Candid new photos emerge of Brittany beaming at her lavish wedding as she shares a heartwarming six-word message for her groom David Sharaz

Brittany Higgins and her new husband David Sharaz have shared heartfelt messages to each other online following their lavish wedding.

The couple tied the knot while joined by 80 friends and family members at luxury Gold Coast wedding venue, The Valley Estate in the Currumbin Valley, on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Sharaz shared six beautiful photos of the event, happy bride and wedding party on Sunday night.

‘The best day of my life,’ he captioned the post, alongside a red heart emoji.

Ms Higgins shared a similarly heartwarming message on Saturday with three photos of the ceremony.

‘Today I married my best friend,’ she wrote. 

David Sharaz shared a heartfelt message (pictured) alongside a series of candid photos of his wedding to Brittany Higgins on Saturday

Ms Higgins wore a long-sleeve, lace gown with a tulle skirt by South Australia  designer Paolo Sebastian, which cost up to $30,000, while the groom wore a black tuxedo.

Mr Sharaz was surrounded by entourage of groomsmen, security workers and venue staff, and shrouded by a sea of big black umbrellas to shield him from the media circus waiting beyond the gate.

Rain was forecast for the big day, but the skies remained clear.

No politician or celebrity guests were invited to the wedding, but in attendance was the former sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins, along with television producer Judi McCrossin who optioned the production rights to Ms Higgins’ unpublished memoir. 

The bride also shared a series of happy snaps from her wedding to Instagram on Saturday evening, with the caption ‘Mr & Mrs Sharaz’.

One person who watched the ceremony said the vows were ‘truly beautiful’.

‘I’m happy to say I cried happy tears while listening to them,’ he said. 

Speeches started at 6pm with an eruption of cheers that could be heard from well beyond the venue.

Brittany Higgins wore a long-sleeve, lace gown with a tulle skirt by South Australia designer Paolo Sebastian, which cost up to $30,000

Brittany and David Sharaz tied the knot on Saturday in front of 80 of their family and friends

Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz have tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at a luxury Gold Coast wedding venue (pictured, the former Ms Higgins with her father Matthew)

Mr Sharaz was seen surrounded by an entourage of groomsmen and other assistants, as well as a sea of big black umbrellas, despite rain so far holding off for the big day

Former Liberal staffer Ms Higgins is set to marry her long-term boyfriend at a lavish ceremony at The Valley Estate in the Currumbin Valley this afternoon

Ms Higgins’ father Matthew spoke, standing next to his partner Kellie Jago.

Earlier, on Saturday morning, Ms Higgins was seen saying goodbye to her now-husband at their $260-a-night hotel before setting off to prepare for the ceremony with members of her bridal party, including her maid-of-honour Emma Webster.

The former Liberal staffer smiled as she left with a garment bag with the name of South Australian label Paolo Sebastian printed on the front.

The brand has designed outfits for the likes of Katy Perry and Kris Jenner.

Daily Mail Australia understands the couple’s wedding invitation referred to ‘The Sharazs’, but it is unclear if Ms Higgins will formally change her last name.

The groom did not respond to questions on Friday.

‘Join us in making unforgettable memories,’ the invitation said. ‘Come for the love, stay for the party.’ 

Ms Higgins’ stepmother Kellie Jago is seen arriving at the ceremony

Brittany Higgins (pictured) married David Sharaz at a Gold Coast hinterland estate on Saturday afternoon. It is understood she will take the name Sharaz

David Sharaz arrives at the wedding venue shielded from the media by an umbrella and surrounded by other security personnel

Mr Sharaz was spotted arriving at The Valley Estate late on Saturday morning, where he was shielded from waiting media by an umbrella and surrounded by other security personnel. 

The couple hired their own security for the big day.

Staff could be seen ferrying trays of snacks down to the groomsmen, as crates of alcohol were taken to the kitchen.

A makeup artist, photographers and the wedding cake arrived at about 11.30am.

