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Explore the Susan Avery Journal. Find advice for your wedding or event, browse our work, or look up flower and plant care.

From the Susan Avery studio

A little inspiration. Some practical advice.

You don’t need to know what to search for. Choose a topic below to find practical advice, venue guides and stories from our weddings and events.

I’m planning a weddingBudgets, bouquets, table flowers and timing I’m looking at venuesSydney settings and our work in each space I’m organising an eventCorporate occasions, parties and Christmas Flower and plant careCare sheets, orchids and everyday advice What’s in season?Flowers through the Sydney seasons Real weddings and eventsReal celebrations and the flowers we made

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Browse all our Journal articles

Wedding planning
How Much Do Wedding Flowers Cost in Sydney? A Guide to Your Quote

A practical guide to the choices, quantities and logistics that shape your wedding flower quote, and how to compare proposals fairly.
Wedding planning
Wedding Florist or Wedding Stylist: Who Does What?

Flowers, candles, hire pieces, draping and setup: who’s doing what? A clear list of responsibilities makes planning your wedding much easier.
Wedding planning
Choosing Wedding Table Flowers: Low, Tall or Small Vases?

Low flowers, tall arrangements or a collection of small vases? Start with your tables, your meal and the people sitting around them.
Wedding planning
Planning Outdoor Wedding Flowers in Sydney: Sun, Wind and a Wet-Weather Plan

Planning flowers for an outdoor Sydney wedding? Check the ceremony time, the sun, the wind, access and where you’ll go if the weather changes.
Wedding planning
Can You Reuse Ceremony Flowers at Your Wedding Reception?

Can your ceremony flowers move to the reception? Here’s what to think about before the day, from the right designs to timing, transport and taking flowers home.
Wedding planning
Wedding Flower Timeline and Checklist

A planning checklist from the first floral conversation to final quantities, venue access and wedding-day delivery.
Wedding story
Namal & Krish: A Harbour Wedding at Gunners’ Barracks

Namal and Krish’s outdoor wedding at Gunners’ Barracks, from her walk through the garden and calla lily bouquet to a harbour-view ceremony and colourful reception flowers.
Wedding story
Frankie & Lochie: Wedding Flowers from Loreto Kirribilli to Catalina

Frankie and Lochie’s wedding, from flowering jacarandas at Loreto Kirribilli to colourful reception flowers at Catalina Rose Bay, with the ceremony arrangements relocated for the celebration.
Wedding story
Quiet Grandeur: A Family Wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

A grand yet understated wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, with soft pink and ivory flowers, candlelight and a family relationship spanning many celebrations.
Wedding story
White Roses, Drums & Dancing: A Lebanese Wedding in Sydney

A traditional Lebanese wedding in Sydney, with white roses, a horse-drawn carriage, drums, dancing and a family celebration full of warmth.
Wedding story
Ben & Angus: A Wedding Close to Our Hearts at Cafe Sydney

A personal wedding story for Ben and Angus, two lovely men we have known for many years, with white flowers and candlelight at Cafe Sydney.
Wedding story
A Rose Garden Wedding at Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden & Botanic House

A white and ivory wedding at Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden, with ceremony flowers relocated to Botanic House and a sweetheart table for two.
Wedding story
Barbara & Luke | A Colourful Waterfront Wedding at The Spit, Sydney

One Sydney waterfront wedding, two venues and a colourful three-metre floral installation rebuilt for the reception at Zest The Spit.
Venue guide
Gunners Barracks | Susan Avery

Experience That Couples Trust With more than forty years of wedding floristry experience in Sydney, Susan Avery brings a refined understanding of floral design, venue coordination and wedding...
Venue guide
Catalina Rose Bay | Susan Avery

Catalina Rose Bay offers a refined waterfront setting where flowers enhance light, architecture and harbour views. With decades of experience, Susan Avery delivers elegant, well-resolved floral styling, working...
Venue guide
Anambah House | Susan Avery

Anambah House offers a rare blend of heritage architecture and open countryside. Our floral design responds to this balance — structured where needed, restrained where appropriate — creating...
Venue guide
Museum of Contemporary Art | Susan Avery

The Museum of Contemporary Art offers a refined, contemporary setting overlooking Sydney Harbour. Our floral design enhances its architecture and light, bringing warmth without distraction. With decades of...
Venue guide
Public Dining Room | Susan Avery

Public Dining Room offers a refined beachside setting where light and harbour views define the space. Our floral design enhances this natural clarity, adding structure and softness without...
Venue guide
Quay Restaurant | Susan Avery

Quay Restaurant offered one of Sydney’s most refined harbour settings, where precision and restraint were essential. Our floral design complemented its contemporary interior and iconic views, creating elegant,...
Venue guide
Sergeants Mess | Susan Avery

Sergeants Mess offers a light-filled waterfront setting where harbour views define the space. Our floral design enhances this clarity, framing the outlook while complementing the modern interior. The...
Venue guide
Sydney Opera House | Susan Avery

The Sydney Opera House offers an iconic, architectural setting where restraint is essential. Our floral design complements the space, enhancing light and harbour views without competing with the...
Event planning
Planning Office Christmas Decorations in Sydney: A Practical Brief

