Shyla & Sameer: Floral Grandeur at Redleaf

redleaf, wollombi

A modern love story, dress shopping in Mumbai and dancing beneath giant whimsical blooms.

Shyla & Sameer

Their love story began in what many might call a conventional way — through a dating app. As fate would have it, Sameer was Shyla’s very first match in her very first week of dating. Their first date took place at a Spanish tapas bar in Sydney, where nerves and charm collided. “I can’t remember which one of us ordered the roasted almonds,” Shyla recalls, “but I was so nervous that when I tried to cut one with a knife and fork, it flew across the table and landed on someone else’s plate!” Luckily, Sameer wasn’t fazed in the slightest — a promising sign of the connection to come.

The Venue: Redleaf, Wollombi

The setting for their celebration was the breathtaking Redleaf Wollombi — a venue Shyla had fallen in love with long before she even met Sameer! In her mind, it had always been the place she would one day say “I do.” So when it came time to choose a location, Sameer didn’t have much of a say — though he hardly minded. While they briefly considered venues closer to Sydney to accommodate their large guest list, a visit to Redleaf quickly sealed their decision. Their hearts, it seemed, had already made the choice.

Shyla and Sameer’s wedding celebrations began with a glorious Italian-themed welcome dinner on the Friday evening, set outside the terracotta-hued Tuscan-style home at Redleaf. The venue was the perfect backdrop for an alfresco garden party, brimming with warmth and charm. We’re big believers in a welcome party—it gives couples the chance to greet guests in a relaxed setting without the time pressure of the wedding day itself. It also sets the tone for the weekend, helping guests to mingle and feel at ease so that by the time the ceremony rolls around, everyone feels like old friends.

Tell us about your engagement story?

Sameer and I were about halfway through a holiday in Thailand in May 2022. While we were staying at the beautiful Six Senses Resort in Koh Samui, Sameer decided to get down on one knee and pop the question! The whole experience was nothing short of magical. Each night was relaxed and carefree, so when I asked Sameer what our plans were for the day of the proposal, he casually mentioned that he hadn’t made any reservations and suggested that we try our luck at one of the restaurants that were located on the property as the area was quite remote.

As we made our way to one of the outdoor dining restaurants overlooking the ocean, a waitress unexpectedly appeared and guided us away from the main seating area to a very secluded and private deck area overlooking the water. In that moment, my mind went blank as I was feeling overwhelmed with love and happiness - soon after we had settled in, he proposed to me!

What vibe did you imagine for your wedding day?

I started curating a Pinterest board early on in the planning process. Since Redleaf already provided the perfect backdrop, we wanted to create a light, airy atmosphere for the weekend - a relaxed space where everyone could truly enjoy themselves. For the welcome night, we went with an Italian-inspired theme, from the food to the decor. We had seen some content from Honey Lane’s previous events and were excited to see what the girls could come up with. For the wedding, I had always envisioned an open Mandap (altar) adorned with huge paper flowers. I had sent Poppy a few images to start with and she immediately understood the vision! For the reception, we kept the vibe light and airy with pops of color to add a fun touch. The styling for all three events were executed flawlessly by Honey Lane, far beyond our expectations! For us, Poppy delivered an amazing experience for each event which all of our guests couldn’t stop talking about!

Do you have a favourite moment from your wedding weekend?

Walking down the aisle together as a couple right after our ceremony, seeing all our loved ones with big smiling faces while showering us with flower petals!

There were so many special moments for both of us throughout the entire weekend that we will cherish forever.

Did you feel like you were able to take it all in?

Before our big weekend, we made a promise to each other to stay by each other’s sides so that we could enjoy and experience each and every moment together. With such a large crowd it could easily have been overwhelming, but we made a conscious effort to be present and savor each moment together. We loved being able to preview the magical set up for the Reception before the rest of the guests had arrived.

Tell us about your dress/s?

Earlier this year, Sameer and I were fortunate enough to travel to India for a close friend's wedding. We spent some time in Bangalore, where I picked up the bridesmaid sarees. The craftsmanship was simply incredible; I was absolutely thrilled with them. From there, we made our way to Mumbai, where we had the opportunity to visit some of India's most iconic fashion houses, from Sabyasachi to Tarun Tahiliani.

Sameer chose his sherwani – a long-sleeved, knee-length button-down coat and embroidered dupatta to complement the outfit from Sabyasachi. It was an incredible experience. If you know a little about the brand, the store in Mumbai is truly magical, almost like a museum, with a small tea room where we had a cup of chai to celebrate buying his outfit.

I had done some research ahead of our trip, saved a few outfits to try on, but in the end, I fell in love with a stunning piece by Tarun Tahiliani, along with matching jewellery to complement the outfit.

We also coordinated our immediate family's attire, sticking to a colour palette of cream, gold, sage green, and light blue, which complemented the wedding vibe perfectly.

Anything you would do differently if you could?

Honestly, we loved the way it all worked out! We truly believe that everything unfolds as it’s meant to and looking back, everything came together beautifully for both our guests and for Sameer and I.

What feedback have you received from your guests about the event, and how you feel our help contributed to that?

We’ve received so much feedback from our guests on how beautiful the styling was for each event and how well it complemented each location within Redleaf. There’s no way we could have both planned and executed this so well without Honeylane’s help - everything from the decorations, furnishings, cutlery, stationary etc. were curated and sourced so well by the team! We were provided with multiple options to choose from and they were so flexible to work and find solutions within our budget without compromising our vision. We’re so glad with how it all worked out and would highly recommend Honey Lane to any couple regardless of the location or size of their event.

Shyla and Sameer’s first look at their marquee!

Would you recommend Honey Lane to other couples?

Absolutely; the entire team from Honey Lane were so helpful right from the start and did an amazing job in helping us execute each event at such a magical venue! With so many moving parts including managing each of the many vendors, coordinating logistics for furniture, decorations and equipment as well as being there on the day with us - we couldn't imagine doing this alone or with any other event planner!

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We are your Northern Beaches wedding planners and stylists located in Balgowlah, on the Northern Beaches.
You can contact us via our website at WWW.HONEYLANE.COM.AU , our Instagram @HONEYLANEEVENTS,
or email us at hello@honeylane.com.au

Wedding Venue @redleafwollombi
Wedding Photographer @houseoflucielove
Wedding Planner + Styling @honeylaneevents
Videographer @morelifefilms
Wedding Flowers @kikodesign
Content Creator @gigi_studios_
Catering @ciao_pepis @fennelandco.catering @chatkazz_australia
Stationery @maddisonjayne_design
Hire @eventhiresyd @beavisyoureventteam @simply.seated @bennelongeventhire
Wedding Marquee @eventmarquees
Guest Transport @grapeexperiencetours
Wedding cake @butter.au