Gunners Barracks sits on Georges Heights in Mosman: an 1873 sandstone barracks with Sydney Harbour on one side and bushland on the other. We've designed the flowers for more than 20 weddings there since 2022 and are one of the venue's recommended vendors. Here's what we've set up in each space, and what works.
The spaces at a glance
| Space | Used for | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Sandstone Courtyard | Ceremony (our most requested) | Flowers around the centre pole, an asymmetric arch facing it, freestanding pillars, greenery trailing from the canopy |
| Harbour View Lawn | Ceremony | Floor arrangements and flowers on plinths, kept low and weighted for the wind |
| Harbour Terrace | Wet-weather ceremony, canapés, some receptions | Bud vases on bar tables, low arrangements with candles |
| Main Dining Room | Reception | Low centrepieces with candles on round tables, or a long table with a greenery runner; the mantelpiece takes the ceremony flowers |
| Drawing Room | Lounge, dance floor, tea ceremonies | Tea ceremony flowers and repurposed arrangements |
Ceremony in the Sandstone Courtyard
The courtyard has a central pole, so most couples either frame it or face it. Setups we've done there:
- A floral installation climbing the pole from the floor, so it reads as the backdrop
- Asymmetric clusters on our white arch, placed in front of the pole
- A pair of lush freestanding floral pillars for a larger wedding
- A single statement arrangement fixed to the pole for a smaller wedding
- Light greenery, or a canopy of single stems, trailing from the courtyard canopy
- Paper lanterns hung from the canopy alongside the flowers
Stands facing the sandstone wall, May 2021 (photo: Jack Jones), and in front of the verandah, April 2023 (photo: Pepper Image Photography).
A pair of floral pillars with the courtyard set for guests, December 2024 (photo: Bryce Noone Photography).
Ceremony on the Harbour View Lawn
The lawn puts Sydney Harbour behind you, and it can catch the wind. We design floor arrangements and flowers on plinths rather than heavy pieces sitting on top of a freestanding round arch, which can tip. A well-weighted arch with asymmetric clusters works, and small aisle arrangements at the base of the chairs move up to the reception afterwards.
Tall gold stands, June 2023 (photo: Linh Nguyen Photography), and our white arch with asymmetric clusters, April 2023 (photo: Callan Robison).
The lawn from above, with the harbour behind the ceremony, April 2023 (photo: Callan Robison).
Reception in the Main Dining Room
The crystal chandeliers and the mantelpiece do a lot of the work, so the table flowers can stay low and let the room breathe. Most couples choose round tables with a low arrangement, two pillar candles and a few tealights each. Smaller weddings often go for a long table with a greenery runner, bud vases and candles. The mantelpiece usually gets the ceremony flowers.
The mantelpiece takes the ceremony flowers: dusky pinks for Jess & Jackson (photo: Ann Marie Yuen), peach and white in September 2023 (photo: Til Death Do Us Party).
Two long banquet tables under the chandelier, December 2022 (photo: Bedroom Studio Photography).
Round tables under the chandeliers, October 2023 (photo: our team), and a low peach and coral arrangement, May 2024 (photo: Liam Chandler).
A lush low centrepiece, June 2023 (photo: Linh Nguyen Photography), or bud vases and candles for a lighter look.
Harbour Terrace and Drawing Room
The Harbour Terrace is the usual wet-weather spot for a courtyard or lawn ceremony, and it's where canapés happen: we put bud vases on the bar tables. A few couples have dined out on the terrace with low arrangements and candlesticks. The Drawing Room works as a lounge or dance floor, and we've styled tea ceremonies there.
Dining on the Harbour Terrace: a long table in burgundy and blush, August 2022 (photo: Katy Du Plessis), and low dahlias with candles, April 2023 (photo: Pepper Image Photography).
Plan Your Flowers at Gunners Barracks
Before booking here, couples ask us three things: how much is enough, what moves to the reception, and what the venue allows. This is what we've learned from our weddings at Gunners Barracks.
How Much Is Enough Here
The sandstone, the centre pole and the mantelpiece do a lot of the work, so you need less than you'd think. Guest numbers don't decide the look either: one of our biggest weddings here, a cocktail reception for 180, had a pair of floral pillars for the ceremony and bud vases on the tables. These are the three courtyard looks we see most.
Simple: a pair of arrangements on plinths either side of the centre pole. Fuller: tall gold stands with flowers climbing them (photos: our team).
