Ovolo Woolloomooloo sits on the heritage Finger Wharf, a few minutes from the CBD, with hotel rooms, ceremony spaces and reception rooms under one roof. Ceremonies happen in The Burbs, upstairs in Alibi Bar or out on the wharf; receptions are in the Piper Room or The Burbs, depending on numbers and whether it's seated or cocktail style. The rooms are dark timber and steel with high ceilings and a wall of lights, so flowers read as colour against a moody backdrop. We've designed the flowers for eight weddings there since 2022, for 30 to 150 guests. Here's what we've set up and what works.
A ceremony in The Burbs with bright clusters on geometric stands (photo: Dan O'Day).
The spaces at a glance
| Space | Used for | What works |
|---|---|---|
| The Burbs | Ceremony, cocktail reception | Asymmetric clusters on an arch or stands, petals down the aisle, a welcome sign with flowers |
| Alibi Bar (upstairs) | Ceremony, drinks | A pair of clusters on stands, nothing that blocks the windows |
| Piper Room | Seated reception up to 150 | Alternating tall and low table arrangements, a feature on the bridal table, a hanging greenery installation with draping, greenery on the pillars |
| Stairwell and entrance | Arrivals | Flowers and candles up the stairs to the curtain entrance, a cluster at the welcome sign |
| Wharf | Ceremony, portraits | Low, weighted clusters that handle the wind |
Ceremony in The Burbs or Alibi
Most ceremonies are in The Burbs, with the reception next door in the Piper Room. We've done asymmetric clusters on our white arch with fabric draping, clusters on gold or black stands, and a technicolour pair on geometric frames for Adrian and PJ, with pink petals down the aisle for the flower girls. The arch clusters are built to lift off, so after the ceremony they go to the bar or behind the couple in the Piper Room, where one couple used them to frame a neon sign.
A welcome sign with flowers and candles up the stairs (photo: Milton Gan).
Reception in the Piper Room
The Piper Room is long and dark, with the light wall at one end and timber pillars down the sides. Colour carries here. For Zarina and Jake we designed alternating tall and low arrangements in burgundy, red and pink for the guest tables, with the stairwell dressed in flowers and candles up to the curtain entrance. Other couples have gone soft: blush and champagne with a feature piece on a long bridal table, or white and green with greenery on the pillars.
Bridal table features in front of the light wall (photo left: Dan O'Day, right: Milton Gan).
Bright arrangements on black rounds, and candles down a long table (photos: Dan O'Day).
The ceiling is the other opportunity. We've hung a greenery installation with fabric draping that trails down onto the ceremony arch, and dressed the corner beams around the room with greenery. For a bolder look, a hanging cluster of red and white flowers over the dancefloor, lit by the light wall.
A hanging red and white cluster (photo: Damien Milan), and long tables in the Piper Room (photo: Brendan Samuels).
Bright mixed bouquets against the dark room (photo: Lara Hotz).
Timing and logistics
- Ceiling installations need the room early. The venue usually gives us morning access to the Piper Room, which leaves time for draping before an afternoon ceremony.
- Ceremony to reception: we stay on and move the arch clusters to the bar or behind the bridal table while guests are at drinks in Alibi or on the wharf.
- The wharf is windy. Anything outside is low and weighted, and nothing tall goes out there.
- Loading is through the wharf side door, and we schedule around hotel deliveries.
- Most couples skip pack-down. Guests take the flowers home, and hired arches, stands and vases come back to our studio the next day.
More city venue guides
Planning nearby? See our guides to The Tea Room QVB, Botanic House and the Royal Botanic Garden.
See more real setups on our Ovolo Woolloomooloo Pinterest board.
Ovolo Woolloomooloo wedding flowers FAQ
How much do wedding flowers cost at Ovolo Woolloomooloo?
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 hang flowers from the ceiling in the Piper Room?
Yes. We've done greenery installations with fabric draping and a hanging floral cluster over the dancefloor. Morning access usually gives us time to install them.
Can the ceremony flowers be used at the reception?
Yes. Arch and stand clusters move to the bar, the entrance or behind the bridal table, and draping can trail from the ceiling onto the arch. More in our guide to reusing your wedding flowers.
What colours work in the Piper Room?
The room is dark, so saturated colour and white both read well. Pale pastels can disappear unless they're lit by candles or placed in front of the light wall.
Planning a Ovolo Woolloomooloo 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: Milton Gan, Dan O'Day, Brendan Samuels, Lara Hotz and Damien Milan.
Love the photos? Meet the best wedding photographers in Sydney we've worked with.