courtney (she/her) built their wedding around the same things that shaped their relationship: queer safety, neurodivergent care and the kind of honesty that comes from years of growing through different eras together. What began in 2018 with a cigarette break and an unexpected connection became a life shared across moves, career shifts and a cat named Sirius, and by the time they planned their day at The Freedom Hub, they knew exactly what they needed: a celebration that felt intentional, colourful and completely true to who they are.
From a cheeky cigarette break to our forever
Emily: We met in 2018 when I was studying nursing with Courtney’s brother and he took me to her campus during lunch. Courtney snuck out of class for a cheeky cigarette, fell in love with me instantly, and spent the next nine months being the most supportive friend while I healed from a breakup and we both figured out our sexuality.
In July 2019 I finally asked her on a date. Things moved quickly after that. I moved in because we hated being apart, and a few months later I proposed outside the church where we first met. Covid arrived soon after, and between my nursing work and Courtney being out of work as a barber, life was a lot. We eventually moved into our apartment and adopted our cat, Sirius.
Over the years we’ve grown through different eras, careers and hyperfixations as two neurodivergent people making a home together. When life finally steadied, we planned our wedding. On the 23rd of May 2025 we married surrounded by the people who truly love us, and it felt completely and beautifully “us.”
Finding a venue that genuinely celebrates queer love
One of the biggest challenges was discovering that a venue we were excited about, and that was listed as queer friendly, was actually not inclusive in practice. The communication and overall energy made us feel tolerated instead of celebrated, which was really disheartening as a queer couple already scanning for safety.
That experience led us to The Freedom Hub, where the difference was immediate. We felt respected, welcomed and genuinely seen, which is exactly what we deserved.
My advice to other queer couples is to trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Ask the hard questions and do not settle for performative inclusivity. You deserve vendors who truly honour you.
Celebrating safely at The Freedom Hub in Waterloo
We chose The Freedom Hub because it aligned so deeply with who we are and what we care about as a queer couple. Their mission to support survivors of modern slavery really resonated with us, and knowing our wedding could contribute to something meaningful made the choice feel powerful.
It was also important that the space was genuinely inclusive. We never had to explain ourselves or our relationship, and that level of safety meant everything. When we walked in, we could instantly imagine our friends and chosen family there. It felt warm, intentional and very us.
Neurodivergent friendly wedding planning and DIY budget tips
Our biggest advice is to be honest from the start about what you can afford and what actually matters to you. We focused our budget on the most important things like the venue, food and photography with Samantha Heather Photography, and got creative with everything else. We DIY’d a lot, including the ceremony backdrop, bud vase florals and signage, and our friends and family helped with décor and the grazing board.
To keep track, we used a shared spreadsheet and added every quote, deposit and due date. As two neurodivergent people who aren’t great with numbers, our parents checked it over for us. We also built in a buffer for unexpected costs, and thank goodness we did because the alcohol budget needed it.
We never felt like we needed to break the bank. Being intentional, creative and willing to let go of the less important things made all the difference.
Curating an intimate guest list of our chosen family
Deciding on our wedding size was emotional. We wanted the day to feel intimate and intentional, not a huge event just for the sake of it. We even considered eloping, but there were too many people we genuinely wanted there, which slowly grew our list to 65 of our dearest.
As a queer couple, it was important to be surrounded by people who truly support us. We kept asking ourselves, “Who has shown up for us consistently and kindly?” and that guided a lot of our decisions. There were tricky moments around family expectations and budget, but we reminded ourselves that we had every right to protect the energy of our day.
We built the list together in a notes app, checking in often to stay aligned on our values. In the end, the size felt perfect. Everyone in the room was there out of real love, and that made all the difference.
Honest and inclusive photography by Samantha Heather
Choosing our photographer was so important. We wanted someone who understood our story and made us feel safe and celebrated as a queer couple. The moment we spoke with Samantha Heather Photography, we knew she was the right fit.
Sam captured everything with honesty, warmth and zero performative posing. She blended in so naturally on the day and documented every emotion and detail beautifully. Our photos feel like our story, not a performance.
Working with Sam was one of the best decisions we made.
Bringing Pink Pony Club vibes to our wedding day
Our vibe came from everything we love. Bold colours, queer happiness and the kind of party where everyone feels free to be loud, fabulous and completely themselves. We wanted the day to feel bright, fun and not traditional at all, which is why we chose a palette of pink, red and orange. Those colours felt warm, energetic and very us.
