Timeless Ethereal Romance at The Botanic House Sydney

Alana & James

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Alana and James throughout last year to bring their ultimate wedding of their dreams to life in early 2022. The couple contacted us to style and co-ordinate their wedding at Botanic House Sydney. We have contacted the lovely couple to answer some of our burning question’s and Alana did an amazing job! If you are getting married, looking for a venue or simply want to understand what it’s like for the bride and groom’s perspective, Alana delivers this perfectly. Have a read below!

What made you decide on hiring a wedding stylist and coordinator for your wedding?

I am a perfectionist; some may even refer to me as an organisational control freak. I want everything I do to be perfect and I had a vision of my dream wedding. I knew that I would not be able to execute this on my own and as I stated in my wedding speech, I needed a team of people, i.e. the fabulous Honey Lane Team. I had spoken to other recent brides who had organised the styling for their own weddings and they had commented on how difficult this was, particularly in the days leading up to their wedding. I wanted my family and friends to be able to just turn up and really enjoy the day. I loved being able to walk into the venue before the guests had entered and see it PERFECTLY styled. The wedding coordinator was an added bonus that I could not recommend more! I absolutely LOVE lists, and timelines and Heidi was all across this so I felt completely at ease as she knew exactly what was going on and at what time. I am usually the one directing people so for me it was crucial I had a coordinator who I trusted implicitly - Heidi was absolutely brilliant!

The Venue - How did you know it was the one?

We really struggled to find a venue and had seen at least a dozen venues across Sydney, so we were at a real loss because we hadn't seen THE venue yet. James and I had agreed that we did not want a 'traditional' wedding venue but rather something modern, elegant that also provided a warm and relaxed atmosphere. It was actually Lara from Honey Lane who suggested Botanic House. Upon entering Botanic House, we looked at each other and both agreed - "it's perfect". The venue was modern yet had traditional heritage features and we loved that it was surrounded by a beautiful gardenscape. Additionally, the venue was in a central location meaning that everyone was able to get there easily, yet it did not feel like you were in the middle of the CBD given it is nestled away from the city hustle and bustle.

Favourite Memory from your wedding day

The whole day was honestly a highlight! I remember looking around the reception whilst everyone was having dinner and just taking a deep breath. It was so heart-warming and something I will never forget. Having all our family (in particular for me having 3 grandparents alive and in attendance) as well as all our friends in one room, you could really feel the love, it was something I had never really experienced. We also were so lucky to be able to have family who live overseas attend which was really special!

If I had to pinpoint a moment, it would be when I walked into Botanic House for a sneak peek. It was so gratifying to walk in and see everything I had dreamed of, come to life, from the terracotta napkins, custom crockery, and glassware to personalised menus, signs and flowers. It was magic - Alannah's styling and execution was faultless.

We are glad we.... made the difficult decision to postpone in 2021 and reschedule to January 2022 as it removed some of the stress associated with COVID restrictions and in the end, it meant we were able to have all our guests attend including those from overseas without any major restrictions.

A little lol - A funny moment you will always remember

The Honey Lane Team paid so much attention to the finer details, this included beautifully selected linen, terracotta napkins which our guests seemed to really appreciate. I will never forget looking over to tables 9 and 10 and seeing guests from those tables proudly wearing these around their necks as cravats. I remember looking over to Heidi who coordinated the day, both of us laughing, me mouthing "sorry, Goodluck getting those back". The boys all looked brilliant with their napkins as fashion accessories and it really was funny to see them as a group bringing to life Alannah's moodboard and style proposal.

Word of Advice - Anything you might like to share to soon to be brides and grooms?

1. Before the Event: Control only what you can control. Unfortunately, you cannot control global events or how people react to attending your event in a global pandemic.

2. On the day: Remember, nobody will know if something does not go to plan except you (your husband probably won’t even know or realise).

3. During the day: Absorb it! - Take a moment to stop and look around at everyone there, they are there for you!

YOU CAN VISIT MORE OF ALANA AND JAMES’ WEDDING ALBUM HERE!

Thank you to our amazing industry friends for being apart their wedding day…

Florist – The Flower Posse

Stationery and Signage – My Creative Space

Full Styling and Co-ordination – Honey Lane Events

Tableware – The Pretty Table Hire

Photographer – Jimmy Raper

Cake – By Gigi

Venue – Botanic House Sydney

Want more from us? Of course, you do! You can access our services RIGHT HERE!

We are your wedding planners and stylists located in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. You can contact us via our website at WWW.HONEYLANE.COM, our Instagram @HONEYLANEEVENTS, or email us at HELLO@HONEYLANE.COM.

Alana & James

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