Botanic House is the restaurant and events venue inside the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, with glass walls on most sides looking out into the garden. It's usually booked for the reception, and it can host the ceremony indoors too. Many couples marry nearby in the Garden first, on a lawn or in the Palm House, and walk over for dinner; our Royal Botanic Garden guide covers those ceremony spots. We've designed the flowers for nine weddings at Botanic House since 2022. Here's what we've set up and what works.
At a glance
| Moment | What works |
|---|---|
| Reception tables | Low centrepieces on round tables, bud vase clusters on king tables, ikebana bowls and candles on a long bridal table |
| Ceremony indoors | A freestanding backdrop or a pair of arrangements on plinths, which then move to the bridal table |
| Ceremony flowers from the Garden | Moved in along the front of the bridal table, to the seating chart, the bar or the wishing well table |
| The room itself | Greenery and fabric draping from the ceiling, decor on the corner beams |
Reception tables
With glass on most sides, the room feels bright and open, so the table flowers can stay low and let the garden outside do the rest. Most couples choose round tables with a low arrangement and tealights. We've also done king tables with three bud vase clusters along each, a long bridal table facing out with ikebana bowls and pillar candles, and a cocktail-style reception with bud vases on bar tables. Some couples bring their own candles, and we place them around the flowers.
White and blue by the windows, September 2023.
Soft blush and cream.
Or bright coral and red, with ceremony flowers moved to the bar.
Steph & Alfred's tables and cake (photos: Russell Stafford).
Ceremony at Botanic House
If you'd rather keep everything in one place, the ceremony can be held inside. We'd design a freestanding backdrop or a pair of statement arrangements on plinths at one end of the room, then move them to the bridal table once the room is set for dinner, so they work twice.
Bringing the ceremony flowers in
When the ceremony is out in the Garden, we pack the flowers down once it's finished and bring them into Botanic House while guests have drinks. Aisle arrangements become a row of flowers along the front of the bridal table, backdrop clusters go to the seating chart or the bar, and smaller pieces go on the wishing well table.
Lawn ceremony arrangements reused along the bridal table and at the seating chart.
Amy & James's backdrop, then at the seating chart (photos: James Bennett).
Decorating the room
The room's beams and corner posts can carry decor too. For one wedding we hung a greenery installation with fabric draping, and dressed the corner beams with greenery, fabric and LED candles on the window ledges below.
Timing and logistics
- Vehicles enter the Garden by the access road off Mrs Macquarie Road with a ranger escort, so we allow extra time for every drop-off.
- After a Garden ceremony, guests usually walk over for drinks while we finish the room.
- If your ceremony is in the Garden, that site is booked separately with its own access time. We set it up first, then the reception.
- The venue has an easel for your welcome sign or seating chart, and we can add flowers to it.
Real weddings at Botanic House
See Amy & James's Botanic House and Harbour View Lawn wedding and Steph & Alfred's Palm House and Botanic House wedding, and Samantha & Zi's colourful Palm House and Botanic House wedding.
See more real setups on our Botanic House Pinterest board.
Botanic House wedding flowers FAQ
How much do wedding flowers cost at Botanic House?
There's no set price. It depends on your guest numbers, your table layout, and whether ceremony flowers are repurposed for the reception. After your enquiry we send a tailored range estimate, then a detailed proposal. Our guide to wedding flower pricing explains what drives it.
Can we have the ceremony at Botanic House?
Yes, indoors. Or marry nearby in the Garden and walk over; see our Royal Botanic Garden guide for the lawns and the Palm House.
Can the ceremony flowers be used at the reception?
Yes. Aisle arrangements often go along the front of the bridal table or onto guest tables, and backdrop clusters move to the seating chart or bar. More in our guide to reusing your wedding flowers.
Planning a Botanic House wedding?
Tell us your date, guest numbers and the moments you'd like flowers for, and we'll send a tailored range estimate. See our work as a Sydney wedding florist or start your enquiry.
Photography: James Bennett and Russell Stafford (now Pepper June), plus photos from our team.
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