Madison and Nick

A laid-back celebration at a beloved family farm was perfect for Madison and Nick’s long-awaited nuptials… after a few last-minute hiccups.

Photography by Justin and Jim Photographers

Red Rooster likely isn’t considered a special location by most, but for Madison and Nick, it’s where their love story started. They met in the Bendigo store seven years ago, and two years later Nick knew Madison was the one. Just as their hot air balloon was taking off in the Yarra Valley, he asked her to be his wife. Over the beautiful winery views, she wholeheartedly said yes. After a five-year engagement, Madison and Nick wanted their wedding location to be meaningful. Although they were living in Queensland at the time, they decided to honour Madison’s late grandparents by getting married at their Newbridge farm. “The farm holds many memories, and having the wedding on the farm is now part of the many amazing memories created there,” Madison says. September 10, 2022, may have been their big day, but the days leading up to it were just as eventful. “We had rain on the Thursday… which meant we had multiple cars, caravans (and) portable toilets getting bogged, delaying the set up on the Friday,” Madison says. Loved ones quickly gathered to assist, working into the night to ensure everything was perfect for the Saturday ceremony and reception. On the Sunday, Madison and Nick discovered additional small issues that had been swiftly and quietly taken care of without them even knowing. “We cannot thank these particular people enough,” Madison says. The wedding itself was thankfully stress-free and went as planned, under a beautiful marquee that made the couple feel like royalty. Two Sisters Catering provided a delicious two-course meal for guests, who partied into the early hours of the morning before retreating to their tents and caravans set up in surrounding paddocks. “We loved to just be able to spend time with everyone, dancing, laughing and just sharing in what will be the most special memories of our lives,” Madison says.

One of Madison and Nick’s most treasured memories from the day was when they ducked away for photos by the river. It was just the two of them and their photographer, Jim from Justin and Jim Photographers, giving them a quiet moment on an otherwise busy day. The wedding day was just the start of a busy time for Madison and Nick. In the short time since, they have sold their house in Queensland and moved to Adelaide to be closer to their families. They’ve yet to have a honeymoon as a result, but they have one planned for the beginning of 2023. At the moment, they are focusing on absolutely loving life as a newly married couple. When asked for wedding advice for other couples, Madison and Nick suggest planning ahead as much as possible, even the little things so nothing is left to the last minute. However, their biggest piece of advice was simple. “As much as you would like to please everyone, at the end of the day, it is your day. Do whatever will make you happy, so that you have the day that you have always dreamed of.”