Classic Winery Wedding at Zonzo Estate

What better way to spend a summer day than celebrating love and connection in the beautiful Yarra Valley?! Emma and Michael’s classic winery wedding was a mosaic of everyone, and everything, they love. From their adorable floral girls to their private vows to the sentimental crystals tucked away in safe places, it was the wedding of their dreams! With Brenna from Ada & Ivy and Momento Films behind the lens, every moment was thoughtfully captured.

The way Emma and Michael met was truly a case of “right time, right place”. In 2017, both Michael and Emma attended the DJ competition – Your Shot. “I originally planned to attend just on the Saturday to support one of my closest friends, Daniela. Michael, on the other hand, came along on Sunday to cheer on his good mate, Aider,” she explained.

“In a fun twist of fate, I had actually met Aider about a week earlier at a work friend’s birthday party. We got chatting and realised we’d both be at Your Shot—and even more coincidentally, Aider already knew Daniela through the competition. Small world! Wanting to support both Daniela and Aider, I ended up going on both days of the event. If I hadn’t gone back on Sunday, I wouldn’t have run into Michael in the crowd (who was, of course, there for Aider)!”

July 9th, 2023, Santorini. With the stunning Caldera sunset as their backdrop, Michael proposed to Emma! “A nearby couple witnessed the moment and, completely unplanned, captured it on video—a special keepsake we’ll always cherish. In true Michael fashion, he accidentally went for the right hand instead of the left when placing the promise ring on my finger (a quick correction later!). Later that night, after losing track of time over wine and sunset views, we discovered everything nearby had closed for dinner. Craving pizza, we set off on a 45-minute walk—only to get 15 minutes down the road and detour to what can best be described as the Greek version of Smorgy’s. Unforgettable, romantic, and a little chaotic—describes us well.”

Michael wore a classic black tuxedo from MJ Bale, paired with sleek shiny dress shoes, all of which perfectly complemented Emma’s look. “The tuxedo was perfectly tailored, modern yet classic, and made him feel confident and at ease throughout the day. His choice was a nod to tradition, while still showcasing his personal style with a refined, elegant touch.”

Emma knew exactly what her dream wedding dress looked like: timeless, figure-hugging, lacy long sleeves – something that screamed her, and not a typical bridal look. “When I discussed it with my mum, we were surprised to find we shared the exact same idea! After a quick Google search, I discovered Grace Loves Lace, where I found the unique dress that perfectly matched my vision. The experience of trying it on was just as special, beautiful, personal, and completely one of a kind – so I said yes to the dress!”

For Michael, the most unforgettable moment of the day was the first look. “The moment I saw Emma for the first time took my breath away. It was filled with emotion, excitement, and love, and it’s a feeling I’ll never forget,” he shared.

Zonzo Estate was the perfect location for this classic wedding. Nestled in the beautiful Yarra Valley, this venue is full of European charm, breathtaking landscapes and impeccable food offerings. The ceremony took place in the stunning Capella, featuring striking black-framed windows with panoramic views of the vineyards. Guests later moved into the patio area to enjoy canapés in the sun, before wandering over to the indoor winery space for the reception.

Debbie O’Neill Florist was the vendor in charge of bringing Emma and Michael’s floral dreams to life. Wanting to let Zonzo’s natural beauty shine through, they opted for classic white with a hint of greenery. “The arrangements featured white roses and other in-season flowers, creating a romantic and refined atmosphere. Debbie’s attention to detail and expertise ensured that every bouquet and floral display was just as we imagined—elegant, unique, and perfectly in tune with the vibe of our day.”

Instead of a formal bridal party, Michael and Emma kept it simple and just had two adorable flower girls! “Michael’s niece, Sienna (age 3), and my childhood friend’s daughter, Maya (age 4), scattered the aisle with petals in their beautiful flower girl dresses. Each dress from Oui Babe featured elegant tulle puff sleeves and skirt, scattered with pearls, to complement the pearls scattered on my veil.”

