Wanting to step into a dreamscape that felt plucked straight from the sunkissed hills of southern France, Maddy and Zac chose Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm. With its chapel, elegant cellar door and inviting restaurant, overlooking six hectares of vineyards and fields of purple bloom, this hidden gem captures the very soul of Provence, in Queensland’s Fassifern Valley. Creating a whimsical, romantic setting for the couple’s perfect pastel spring wedding.
Proving that fate loves a good plot twist, Maddy and Zac first crossed paths at Fitzy’s; each playing the noble role of wing person for a friend and cousin, blissfully unaware they were about to meet the one. There were laughs, a few cheeky glances, and though nothing bloomed that night, a spark been lit.
Two days later, Zac slid into Maddy’s Facebook messages, and from that very first conversation, something just clicked. One hangout led to another, and before long, they’d become delightfully inseparable.
After three years together, Maddy admits she had an inkling a proposal was on the cards. “When has Zac ever booked a fancy weekend away all on his own?” she laughs. “It was our third anniversary, and I’d always joked that if five years went by without a ring, I’d be packing up the dog and hitting the road!”
But Zac, ever the clever romantic, had other plans. He organised a surprise getaway — and Maddy went full detective mode, checking pockets, bags, even the glovebox for clues. Nothing. After a windswept beach walk that ended in a shower of rain, Maddy decided it wasn’t happening that weekend after all. But as she stepped out of the shower, towel wrapped tight, there was Zac, down on one knee with the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. “I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t believe it,” she says. “It was perfectly imperfect (and so us!)”
Engaged in December 2023, Maddy vowed to savour every glittering moment of her bridal era. Her hens party, themed She’s Tying the Knot, took over a Gold Coast Airbnb with twenty girlfriends dressed head-to-toe in pink. The weekend was a blur of laughter, cocktails, and chaos, capped off by a cheeky performance from Men on Fire, where a charming ‘fireman’ arrived to mix drinks, flirt outrageously, and lose his uniform to howls of laughter.
Balancing the fun with a touch of elegance, Maddy’s mum hosted the sweetest bridal shower, complete with dainty treats, thoughtful games, and heartfelt moments that left everyone teary. Meanwhile, Zac’s bucks weekend was pure laid-back bliss, and included lawn bowls, golf, banter, and plenty of beers on the Sunshine Coast.
When it came to the wedding, the couple dreamt of something whimsical and romantic, envisioning a pastel spring fantasy held in the heart of winter. Kooroomba was the perfect setting. The lavender fields were in full bloom, casting the landscape in soft lilac hues as if nature itself had joined the celebration.
Maddy found her fairytale gown by Eva Lendel (the third dress she tried on). “The moment I slipped into it, I just knew,” she smiles. With its graceful A-line silhouette, long sleeves and cheeky leg split (“to show off my best asset,” she teases), it was pure perfection. “I felt like Elsa from Frozen, minus the ice castle.”
Zac, ever the dapper gent, channelled a Peaky Blinders–inspired look with a sharp suit from Bruno at House of Falcone. “It was the most comfortable thing I’ve ever worn,” he says.
The bridesmaids wore mismatched pastel silk dresses discovered on Instagram, and the groomsmen looked equally sharp in Connor suits, their smart vests adding both polish and warmth.
The day itself unfolded like magic and highlights included a violinist playing Maddy’s aisle song (yes, Zac teared up!), glow sticks lighting up the dance floor, and a Crocs-for-sore-feet basket that guests loved.
Their first dance to Daylight by Taylor Swift was another pure movie magic moment. “We practiced every Saturday night for three months,” Maddy says. The lyrics, ‘I don’t want to look at anything else now that I saw you… now I see daylight’, felt written just for them.
Behind the beauty was a bride with serious DIY flair. She sourced reception décor from Marketplace, designed signage and menus on her Cricut, and found everything from fluffy coats to glow sticks (and even the cake knife!) on SHEIN. Florals from Scenic Rim Florist were a standout feature of the whole aesthetic, and photographer Tom Hall captured every dreamy detail, and Maddie swears he made the whole day feel like a movie.
And her advice for future brides? “Be a Type-A queen! Timelines, spreadsheets and checklists are your best friends.
After the dream day came a blissful honeymoon in Bali, complete with massages, sunshine, and not a hint of winter chill. Now back home, Maddy and Zac are loving newlywed life with their pup, their new home, and hearts full of anticipation for what’s next.
DATE: 25 JULY 2025 GUESTS: 70 BUDGET: NOT DISCLOSED
PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Hall Photography // VENUE Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm // GROOMS Suits Connor // CAKE Maddies Sweet Spot // FLORALS Scenic Rim Florist // HAIR Maree Brady // MAKEUP- KT Beauty // GROOMSMEN BARBER Benny, The Suited Barber // BRIDAL ACCOMMODATION Herrmann House // GROOMS ACCOMMODATION Airbnb Olive View Estate // CAR Bentley ‘1948 Bentley MK’ via Herrmann House // BRIDESMAIDS PYJAMAS Shein // BRIDAL ROBE Le Rose Reception // DÉCOR All DIY, bought off marketplace // RECEPTION MENUS & INVITES Custom made by Maddy and printed on Canva // BRIDAL & BRIDESMAIDS SHOES Shein // BRIDAL PARTY FLUFFY JUMPERS Shein