Dunbar House is an 1830s heritage house on the water at Watsons Bay, in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Couples usually marry under the Moreton Bay fig in Robertson Park next door, or on the sand at Camp Cove or Gibsons Beach, then move into the house for the reception: a long verandah for canapés, a bright dining room that seats up to 110, and an upstairs bar. We've designed the flowers for nine weddings there since 2021, for 45 to 100 guests. Here's what we've set up and what works.
A ceremony under the fig at Robertson Park, with the harbour behind (photo: Ann Marie Yuen).
The spaces at a glance
| Space | Used for | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Fig tree, Robertson Park | Ceremony | Freestanding clusters on metal stands or at the base of the tree, pew ends, a signing table arrangement |
| Camp Cove or Gibsons Beach | Ceremony | Low, wind-resistant clusters; nothing tall or top-heavy |
| Front steps and entrance | Arrivals, aisle for an in-house ceremony | Candles in vases up the steps, large arrangements lining the stairs, flowers at the welcome sign |
| Verandah | Canapés | Ceremony clusters repurposed onto the bar and mantle |
| Dining room | Seated reception up to 110 | Long tables with bud vases or low arrangements, or round tables with low centrepieces, a feature on the bridal table, flowers on the seating chart |
| Upstairs bar | Wet-weather ceremony | The same freestanding clusters moved indoors |
Ceremony under the fig
The fig at Robertson Park is the reason most couples choose Dunbar House. Its canopy is the backdrop, so we keep the flowers at ground level: asymmetric clusters on tall and short black stands, or arrangements set straight onto the roots of the tree. A few couples have added pew ends to three rows and a small signing table piece. One ceremony used a hired chuppah with our flowers on it. The clusters are built to be lifted, so after the ceremony they go up the steps into the house.
White and lilac clusters with dried grasses under the fig, and one at the base of the tree (photos: Ann Marie Yuen).
The ceremony in progress, with Camp Cove behind (photo: Ann Marie Yuen).
The steps and the entrance
Guests arrive up the front steps, so a few couples have turned them into the aisle. We've lined every second step with pillar candles in glass vases of three sizes, about 30 vessels in total, and for one wedding placed eight large arrangements up the stairs as aisle markers, later moved onto the tables. A small cluster at the base of the welcome sign easel finishes it.
Reception in the dining room
The dining room is white with high ceilings, a chandelier and tall windows onto the water, so the flowers can be soft. For long tables we've done bud vases and low garden-style arrangements with candles between; for rounds, low centrepieces in the couple's palette and a larger piece on the sweetheart or bridal table. A few couples have added flowers to the seating chart and asked us to cut the ceremony clusters down for the bar, the mantle and the cake table. Palettes have ranged from white and blush with orchids, to champagne, copper and lavender, to burgundy and dusty pink.
Long tables in the dining room with bud vases and candles (photos: Girl in the White Dress).
Dinner in the dining room (photo: Girl in the White Dress).
Timing and logistics
- Robertson Park is a public park, so the ceremony setup is quick and freestanding: we bump in about an hour before and nothing is fixed to the tree.
- Ceremony to reception: we stay on and carry the clusters up the steps to the verandah bar, the mantle and the bridal table while guests have canapés.
- Wet weather: the ceremony moves to the upstairs bar, and the same clusters work there. The call is made that morning.
- Watsons Bay parking is tight on weekends, so deliveries are scheduled early and we bring everything in one run.
- Most couples skip pack-down. Guests take the flowers home, and hired stands and vases come back to our studio the next day.
More Sydney venue guides
See our guides to the Royal Botanic Garden and Botanic House, or browse our wedding work.
See more real setups on our Dunbar House Pinterest board.
Dunbar House wedding flowers FAQ
How much do wedding flowers cost at Dunbar House?
There's no set price. It depends on your guest numbers, the scale of the ceremony design and how much of it is 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 you set up flowers under the fig tree at Robertson Park?
Yes. Everything is freestanding, on stands or at the base of the tree, so nothing is attached to it and setup takes about an hour.
Can the ceremony flowers be used at the reception?
Yes. The clusters are built to be lifted and go onto the verandah bar, the mantle, the bridal table or the cake table. More in our guide to reusing your wedding flowers.
What happens if it rains?
The ceremony moves to the upstairs bar inside Dunbar House, and the same pieces work there.
Planning a Dunbar 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: Ann Marie Yuen and Girl in the White Dress.
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