extraordinary weddings

When a fantastic couple from Hong Kong asked me to plan their wedding in Sydney, Australia, I immediately accepted the offer and started to design an incredible celebration. Two hundred and fifty guests would travel to a secret location for three days of unforgettable parties. Everyone was told what to pack and where to meet, the rest was a mystery that unfolded over the next three days.

The party began with a Friday evening welcome dinner to break the ice. Toasts and speeches filled the evening. Lots of laughter and even a few tears were shed as close friends and family shared intimate stories of their relationship with the bride and groom separately and with them as a couple. By the time the evening ended, new friendships were cemented and old friendships rekindled, all in the warm and loving spirit surrounding the marriage of two people so obviously meant for one another.

The wedding ceremony took place on what was a rather cloudy, rainy and overcast day, but just as guests started to arrive, almost on cue, the sun poked through the clouds revealing the Sydney skyline in all its splendor. Vows were exchanged in a modern and minimalist tent on the grounds of the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. From there guests were transported to the State Theatre, often described as the Palace of Dreams, and this wedding celebration proved it. A winding staircase in the rotunda provided the backdrop for a candlelight pre-dinner cocktail reception where guests were serenaded by fourteen violinists. After copious amounts of champagne, everyone was led into the baroque theater, where centerpieces of gilded candelabras and red roses seemed to float high over the tables. Our sumptuous décor in shades of red and gold was set against the backdrop of the stage’s velvet curtains with tables draped with velvet and brocade linens in burgundy, garnet, and gold, each having a different gold and burgundy tasseled trim.

After a delicious dinner, prepared by Chef Justin Quek from Shanghai, and an evening of dancing, in lieu of a traditional wedding cake for dessert we designed individual cakes for each guest. There were pink two-tiered cakes for women, and white square cakes tied with a red fondant ribbon for men: an over-the-top, utterly decadent treat!

The State Theatre had truly become a Palace of Dreams. It was certainly a celebration the bride, groom, and their guests will never forget.