Let yourself get lost in LOVE at The Valley Estate

WORDS: Ocean Road Editorial Staff PHOTOGRAPHY Digital - Harley Bulb Creative - Film Matt - Matt Johnson Weddings

The Valley Estate , the besoke, one-off venue crafted to inspire celebration and reflection with loved ones. Here’s a peek inside the elegant and loved-up wedding of Jessica and Macenzie

The story of how you both met?
We met at the start of COVID – you guessed it, on Tinder! Our first in person date was dinner and drinks, and we spent the entire night talking, laughing, and getting to know one another. From that day forward, we’ve been inseparable.

How did the proposal occur?
Jess had just returned from a month in Europe, so we decided to spend the entire Sunday doing all the things we love to do together. As the day came to a close, we opened a bottle of wine Jess had brought back from Tuscany, made a cheese board, and sat outside by the fire, ready to watch the sunset. Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, with our favourite song playing in the background, I got down on one knee. We spent the rest of the night celebrating with family and Face Timing our closest friends.

Why did you choose The Valley Estate to host your amazing wedding?
We chose The Valley Estate for its luxurious service, stunning grounds, and the quality of its wedding package inclusions. Its convenient location in Currumbin Valley was also perfect for our close friends and family. What really stood out to us was that The Valley Estate wasn’t overly white or feminine – it perfectly balanced the luxurious, Tuscan aesthetic we were looking for. It was also one of the few venues with incredible getting-ready spaces for both the guys and the ladies. The drama and grandeur of The Manor also truly wowed us. Finding a reception space as beautiful as the surrounding grounds surrounding it was rare, but this venue had it all. The classic, timeless feel of the estate completely captured our hearts.

.What inspired you to choose the ceremony location at The Valley Estate?
We hadn’t seen many ceremonies done this way at The Valley Estate, so we thought it would be nice to do something a little different. We loved the brick backdrop, with the chandelier from The Manor peeking through behind us, and were captivated by the manicured gardens surrounding us as we said ‘I do.’ With the right floral placement, we knew the manicured hedges and the stunning Manor behind us would only enhance the impact of such a beautiful setting for our ceremony.

What is your fondest memory of the wedding?
Macenzie: Turning around and watching Jess walk down the aisle was easily my favourite moment of the day.
Jess: There were so many moments I loved, but if I had to pick one, it would be right after the ceremony, walking back down the aisle hand in hand with Macenzie, my now husband! I remember feeling so elated – completely loved up and happy! Afterward, I had the best time at cocktail hour, it was just too much fun!

What was the inspiration behind your styling?
We wanted our styling to reflect a mix of elements we both loved. We drew a lot of inspiration from the Tuscan vibe that The Valley Estate naturally has and aimed to lean into that, enhancing its charm. Our stylist, For Love and Living, did an incredible job incorporating hues of green, blue, and white to create a timeless and romantic feel throughout all spaces of The Valley Estate. Any fun or trendy touches, like dramatic draping fabric and bows, were kept to smaller moments, such as our champagne tower in the Garden and our cake table in the Manor.

 Details of the dresses, Brand, style, the process:

My ceremony dress was by Chosen by Kyah. I wore the Kasia Corset paired with the Milford Skirt and Kasia Veil. It was the first dress I tried on, and I can’t quite describe the feeling – I just knew it was the one! I loved the classic, timeless look of an A-line gown, with a side split that added a touch of sexy without being too much. The fabric was a gorgeous, heavy duchess satin with a dramatic train. Extensive alterations by My Private Tailor in Sydney ensured the dress fit and looked exactly as I envisioned – it was perfect.

For my second dress, I chose the Alexandra Silk Dress, also known as the 007 Gown, by designer Michael Lo Sordo. I wanted something backless, glamorous, and fun, and it was everything I had hoped for and more.

Details of the Suit, Brand, and style:
The groom and all the groomsmen suits were custom tuxedos by Theodore (THDR). Macenzie chose hand-tied bow ties for each of them, and they all had personal embroidery with our wedding date under the collar, along with elegant shawl lapels.

Your favourite dish of the night?
We chose a share-style menu for our reception, featuring a selection of delicious starters, mains, sides, and desserts. The next day, everyone raved about the Market Fish with Aleppo pepper burnt butter, chives, and crispy capers – it was truly a standout dish on the menu.

Favourite photo location?
We loved the bridal driveway for photos of just the two of us, surrounded by the stunning pencil pine trees, which beautifully captured the Tuscan vibe of The Valley Estate in our images. Our favourite location for our bridal party however was during cocktail hour, amidst the lush greenery of the manicured gardens where our ceremony took place. It felt wonderful not to be separated from everyone during the photo session, allowing for organic, candid shots of us simply enjoying cocktails with our friends and family to be captured.

Words of advice for future couples who are planning their wedding:
Remember the reason you’re having a wedding: to marry the love of your life! Don’t get too caught up in trends or every tiny detail you see on social media. Focus on the important things – family, friends, food, drinks, and the people you want by your side on your special day. We advise you to take moments throughout the day to truly soak in the experience with your partner and, most importantly, to laugh off anything that goes wrong (if anything does), as those moments often become insignificant when you look back on your overall day. Above all, remember that your special day is about you and your partner, so enjoy it!

Photographers name and company:
Digital: Harley – Bulb Creative
Film: Matt – Matt Johnson Weddings

The Valley Estate

393 Currumbin Creek Road Currumbin Valley QLD – Visit link here:  www.thevalleyestate.com.au