A staff member at The Valley Estate is seen during preparations for the wedding of Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz in the Gold Coast hinterland

Staff are seen at The Valley Estate in Gold Coast’s Currumbin Valley ahead of the wedding between Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz

Staff could be seen ferrying trays of snacks down to the groomsmen, as crates of alcohol were taken to the kitchen. A make up artist, photographers and the wedding cake arrived at about 11.30am

Lisa Wilkinson was not seen at the wedding, but was spotted on Friday walking through Mosman on Sydney’s lower north shore to get a coffee and do some shopping in a casual $9,000 outfit – including $1,400 Dior sandals.

The TV host and Ms Higgins have been close since the former staffer divulged her rape allegations in an interview with Wilkinson on Network Ten program, The Project, in February 2021.

After Ms Higgins gave her evidence in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case in December, Wilkinson approached her in the courtroom and gave her a big hug.

At about 6.30am on Saturday morning, Mr Sharaz – undeterred by the grey skies and imminent rain circling over the Currumbin Valley – took to Instagram to reveal his first-ever text interaction with his future wife back in 2020.

Commenting on a photo of Ms Higgins by the famous ‘budget tree’ in a Parliament House courtyard in Canberra, where she worked as a Liberal staffer, he wrote: ‘Love this photo. But mainly the tree.’

Lisa Wilkinson and Brittany Higgins (pictured together) have been close since 2021, but the TV host didn’t score a wedding invite

Ms Higgins replied with a face palm emoji: ‘Rude but entirely justified hahah.’

He wrote: ‘To be honest. I went to show a girlfriend what you looked like and accidentally sent it to you. Have a good night.’

She said: ‘Hahahahah that’s amazing.’

In the caption of the post, Mr Sharaz wrote: ‘Accidentally sent a girl I had a crush on…photo of herself.’

‘Few years later and we’re getting married! Romcoms do exist.’

The couple will exchange vows at The Valley Estate in Currumbin Valley (pictured)

The venue is an old dairy nestled in the Gold Coast hinterland (pictured)

For a Saturday wedding in 2024, the venue charges a $47,750 minimum spend across the venue’s many offerings

Couples are granted exclusive access to the whole estate for wedding photos, and golf buggies to get around in, as well as a lawn games set up, security and a wedding coordinator, according to the venue’s brochure

Set on nine acres of landscaped gardens, The Valley Estate is the ‘epitome of luxury’, according to its website. ‘A bespoke, one-off space crafted to inspire celebration and reflection with loved ones.’ 

For a Saturday wedding in 2024, the venue charges a $47,750 minimum spend across the venue’s many offerings. 

Under the current pricing list, packages start at $35,750 for 50 guests and go up to $52,000 for 100 guests.

This includes the ceremony location, reception space and basic food and beverage packages.

Couples are granted exclusive access to the whole estate for wedding photos, and golf buggies to get around in, as well as a lawn games set up, security and a wedding coordinator, according to the brochure.

The eye-watering cost does not include use of the guesthouse, which from Friday to Sunday costs $1300 a night. Couples can also add an oyster bar for an additional $28 per person, or a seafood grazing table for $60pp.

A champagne tower is charged at $650 for five tiers and $950 for six, while the top beverage package, which includes a selection of cocktails and spritzes, as well as premium spirits, costs an additional $200 per person.

The minimum spend does not include any outside spend, meaning the cost of a photographer, celebrant, flowers or outfits for the couple would need to be paid on top of the minimum $47,750.

The big occasion follows a tumultuous few years for the couple, after they were thrust into the spotlight when Ms Higgins went public with her rape allegations.

She said Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House when they were both junior political staffers in 2019. 

He had denied it, but in April a Federal Court judge found, on a balance of probabilities, that Ms Higgins was raped.

On Friday, one day before Ms Higgins ties the knot with Mr Sharaz, Lehrmann filed an appeal to overturn the judgement.

A security guard is seen at the venue ahead of the wedding between Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz

In December last year, the couple bought a chateau in southern France with the $2.4million she was awarded from the Commonwealth as compensation for the way her rape allegations were handled.

It is believed they permanently relocated to get away from their celebrity status in Australia. 

After the judgement in April, Ms Higgins released a statement on Instagram saying she felt vindicated: ‘I was raped. No judgment was ever going to change this truth.’

‘I lived with the shame, humiliation, and fear of what telling my story would mean for my life and career, like so many other victim-survivors.’