The Tea Room sits on the third floor of the Queen Victoria Building in the Sydney CBD: crystal chandeliers, ornate ceilings, tall arched windows and white panelled cabinets along the walls. We've designed the flowers for eight weddings there since 2022, and we're one of the venue's recommended florists. Here's what we've set up and what works.
The Tea Room set for a reception (photo: Captured Frames).
The spaces at a glance
| Space | Used for | What works |
|---|---|---|
| The Tea Room | Ceremony and reception | Freestanding arrangements or an arch in front of the white cabinets, then low or tall centrepieces, long tables with candles, a feature arrangement above the bridal table |
| Foyer | Canapés while the room is reset, welcome and seating chart | A repurposed ceremony arrangement at the base of the seating chart, a low arrangement beside the welcome sign |
Ceremony in the Tea Room
When the ceremony is in the room, it usually stands in front of the white cabinets or the panelled doors. The room is then reset for dinner while guests have canapés in the foyer, so the turnaround is short. We design ceremony pieces that can be lifted and moved quickly. Setups we've done there:
- A pair of freestanding arrangements on metal stands, moved to the bridal table afterwards
- A single floral cluster on the couple's own gold circular arch
- Two large clusters on a circular arch, with small arrangements and a scatter of petals marking the aisle
- Altar arrangements with fabric draping and pillar candles, later used at the bridal table, the bar and the seating chart
Tall arrangements on gold stands, at the ceremony and over the tables (photos: Captured Frames).
Ceremony somewhere else, reception at the Tea Room
Many of our Tea Room couples marry first at a church, The Mint, the Royal Botanic Garden or a garden venue, then come to the QVB for dinner. The ceremony flowers come with them. For one winter wedding, rose pillars and aisle arrangements from a courtyard ceremony at The Mint went to the front entrance, the bar, the gift table and the end of each long table.
A courtyard ceremony at The Mint before a Tea Room reception, August 2024 (photo: Splendid Photography).
The same rose pillars and aisle pieces, reset with candles at the Tea Room (photos: Splendid Photography).
Reception
The bridal table usually sits in front of the white cabinets, which gives you a natural backdrop. We've placed a feature arrangement on top of the cabinet with flowers cascading down, set a long and low arrangement along the table with pillars and tealights either side, and brought the ceremony flowers in on the floor in front.
The bridal table in front of the white cabinets (photo: Captured Frames).
For guest tables, couples choose between round tables with a low arrangement or a tall arrangement on a gold stand, or long tables with long and low arrangements and taper candles all the way along. The venue can supply mirrored bases and tealights for the tables, and we add pillars and candle clusters to suit the design.
Round tables with low centrepieces (photo: Captured Frames).
Long tables with taper candles and low arrangements in red, peach and blush (photo: Splendid Photography).
We've also styled a traditional oil lamp for a Sri Lankan wedding, with greenery, flowers and petals around its base, and used coloured pillar candles and cascading flowers for a navy, burgundy and gold palette.
The chandeliers do a lot of the work after dark (photo: Captured Frames).
Timing and logistics
- We load in through the QVB loading dock in the afternoon. It's a busy CBD building, so we allow extra time.
- If the ceremony is in the room, guests have canapés in the foyer while it's reset for dinner.
- Ceremony to reception: we move the ceremony flowers in while the room is reset, so they're in place before guests sit down. More in our guide to reusing your wedding flowers.
- Pack-down is at the end of the night. Many couples skip it and let guests take the table arrangements home.
- Everything is indoors, so there's no wet-weather plan to design for. It's a good choice for a winter wedding.
- The venue has an easel for the seating chart, and we can add flowers to its base.
More venue guides
The Tea Room is part of the same venue group as Gunners Barracks and Sergeants Mess. See our Gunners Barracks wedding flowers guide and Sergeants Mess wedding flowers guide.
See more real setups on our Tea Room QVB Pinterest board.
Tea Room QVB wedding flowers FAQ
How much do wedding flowers cost at the Tea Room QVB?
There's no set price. It depends on your guest numbers, the scale of your ceremony design, whether you choose low or tall centrepieces, 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.
Are you a recommended florist at the Tea Room QVB?
Yes. We're a recommended vendor at The Tea Room QVB and at its sister venues, Gunners Barracks and Sergeants Mess.
Can we have the ceremony and reception in the same room?
Yes. The room is reset while guests have canapés in the foyer, so we design ceremony pieces that move quickly and become part of the reception.
Can you bring flowers from our ceremony at another venue?
Yes. We regularly move ceremony flowers from a church, The Mint or a garden ceremony to the Tea Room and reset them for dinner.
Planning a Tea Room QVB 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: Captured Frames and Splendid Photography.
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