Statement: flowers climbing the centre pole from the floor, with flowers on the aisle chairs, at Jess & Jackson's wedding (photo: Ann Marie Yuen).
The ceremony
- Simple: a pair of arrangements on plinths, clusters on our white arch in front of the pole, or one feature piece fixed to the pole.
- Fuller: three clusters on freestanding stands in front of the pole or the sandstone wall, or tall stands with flowers climbing them, plus flowers on every second row of chairs.
- Statement: flowers climbing the pole from the floor, a pair of lush floral pillars, or flowers and greenery hanging from the courtyard canopy.
The reception tables
- Simple: bud vases in threes with candles, or candles with greenery and a few flowers at the base.
- Fuller: one low arrangement on each round table, with pillar candles and tealights.
- Statement: a flower and greenery runner down a long banquet table with candles along its length, or a run of narrow arrangements down two long tables.
The bridal table
- Simple: your bouquets in vases on the table.
- Fuller: a round table in front of the mantelpiece with a feature arrangement, a little bigger than the guest tables.
- Statement: a long, low arrangement along a sweetheart or king's table, with the ceremony flowers on the mantelpiece behind you.
Terrace, entrance and extras
- Simple: flowers on the venue's easel for your welcome sign or seating chart.
- Fuller: bud vases on the canapé tables on the Harbour Terrace, and flowers for the cake, gift or signing table.
- Statement: a feature arrangement on the floor beside your welcome sign, or a canopy of hanging single stems over a cocktail-style reception.
What Moves to the Reception
Almost every couple here reuses their ceremony flowers. We stay on during canapés and move them in for you. Where they go most often:
- The mantelpiece: we cut the clusters down from the arch, stands or pole and lay them along it, above the bridal table. This is where they end up at most of our weddings here.
- The gift, cake or signing table for floor arrangements and plinth pieces.
- The canapé tables on the terrace, with the chair flowers moved into bud vases.
- The guest tables, with single stems from the courtyard canopy moved into vases.
Our white arch and the stands come back with us, so only the flowers move. Our guide to reusing your wedding flowers covers how this works at any venue.
Ceremony stands moved in beside the mantelpiece to frame the cake table, May 2021 (photo: Jack Jones).
Good to Know Before You Plan
- Access. Our access time depends on the venue's bookings that day. Some days there's an earlier wedding first, so we make more in the studio and keep the build on site quick.
- Wet weather. Courtyard and lawn ceremonies usually move to the Harbour Terrace, sometimes the Main Dining Room. A design on the centre pole can't come with you, so we bring stands for the same flowers to stand on their own.
- Bigger weddings. For larger guest numbers, some tables go out on the Harbour Terrace, so we plan the table flowers for both spaces.
- What the venue supplies. An easel for your welcome sign or seating chart, and some candles. We bring the rest to match the design.
- Petals. Fresh petals for guests to throw are fine, as long as they're cleared away afterwards.
- End of the night. Pack-down is late at night or the next morning, depending on the venue's bookings. Many couples skip it and have guests take the flowers and vases home.
Flowers on the venue's easel for a welcome sign, December 2024 (photo: Bryce Noone Photography).
Real weddings at Gunners Barracks
See Jess & Jackson's Gunners Barracks wedding: a courtyard ceremony with a pole installation and a dusky pink and burgundy reception in the Main Dining Room.
See more real setups on our Gunners Barracks Pinterest board.
Gunners Barracks wedding flowers FAQ
How much do wedding flowers cost at Gunners Barracks?
There's no set price. It depends on your guest numbers (the venue seats up to 130), the scale of your ceremony design, and whether ceremony flowers are repurposed for the reception. After your enquiry we send a tailored range estimate, then a detailed proposal. Our guide to wedding flower pricing explains what drives it.
Are you a recommended florist at Gunners Barracks?
Yes. We're a recommended vendor at Gunners Barracks and at its sister venues, Sergeants Mess and The Tea Room QVB.
Can the ceremony flowers be used at the reception?
Yes, and most couples do. We move them in while guests are at canapés. More in our guide to reusing your wedding flowers.
What happens if it rains?
Courtyard and lawn ceremonies usually move to the Harbour Terrace. We design with that in mind so the flowers work in either spot.
Planning a Gunners Barracks wedding?
Tell us your date, guest numbers 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: Ann Marie Yuen, plus photos from our team.
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