A big inspiration was Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan. It is campy, emotional and unapologetically queer, and it captured the exact sense of freedom and self expression we wanted for our wedding. It gave us permission to dream big with our décor, outfits and dance floor energy.
To bring it all together, we pulled ideas from queer art, fashion and drag culture, and created a Pinterest board full of anything that sparked happiness. From the florals by Date Night Studio to the signage to the disco balls, everything was chosen because it felt fun and authentic to us.
Finding the perfect plus size dress with Two Birds Bridal and custom suit with Shane Avev
Emily: Finding my dress at Two Birds Bridal was such a meaningful day with my mum. It was the first dress I picked off the rack and the last one I tried on, and the moment I stepped into it everything just felt right. As a plus size bride it was really liberating to feel so beautiful and so comfortable. It fit perfectly, made my butt look great and it was half price, which felt like a sign. My grandmother paid for it, and calling both of my grandmothers after saying yes was really special. I always knew I wanted bright pink heels, so finding the perfect pair felt like the final touch.
Courtney: My suit was tailor made by Shane Ave, a queer owned brand that creates custom suiting for all bodies and identities. The whole experience was empowering and affirming. Working with their team, choosing the colours and having our date and initials embroidered inside the jacket made it feel so personal and so me.
Together our outfits felt like a true reflection of who we are. Not traditional, not performative. Just colourful, comfortable and completely us.
Walking each other down the aisle and favourite moments
Our wedding day was everything we hoped for. We got ready together at my mum’s house, which felt grounding and really special. My sisters Poppy and Jessica helped with bud vases and makeup, Mum made a breakfast platter, and Courtney’s friend Ronda Ianni did our hair. It felt like a team of people who genuinely love us setting the tone for the day.
After getting dressed and sharing an emotional first look, we met our photographer, Samantha Heather, in Erskineville for portraits. Starting at The Imperial, a queer landmark we love, was perfect. Sam played queer anthems, kept everything fun and relaxed, and captured us exactly as we are before we headed to The Freedom Hub.
Rather than walking separately, we walked each other down the aisle to a string version of Pink Pony Club. Our ceremony was warm and emotional, officiated by our family friend Deborah Hyam, and followed by confetti, hugs and group photos. We ate heart shaped cake from Ginger Loves Cake, grazed thanks to our friend Megan and devoured wood fired pizza from Don Raphael.
Speeches were full of love and humour, and our first dance to Can’t Help Falling in Love turned into everyone joining us on the floor.
The rest of the night was a full queer party. DJ Sal from Party Zone Music kept the energy high, Courtney led the Venga bus line, and the photo booth and dessert table stayed busy until late. We ended the night dancing to Don’t Stop Me Now, wrapped in our people and completely overwhelmed by the love in the room.
And, your favourite moments from the day?
A favourite moment was taking our couple photos before the ceremony. Meeting Sam in Erskineville was the perfect way to start. It was playful and grounding, and gave us time to settle our nerves and just be together. We were laughing, dancing in the street and completely in the moment.
Another really special part was the quiet pause right before we walked down the aisle. Standing together, listening to the sounds of our guests and feeling everything hit at once was such an emotional, grounding breath before stepping into the ceremony.
And of course, the confetti cannon photo will stay with us forever. The pop, the colour, the chaos and both of us laughing felt like the perfect snapshot of the day. Those little and big moments are the ones we’ll carry with us.
Why having a photographer who is a true ally matters
Absolutely. Our photographer, Samantha Heather, was a complete standout. From our first conversation we felt seen, understood and genuinely celebrated as a queer couple. Her warmth and care made us feel completely safe to be ourselves.
On the day she was calm, present and never intrusive. She captured every emotion and tiny detail so naturally that looking through our photos now feels like reliving the day. She blended in while still managing to document everything beautifully.
Working with Sam was one of the best decisions we made. We adore her work, and we adore her as a person. We feel really lucky to now consider her a friend.
Photography by Samantha Heather Photography
Cake Ginger Loves Cake
Caterer Don Raphael
Celebrant Deborah Hyam
Ceremony Venue The Freedom Hub
DJ Party Zone Music
Dress Boutique Two Birds Bridal
Florist Date Night Studio
Hair Stylist Ronda Ianni
Suit Shane Ave
Venue The Freedom Hub
