A Decadent Wedding in New South Wales

Set against the sculptural beauty of Mona Farm, Hannah and Aaron’s wedding unfolded as a weekend-long celebration of revelry, meaning, and modern romance. Inspired by Art Nouveau curves, surrealist contrast, and gallery-like elegance, their vision, coined “Artful Decadence” by stylist Heidi of The Romance Styling, came to life through thoughtful design and unexpected texture. Guests were greeted with silver tray cocktails before finding their seats beneath draped fabric installations in place of florals for the ethereal ceremony.

For the reception, inside a clear marquee, candlelight flickered across sculptural centerpieces of citrus, cabbage, and reflective surfaces, where classical roses met avant-garde styling. 

The bride wore three different gowns: a custom Lilian Khallouf, the Eleanor Ivory gown from Beare Park (both with Jacquemus stilettos), and lastly, a Carolina Herrera column gown with vintage heels. 

Our Story

Names / Hannah Fickler & Aaron Helmer

Location / Mona Farm, Braidwood NSW

Wedding Date / February 7th, 2025

Guest Numbers / 160

Budget / $150-200k

How We Met

Hannah and Aaron met during COVID. Their first date was a very relaxed barefoot walk along the beach.

Our Engagement Story

Aaron had quietly planned for months to ask Hannah to marry him during their 2023 trip to Europe. Long before they left, he had spoken with her parents, seeking their blessing for the moment he knew he wanted to last a lifetime. His careful planning came to life on a private boat in Positano at sunset, with the sky painted in golden hues and the sea calm and endless. As Hannah leaned in for a photo, Aaron took the moment to gently drop to one knee and offer his grandmother’s engagement ring, a cherished symbol of love and a promise to design their own forever ring together when they returned home. A perfect beginning to their shared story.

What we love most about each other…

Aaron: “I love Hannah’s ability to always listen; she always makes me feel seen and heard. Her strength and determination in life inspire me every day.”
Hannah: “I love Aaron’s endless sense of adventure and his quiet determination. He is one of the kindest and most considerate people I know.”

The Setting

Wedding Location

Mona Farm for the ceremony, reception, and recovery. Hannah and Aaron wanted a venue that could do it all and also accommodate their bridal parties on-site. Mona Farm was the perfect fit.

Aesthetic

Hannah and Aaron collaborated with Heidi from The Romance Styling to bring their special day to life. Drawing initial inspiration from the flowing lines of Art Nouveau architecture and illustrations, contrasted with touches of surrealism and modern art, Heidi transformed these ideas into a stunning concept she called Artful Decadence.

Preparation

The night before, Hannah and Aaron warmly welcomed their friends and family to the Royal Mail Hotel, the local pub, for a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks. The morning of the wedding, the couple shared a quiet, meaningful start to their day with a morning run, meditation, and coffee before parting ways to join their bridal parties and begin getting ready for the celebration ahead.

Photography

Petter Karlstrom has an extraordinary talent for capturing intimate moments with a refined, editorial touch. A consummate professional, he effortlessly puts everyone at ease in front of the camera, making every shot feel natural and genuine.

Videography

Sam of Sam Page Films, beautifully tells the story of the day, effortlessly casual, deeply personal, and stylishly understated.

“Instead of blooms, scale and thoughtful design were used to create a sense of drama and contrast… transforming the path into an artful runway.”

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

Guests arrived at the picturesque grounds of Mona Farm and were greeted with chic welcome drinks served from silver trays as they made their way toward the Rotunda Lawn. Nestled deeper in the garden, an intimate ceremony setting awaited. Rows of blonde bentwood chairs framed a striking aisle, where sculptural fabric installations took the place of traditional florals. Instead of blooms, scale and thoughtful design were used to create a sense of drama and contrast, with soft, flowing fabric set against the rich green of the lawn, transforming the path into an artful runway.

Reception Décor

A sculptural seating chart of silver plinths with bold orange typography guided guests to their tables. Inside a clear marquee, rows of ivory tables paired with blonde bentwood chairs set the stage for a meticulously curated design moment.
Tall taper candles in sleek silver candelabras brought height and elegance to the setting, interwoven with silver accents, spherical florals, and sculptural displays of unexpected fruits. Each place setting was a thoughtful blend of modern sophistication and intricate detail, including embellished silver cutlery, crisp white crockery, crystal glassware, and monogrammed letterpress menus atop simply folded napkins. A harmonious fusion of refinement and creativity.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

Heidi from The Romance Styling served as the wedding stylist, bringing her exceptional eye for detail and talent for weaving intimate, meaningful moments into every visual element of the day. Mona Farm provided the wedding planner, who flawlessly coordinated each step of the celebration and quietly handled every challenge (including thunderstorm planning) behind the scenes.

Flowers

For the florals, Heidi drew inspiration from timeless floral classicism. Bridal bouquets featured elegant white roses, while ceremony arrangements were kept minimal to allow the fabric drapery and sculptural installations to take center stage.
Inspired by the gallery grounds of Mona Farm, the reception table centerpieces unfolded like a living landscape of artful food styling. Reflective boxes paired with antique silver pieces created a harmonious balance between modern sophistication and timeless elegance, with a subtle surrealistic flair.
Spherical floral arrangements of white, pink, and orange roses in footed vessels embodied classical wedding grandeur. This traditional floral beauty was playfully contrasted by striking sculptures of fruit in bold shapes, highlighting oranges, kumquats, radicchio, and purple cabbage, adding unexpected texture and color to the design.

