A Vintage Valentine’s Wedding at Mali Brae Farm in Moss Vale
Valentine’s Day has a reputation for being a little over the top, but Natalie (she/her) and Susanna (she/her) made it their own in the best way. Four years and one day after becoming official, they celebrated at Mali Brae Farm in Moss Vale with satin gowns from Bec and Bridge, DIY rose-filled tables, and a salsa-inspired first dance to Kylie Minogue. With Katie Breen behind the camera and a sparkler exit under the stars, their day was simple, colourful, and entirely theirs.
How did you two meet?
Natalie: During the pandemic I started organising queer social events in Sydney. Susanna came to the second one, but we had already connected on Bumble. We met an hour before the event to chat and ended up walking hand in hand to the venue. Someone even asked how long we had been together. We laughed and said, “an hour.” We’ve been together ever since.
Why did you choose Mali Brae Farm in Moss Vale for your wedding?
The day after we got engaged we drove past Mali Brae Farm. We still toured a handful of venues, but this one was love at first sight. The team had great communication, the farm is peaceful and away from the city, and the Scottish Highland cows sealed the deal.
What inspired your Valentine’s Day theme?
Having a Valentine’s Day wedding was fun but also a bit tricky because florals are more expensive then. We styled the tables ourselves with candles and reflexed roses in pinks and reds. Our cake was a vintage red and white design, and we even asked our guests to wear a touch of Valentine’s colour. It all came together beautifully.
What was the planning process like?
We kept things simple. We knew we wanted an intimate wedding of about 70 guests, so we set our guest list based on people we’d seen in the past year. For budgeting, we used a spreadsheet but gave up near the end. We focused on what mattered most to us like photography and venue choice.
Tell us about your outfits.
That was a journey. We weren’t sure at first whether to wear dresses or suits, but we ended up in satin gowns from Bec and Bridge that complemented each other. We even tried things on together to make sure our looks worked side by side. The gowns felt right and timeless.
How did the wedding day unfold?
Susanna: We had a pre-ceremony photoshoot with Katie Breen that helped settle nerves. For the ceremony, our musician Danielle sang “From This Moment On” as we walked down the cobblestone path. There were tears during our vows, and we exited through a petal toss. Later, during canapés, I accidentally spilled red wine on Natalie’s dress. Thankfully a couple of guests saved the day with stain remover while Natalie just sat back and ate pizza.
Our reception was inside the barn. We cut our cake, listened to speeches, and even got a lightning show through the windows. We performed a salsa-inspired first dance to “Love at First Sight” by Kylie Minogue, which was such a fun moment. We wrapped it all up with a sparkler exit to “A Sky Full of Stars,” captured beautifully by our friend Berj.
What were some of your favourite moments?
Definitely being announced as wives. Our first dance going so well, considering we choreographed it only three days before. My dad surprising everyone by dancing hard on the floor. And of course, the sparkler exit surrounded by all of our friends.
Did you make any non-traditional choices?
Yes. We didn’t have a bridal party, we got ready together, and we didn’t exchange wedding bands. Instead we used our engagement rings from Meg Maskell Fine Jewellery. It felt right to shape the day in a way that reflected us instead of tradition.
Any advice for couples planning their wedding?
Focus your budget on the things that really matter to you. For us, that was photography and the venue. And don’t stress if things don’t go perfectly. A red wine spill can turn into one of your favourite memories.
Photography by Captured by Kate & Berj Varjabedian
Celebrant Katie King
Ceremony Venue Mali Brae Farm
DJ Danielle Lamb
Dress Boutique Bec and Bridge
Engagement Rings Meg Maskell Fine Jewellery
Hair & Makeup Michelle Mae
