Bendooley Estate in Berrima, in the NSW Southern Highlands, has two wedding venues: The Stables and the Book Barn, plus a lakeside lawn for ceremonies. We've travelled down from Sydney for eight weddings there since 2022, from a 52-guest dinner in the Book Barn to a 275-guest wedding at The Stables. Here's what we've set up in each, and what works.
Hanging florals on the hoop chandeliers at The Stables (photo: Gavin Cato).
The spaces at a glance
| Space | Used for | What works |
|---|---|---|
| The Stables, front entrance | Ceremony | Hanging clusters on the iron ring above the doors, a pair of plinth arrangements, ground arrangements |
| The Stables, inside | Reception, wet-weather ceremony | Long banquet tables, florals hung from the hoop chandeliers, a statement piece over the dance floor, the fireplace and bar |
| Lakeside lawn | Ceremony | A low garden-style ground arrangement or nest, with the lake behind |
| Book Barn | Reception | Long tables between the bookshelves, a hanging installation over the tables, low arrangements and candles |
Ceremony at The Stables
The Stables has an iron ring fixed above the front entrance, and it's made for florals. We've dressed it with hanging clusters spilling down towards the couple, framed the aisle with a pair of white plinths topped with feature arrangements, and for one wedding hung a full installation over the spot where the couple stood. If it rains, the ceremony flips so guests sit inside The Stables, facing the entrance, and the flowers stay where they are or move with it. We ask for about two hours' notice on the wet-weather call.
The iron ring and a pair of plinths, May 2026 (photos: Mathew Sacco).
Reception at The Stables
Inside, The Stables runs long: most couples choose long banquet tables, with low arrangements, bud vases and taper candlesticks down the middle. The hoop chandeliers are the other big opportunity. We've hung florals from them above the tables, with the fullest piece over the dance floor, and cut down the ceremony flowers to add volume to it. Shared-plate menus need low, light table flowers so there's room for the food, and candlesticks need to sit in glass cylinders inside the venue.
Natalija & Yuri's long tables (photo: Gavin Cato).
Lush garden-style arrangements and taper candles (photos: Gavin Cato).
Bud vases for a shared-plate dinner, and a ceremony arrangement moved to the gift table (photos: Mathew Sacco).
The hoop clusters, cut down for the bar later in the evening, and the fireplace.
The dance floor installation (photo: Gavin Cato).
Lakeside ceremony and the Book Barn
For a Book Barn wedding, the ceremony is usually on the lawn by the lake, with canapés on the Book Barn terrace afterwards. A low ground arrangement or a garden nest keeps the lake in view. Inside, the Book Barn's bookshelves and timber beams set the tone: we've hung a floral installation over the long tables so it's the first thing guests see, kept the tables low with candles, and repurposed the ceremony backdrop behind the bridal table. Some couples bring their own vases and candles, and we fill and place them on the day.
Cathy & Jason's lakeside ceremony (photos: Hilary Cam).
The Book Barn, with a hanging installation over the tables (photo: Hilary Cam).
Up high and down low (photos: Hilary Cam).
Timing and logistics
- Bendooley is about two hours from our Sydney studio. We design in the studio the day before or that morning, then drive down with everything.
- At The Stables, we can usually get in from the morning, which gives time for hanging installations before an afternoon ceremony.
- The Book Barn opens to us in the afternoon, so we plan the room to be quick to set.
- Hanging pieces need a ladder and time. They can't come down while guests are underneath having canapés, so we repurpose them once everyone has moved inside. More in our guide to reusing your wedding flowers.
- Instead of a late pack-down, we can leave the flowers in the venue's florist room for you to collect the next day.
- We can also deliver your personal flowers to where you're getting ready in the Southern Highlands on the way.
Real weddings at Bendooley Estate
See Amy & Oliver's Stables wedding, Natalija & Yuri's colourful Stables wedding and Cathy & Jason's Book Barn wedding.
See more real setups on our Bendooley Estate Pinterest board.
Bendooley Estate wedding flowers FAQ
Do you travel to Bendooley from Sydney?
Yes, regularly. Travel and on-site time are part of your proposal.
How much do wedding flowers cost at Bendooley?
There's no set price. It depends on your guest numbers, which venue you choose, whether you'd like hanging installations, and whether ceremony flowers are repurposed. After your enquiry we send a tailored range estimate, then a detailed proposal. Our guide to wedding flower pricing explains what drives it.
What happens if it rains?
At The Stables, the ceremony moves inside with guests facing the entrance. For a lakeside ceremony, there's an undercover area near the lake.
Can the hanging florals be reused?
Yes. Ceremony hoop clusters can go to the bar, and ceremony pillars can be cut down to fill out a dance floor installation.
Planning a Bendooley wedding?
Tell us your date, which venue you've booked 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: Gavin Cato, Mathew Sacco and Hilary Cam.
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