Stationery

The Blackline Bottega crafted bespoke invitations, featuring translucent envelopes paired with dark olive embossed cards that were both chic and striking. The embossed artwork was lovingly created by Aaron’s brother, adding a heartfelt, personal touch. A complementary website enhanced the invitation experience, seamlessly bridging digital and physical elements.

Favors

Beneath each guest’s menu sat a ‘hidden message,’ a one-of-a-kind card offering a message ‘from the universe.’ Sourced from Beyond Words, the cards were randomly selected, giving each guest a personalized note to reflect on. Both a keepsake and a conversation starter, they added a thoughtful, whimsical touch to the table.

Cake

The cake, a thoughtful gift from one of Hannah’s friends, was a delightful pavlova masterpiece, beautifully imperfect and generously adorned with seasonal summer fruits and delicate florals.

Food & Beverages

Cocktail hour followed seamlessly after the ceremony, with dirty martinis and amaretto sours flowing freely. Guests mingled through the gardens, enjoying a selection of elegant roaming canapés featuring quail, oysters, and scallops.
Dinner was a seated affair with a beautifully curated shared-style menu, crafted by the exceptional team at Simon Ekas Catering, bringing warmth, flavor, and a sense of togetherness to the table.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

Look 1: Custom Lilian Khallouf gown and veil, paired with vintage Dior earrings (sourced from Vestiaire), Jacquemus stilettos, and a Paco Rabanne clutch.
Look 2: Beare Park “Eleanor Ivory Gown,” Zimmermann earrings, and Jacquemus stilettos.
Look 3: Carolina Herrera embellished silver sequin column gown (sourced from The RealReal), Emma Pills earrings, and vintage platform heels.

Bridesmaids’ Dresses & Shoes

Each bridesmaid was assigned a distinct color and given the freedom to choose a dress that suited her personal style, with the couple thoughtfully covering the cost. This approach celebrated individuality, allowing each bridesmaid to feel confident, comfortable, and truly herself on the day.

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

Both by Sarah & Sebastian. Aaron wore a classic gold band, while Hannah chose the Float Diamond Ring, a bold, architectural, overlapping gold band featuring bezel-set diamonds.

Groom’s Attire

Aaron wore a custom Oscar Hunt tuxedo, vintage Ferragamo cufflinks (a gift from Hannah), Gucci loafers, and an Omega timepiece.

“Drawing inspiration from Art Nouveau architecture and surrealism, Heidi transformed the couple’s vision into a concept she called Artful Decadence.”

The Details

Transport

Thanks to staying on-site, the bridal party simply walked. For guests staying in town, courtesy buses were arranged.

Honeymoon

Immediately after the wedding, Hannah and Aaron escaped to Jervis Bay for a few days of rest and relaxation, soaking in the calm after the celebration. Their official honeymoon followed in April. a long-awaited adventure to Sri Lanka. Choosing a destination neither had visited before, they were drawn to its perfect blend of exploration and serenity, striking just the right balance between adventure and unwinding together.

Wedding Songs

Hannah’s brother, an independent musician, composed original pieces especially for the ceremony, adding a deeply personal and heartfelt layer to the atmosphere.
Reception entrance song: Shooting Star by Bag Raiders
First dance: L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole

Entertainment

For the reception and cocktail hour, Hannah and Aaron wanted the celebration to truly feel like a party, knowing how powerfully music shapes the mood. Sam from Silent Shout brought that vision to life, effortlessly guiding the energy from elegant mingling by day to a vibrant, packed dance floor by night.

Celebrant

Kylie Sharman, a longtime family friend of Aaron’s, held special significance on the day, having also officiated the weddings of three of his siblings.

Readings

Hannah and Aaron chose a short and sweet ceremony, exchanging traditional vows to mark the moment. Rather than writing their own vows, they each shared personalized speeches during cocktail hour in the garden. This heartfelt gesture created a relaxed, intimate atmosphere, offering their guests a genuine and moving glimpse into their love story.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

A memorable moment for Hannah and Aaron was quietly slipping away from the reception, champagne in hand, to pause and take it all in. Watching their loved ones celebrate, they shared a quiet moment of reflection, soaking in the joy, love, and magic of the day.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

One thing Hannah and Aaron felt truly worked in their favor was having a clear vision of how they wanted the day to feel. That strong sense of purpose became their guiding light, making each decision feel intentional and aligned.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

Don’t stress over the small things. Plans may shift, and not everything will go perfectly, but at its heart, it’s a celebration. Embrace the moment, let go, and soak in every bit of joy along the way.

Sources of inspiration…

Inspiration came from everywhere, architecture, history, fashion, and art. Hannah and Aaron envisioned a wedding aesthetic that not only reflected their personal style but also seamlessly complemented the beauty and character of the Mona Farm grounds.

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Mona Farm

Wedding Stylist & Planner / The Romance Styling

Photography / Petter Karlstrom

Videography / Sam Page Films

Bride’s Dress / Lilian Khallouf, Beare Park, Carolina Herrera

Bride’s Shoes / Jacquemus

Groom’s Formal Wear / Oscar Hunt Tailors

Wedding Rings / Sarah & Sebastian

Jewelry & Accessories / Zimmermann, Dior, Emma Pills, Gucci, Omega

Hair / Parlor O

Makeup / Joanna Luhrs

Stationery / The Blackline Bottega

Florist / The Romance Styling

Catering / Simon Ekas Catering

Entertainment / Silent Shout Entertainment