An Artfully Modern Wedding at Mona Farm

Sometimes less is all you need. Spilling with the kind of unexpected magic that comes from simplicity, Morgan and Tom exchanged vows on the dreamy grounds of Mona Farm on the South Coast of NSW. Boldly minimalistic and filled with artful, contemporary details, every element of the wedding was deeply inspired.

Exchanging vows under a cathedral of trees, bentwood chairs were the only accent needed to enhance the magical surrounds. Carrying this bold simplicity through to the reception, minimalistic table settings in a palette bleached of color created unexpected drama. Replacing a traditional wedding cake, an artisanal sculpture of edible, cascading pearls formed a decadent dessert display.

Quietly simplistic yet boldly artistic – every detail is fused with an effortless romance that feels refreshingly modern yet timeless. Doing justice to every detail were photographers Tim and Grace from Willow and Co.

Our Story

Names / Morgan Fiebig & Tom Gillespie

Wedding Date / 11th December, 2021

Guest Numbers / 130

How We Met

On the dance floor over a few drinks. We still love to dance, though mostly in the kitchen over a bottle of wine.

Our Engagement Story

We were on holiday in Italy with our families. It was a lovely warm night, enjoying whatever looked good from the store down the road. After dinner Tom made a toast, then got out a small box. We had champagne for dessert.

Marriage To Us Means…

A whole lotta love.

The Setting

Wedding Location

Living overseas, we wanted somewhere that could have us for a whole weekend, that could fit all our loved ones, and that felt like home. Mona Farm on the South Coast of NSW was all that for us and more.

Aesthetic

Modern. Minimal. Magic.

Preparation

It was a lovely relaxed affair with family and friends, many of which we hadn’t seen in years, starting with a chat with my maid of honour while still in bed.

Photography

Tim and Grace from Willow & Co. were our photographers. Their use of light and dark is so beautiful it’s almost textural, from rich velvety blacks to pure, silky whites. (Perfect for our dress code of black and white.) Their eye for intimate moments made it all the more special.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

We got married in the garden under a cathedral of trees. That was all the décor we needed.

Reception Décor

It started with a single image on Lune1860’s Instagram page – a line of bare white candles on a strip of mirror. When I first spoke to my stylist Heidi Cansdell, that was the only image I sent her. We designed it all from there.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

I have three incredible women to thank for this. My stylist Heidi from The Romance, who I fell in love with instantly. My friend Em, who introduced us. And my dear mum Vicki, who was there from the very beginning, scribbling down ideas.

Flowers

The only flowers we had for the entire wedding were the ones we carried down the aisle, made by my dear friend and bridesmaid Emily Buckner from FLWR Studio. We chose white Ornithogalum for the flower girls, Buddleja for the bridesmaids and Veronicas for me (all in white). I swear Em must be part fairy – they’re the most beautiful arrangements I’ve ever seen.

Stationery

We kept this very simple. A seating chart upon entry and fine, modern place cards on cream velvet napkins.

Cake

We almost weren’t going to have a wedding cake at all until Heidi shared what she’d been dreaming up with Marina Machado – a cascading pile of individual, edible pearls. It was almost too exquisite to eat. Almost. Out of hundreds of pearls – each with their own surprise, decadent filling – only three were left by the end of the night. If you ever get the chance to work with either of these two women, consider yourself very lucky – their artistry is second only to their heart.

Food & Beverages

Champagne and canapés were served in the garden followed by a sit down dinner by Simon Ekas, with a local wine list co-curated with Mona Farm.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress

I co-designed my dress with Anya Ostapenko from L’eto Bridal, who made me feel nothing short of ethereal. Low back, sheer sleeves and a cheeky slit up the front, with wild silver embroidery falling all the way down. But the process was just as gorgeous as the dress – so much so that we’ve collaborated on other projects since. The poem I wrote for some veils of hers still hangs in her studio.

Bride’s Shoes

Anyone that knows me well knows I love a bit of sparkle. The Jimmy Choo’s I found felt like wearing moonlight on my feet. I then changed into a pair of strappy gold Tony Bianco’s for dancing.

Bridesmaids’ Dresses

My bridesmaids all chose their own dresses and shoes, whatever they felt most beautiful in.

Flower Girls & Page Boys

My nieces, (the flower girls) all chose their own outfits too, while my nephew (who’s not yet two) donned all white linen and black and white vans. He might just have been the best dressed there.

Wedding Rings

Our rings come from different corners of the world, all of which hold meaning for us. My engagement ring is from the Brooklyn jeweller Catbird, that Tom flew all the way to New York in secret to get. My wedding band is a bespoke piece from Sydney designers Grew & Co, while Tom got his from our local jeweller on the west coast of Ireland where we live now.

Jewelry / Accessories

The only accessories I wore were a pair of Sarah & Sebastian earrings that could have almost been an extension of my dress – like tiny diamond vines curving in and around my ears.

Groomsmen

The groomsmen stunned in classic MJ Bale, but it was one detail in particular that stole the show – white Irish linen bowties made through friends back home

Hair & Makeup

I have my sister and make-up artist Aimie Fiebig to thank for all this, who chose Cat Smith for make-up and Keiren Street for hair. We went for a natural, barely-there look with soft, lived-in curls. All the laughter from the morning I’m sure only added to the glow.

“If I could give other brides one piece of advice, it was something my mom said to me when I was in the middle of planning, finessing every little detail – don’t forget to leave space for the magic too.”

The Details

Transport

Guests were brought to the ceremony from the local town, before ambling through the grounds to get to the reception across the lake.

Honeymoon

A few blissful days at Paperbark Camp, waking up to the sounds of the Australian bush.

Gift Registry

An online wishing well via the website Honeyfund.

Celebrant

The priest from the local chapel kindly performed the ceremony for us. He was such a warm, calming presence.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

Tom finished his speech with an old Irish saying, “Le mo ghrása mise, agus liomsa mo ghrá,” which translates to, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” I was in tears even before I even knew what it meant.

If I could give other brides to be one piece of advice…

It was something my mom said to me when I was in the middle of planning, finessing every little detail – “Don’t forget to leave space for the magic too.”