Emma walked down the aisle with her parents on either arm, as “Good For Me” by Above & Beyond played. “This song holds a special place in her heart, and the lyrics resonate deeply for our relationship, making it the perfect choice for such a meaningful moment.”

The moment Emma remembers the most happened during the ceremony, as she looked over at her parents and saw the raw, love-filled emotions on their faces. “That look said everything. The moment was deeply personal and became a highlight of a day filled with love, joy, and connection.”

They wanted their classic ceremony to be three things: intimate, heartfelt and filled with love. With the help of their celebrant and MC, Danielle Binaisse, it was exactly that. “With the stunning Yarra Valley as our backdrop, we aimed to create a relaxed and elegant atmosphere with our nearest and dearest family and friends,” Emma explained.

“Danielle was incredible both leading up to the wedding and throughout the entire day. She did an amazing job at our ceremony, setting the perfect tone and emotion, and she kept everything running smoothly throughout the day and night. Her light-hearted humour added a fun touch, and our guests were also really impressed with her. We really appreciate all her hard work in making the day so seamless and memorable.”

Honouring the “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” tradition, Emma incorporated one of each item into the day. Her something old was the vintage car from Bu Cadi that brought her and Michael to the ceremony. The something new was her wedding dress and her shoes from Bared Footwear. Something borrowed was a rose quartz crystal tucked into her bridal bag by her dear friend Rushmi. And finally, her something blue was an agate crystal gifted to Emma by her mum, lovingly tied around the stem of her bouquet.

Another beautiful tradition included in the ceremony happened as Emma and Michael walked back up the aisle, as husband and wife. Emma’s family placed beautiful wedding charms on her arm, as physical symbols of love and good luck!

Their favourite shot of the day is this beautiful moment captured in black and white as the newlyweds walked hand-in-hand out of the Capella. “There’s something timeless and emotional about that moment – it is a candid moment that perfectly captures the joy, love, and sense of ‘we did it’ that we felt in that instant. It’s a photo we’ll treasure forever.”

The top five things that made this winery wedding so heartwarming included:

“1. Having our closest family and friends share the day with us was truly special.

2. The two adorable flower girls were a really special part of the day,

3. Saying our private vows during the first look made the day feel even more intimate.

4. The exceptional food and service at Zonzo Estate exceeded our expectations,

5. And the vibe was made even better by the great music playing all night, courtesy of our talented friend, DJ Brad Rowland.”

This beautiful wedding cake was made by Yarra Valley Cakes, with a classic white base and fresh florals climbing up the tiers.

The advice Emma and Michael want to leave for future couples is all about supporting one another. “For us, love is about compassion and supporting each other through both the good and bad times. It’s about compromise, truly appreciating each other’s uniqueness, and celebrating what makes us who we are. It’s about building a life together, filled with fun, laughter, and all the special moments in between,” they shared.

Ada & Ivy perfectly captured Emma and Michael’s classic winery wedding with their signature, timeless, emotion-filled lens. “Brenna from Ada & Ivy has such a sweet, caring nature that instantly put us at ease. Her wedding photography portfolio truly stood out to us – there was something so genuine and emotive about her work. What really set her apart was the way she captures true colours, beautiful contrast, and raw emotion. Every photo feels alive, as if you’re right there in the moment, and that’s exactly what we were looking for. Brenna is not only a true professional but also an artist in the way she approaches her work, and we couldn’t have been happier to have her capture our day!” Emma gushed.

For their first dance, Emma and Michael chose “A Thing Called Love” by Above and Beyond, another song from another artist that holds a special place in their hearts. “We kept the moment short and sweet, knowing that dancing isn’t exactly our forte, but it was the perfect song for the moment, to reflect how we feel about each other.”

As the night came to a close, sparklers were lit up and lifted to create a tunnel for Emma and Michael to walk through, surrounded by their closest friends. “As the night came to a close, we walked through a glowing tunnel of sparklers. It was an element of fun and a memorable moment.”