confessions of a garden wedding planner

“The earth laughs in flowers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

@firstsundayevents

Published August 2025

Ah the privilege to live in the sixth most liveable city in the world -Sydney. If you are like many other brides and grooms wanting to plan your big day whilst embracing the natural beauty of this city -i.e. outdoors- read on for our tips and tricks that might just save your wedding plans.

Garden weddings are enchanting, but they come with unpredictability. Here are some keys to avoiding disaster besides "just have a backup plan".


Time your seasons right
The absolute most important step in having a successful garden wedding is to pick the right date for your big day.

March - May, September - November are certainly the sweet spot. Also learn about the foliage around your desired space; find out whether the leaves would turn amber in Autumn, and whether that is something that you do or do not want.


If you have to plan your wedding outside of these seasonal windows, Summer (December - February) is a much safer bet than Winter (June - August). But adverse weather hits in every season, so read on for more tips and tricks.





It's not always blue skies

Look at wind speed and temperature too

Rain is not the only variable that could derail your plan. Extreme heat or cold would also make your wedding be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

And finally, your wedding stylist would have to adjust your floristry and decor plans based on the predicted wind speed. We don't want things flying everywhere! If it does go above a certain threshold, then it simply become unsafe to proceed.

Read the meteorological data, not just your phone's weather app

Jump on sites like Weatherzone or Accuweather for a more accurate forecast. They also offer a deeper insight than just "is it going to rain or not."

One key metric when looking at precipitation is the volume of rain. Your wedding planner would be able to help you interpret what 1mm of rain look like vs 3 mm, and whether your plans could go ahead. 

Location, location, location

Even without weather concerns, you should be aware of the logistical details of your chosen location. How far away is the nearest parking/car drop off spot? Are there bathrooms, or would you need to arrange a port-a-loo? What is the foot traffic around the space like?

Look at the hourly forecast, not only the day's forecast

This is something your wedding planner would be able to help you do; like we did for our couple Maddie and Nich here -where we realised that all of the rain would be contained to the morning of their big day, and we could go ahead with their amazing garden wedding in the afternoon. The team did pay the price though, having to bring this vision to life under torrential rain. But we LOVE challenges like this and making the impossible possible.

Nothing worse than the decision on whether you should invest in another venue just to have a wet-weather backup plan -ugh.

But it is absolutely necessary.

Without a backup plan, you would be an anxious mess in the month leading up to your wedding day, which is not what we want. There would already be pressure -practice your dance, write your speeches, manage nagging family members, stick to your skin care routine.... You do want to have the certainty of knowing what would happen if the weather turned south.

As wedding planners, we do know a trick or two that could help you minimise the investment needed. And those tips are...

Ah, sorry folks, we have to keep this one secret. This has everything to do with the relationships that we have built with venues and other vendors around Sydney over the years we have operated in the industry. But if this is something that you need help with, come talk to us now!

the art of having a backup plan (without breaking the bank)

As wedding stylists, we would want to know:

How level is the ground?

What natural colour tones are found around the space.

How much natural shade was present, and how would the natural lighting look during the time of your ceremony (we have tools to simulate this).

How much time would we have to set up before and pack down afterwards.

How are the parklands regulated, what are the rules?

Are there any particular feature (e.g. water) or landmark (e.g. the Sydney Opera House) or in this case, BOTH, that we would like to elevate and not cover up with a tall backdrop...

Styling considerations

and when it's time to party...

When you plan your garden wedding from the guest experience point of view, there are two main elements to consider: guest care and entertainment.

Guest care:
  • Hydration. If the weather is good enough for you to wed outside, your guests will need access to water. This is something that can monogrammed/styled to be on theme with the rest of your wedding.
  • Heel stoppers (for the ladies)
  • Parasols
  • Fans
  • Program of the day in the form of a custom newspaper
  • Food -depending on the timing of the day

Guest entertainment:
  • Music
  • Lawn games
  • Roaming entertainers
  • Thoughtful guest-engagement elements, for example a giant crossword puzzle with trivia about the couple
  • Guest illustration
  • Roaming treats, such as cannolis or sliders
  • Cocktails and other alcoholic beverages

Are you dreaming of the perfect garden wedding ceremony, reception, or both?

Would you like to work with an experienced wedding planner and stylist to help you manage all of the above consideration without overwhelm?

Drop us a message today!

see More

the perfect soiree

from Our Portfolio

Real Wedding Highlights

Athol Hall,
Mosman

MADDIE + NICH

pure imagi-
nation

12 Micron,
Barangaroo

JESS + BEN

East Meets West

Chinese Gardens of Friendship, Sydney

CARIN + YOSUA

LITTLE TUSCANY IN BOWRAL

Centennial Vineyards,
Bowral

MARTINA + ALEX

Check Availability!

Say hi via the form below and let us know your preferred wedding date, month, or season. We’ll confirm our availability and send over our Services Guide, which includes pricing.

Complimentary high-fidelity renders

Unlimited Meetings

Exclusive Vendor Perks

chauffeured venue tours

Broad cultural understanding

Transparent service fees starting from $4,500+gst

Check AvaiLability!

Say hi via the form below and let us know your preferred wedding date, month, or season - we’ll confirm our availability and send over our Services Guide, which includes pricing.

Complimentary high-fidelity renders

Unlimited Meetings

Exclusive Vendor Perks

chauffeured venue tours

Broad cultural understanding

Transparent service fees starting from $4,500+gst

Contact form

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US
Preferred Wedding Date (if Any)
submit

Thank You

We'll be in touch!