Where do you want the Christmas decorations, when should they be ready and who handles removal? A few clear decisions will help us plan your office installation.
Event planning
Planning Flowers for a Corporate Event

Build a corporate floral brief around the purpose of the event, the venue, brand colours and practical installation requirements.
Event story
Remembering Bob Hawke: Flowers for His State Memorial at the Sydney Opera House

Remembering a valued client and the privilege of creating flowers for Bob Hawke’s State Memorial Service at the Sydney Opera House on 14 June 2019.
Event story
One Remarkable Table: A Milestone Birthday at Catalina Rose Bay

A milestone birthday at Catalina Rose Bay, transformed by one exceptionally long table, flowers and candlelight, followed by a wonderful night of dancing.
Event story
Rich Reds & Coral Roses: An Engagement Party at Bambini Trust

Red and coral flowers, grey urns and a cake display for a beautiful engagement party at Bambini Trust in Sydney, designed and installed by Susan Avery.
Event story
Colour, Light & Energy: Transgrid’s Vivid Event at the MCA

Colour, light and gold geometric detail in our floral design and installation for Transgrid’s Vivid-related event at the MCA in Circular Quay.
Event story
Simple, White & Chic: A Corporate Event at Bondi Beach

A simple white floral scheme for a corporate event at Bondi Beach, with a minimal approach and a relaxed Australian summer feel.
Event story
A Botanical Match: Klorane’s Corporate Event at The Calyx, Sydney

White flowers, layered greenery and botanical details brought Klorane’s brand identity to a corporate dining event at The Calyx in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden.
Event planning
Bespoke Office Christmas Decorations: From Design to Installation

Bespoke office Christmas decorations, with illuminated stars, suspended gold ornaments and a complete design and installation service.
Event story
Dinner on the Pitch | A VIP Corporate Event at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

A VIP dinner for 34 guests on the pitch at Allianz Stadium, Sydney, with colourful table flowers by Susan Avery Flowers & Events.
Event story
Susan Avery Florals — Dove × Messina Creamery, Bondi Beach

Over two weekends, we worked with Reborn on the Dove × Gelato Messina collaboration at Bondi Beach — a small installation that called for restraint from the outset. The...
Flower care and advice
How to Care for Cut Flowers at Home

A practical routine for preparing cut flowers, keeping the vase clean and choosing the right place to display them.
Flower care and advice
Seasonal Flower Care: A Practical Guide for Australian Homes

How to adjust flower care for summer heat, winter heating and the changing conditions of autumn and spring.
Flower care and advice
How to Help Cut Flowers Last Longer

A practical approach to longer-lasting flowers, with clean stems, fresh water and sensible advice on fading blooms.
Flower care and advice
Choosing Funeral and Sympathy Flowers

A gentle guide to choosing a tribute, checking the family’s wishes and arranging delivery for a funeral or sympathy gesture.
Flower care and advice
Flower Meanings and Symbolism: Choosing a Personal Message

Explore familiar floral associations while keeping the recipient’s own tastes, memories and cultural background at the centre.
Flower care and advice
Flowers and Pet Safety: What to Check Before Bringing Flowers Home

Important flower and plant safety considerations for homes with cats and dogs, including the urgent risk lilies pose to cats.
Flower care and advice
Flower Care Quick Checklist

A short, printable-friendly routine for the day flowers arrive and the days that follow.
Flower care and advice
Cyclamen Care: Light, Watering and Summer Dormancy

Care for a florist’s cyclamen with cool conditions, gentle light and careful watering, and understand its summer resting period.
Flower care and advice
Phalaenopsis Orchid Care: Looking After a Moth Orchid

A straightforward guide to light, watering, feeding and after-flowering care for a potted phalaenopsis orchid.
Flower care and advice
Cymbidium Orchid Care: Light, Water and Flowering

Understand a cymbidium orchid’s need for light, drainage, airflow and suitable day-and-night conditions.
Flower care and advice
How to Care for Your Flowers: Tips from Susan Avery

Fresh flowers deserve a little attention to reach their full potential. With the right care, most of our hand-tied bouquets can last 7–10 days.
Flower care and advice
Five Reasons to Send Flowers Instead of a Gift Voucher

A gift voucher says “I thought of you.” A hand-tied bouquet says something more. Here’s why flowers remain the most considered gift you can give.
Wedding planning
Seasonal wedding flowers: what’s available and when

Seasonal flowers offer better quality, longevity, and cohesion, grounding your wedding in a specific time of year. From soft spring blooms to sculptural winter forms, each season brings...
Flower care and advice
The Ultimate Guide to Long-Lasting Flowers

Discover which flowers last longest and how to create arrangements that stay fresh for weeks. Expert guide from Susan Avery Flowers featuring orchids, premium roses and care tips...
Wedding planning
Behind the bouquet: how we design for your wedding day

Design begins with structure — scale, proportion, and placement are resolved first. Flowers are then selected for cohesion, not individually. Each stem is prepared and graded for consistency,...
Venue guide
Sydney’s most beautiful wedding venues — a florist’s guide

The best wedding venues do not require excess. Flowers should support the space, not compete with it. From the restraint of Bennelong to the natural ease of Gunners’...
Flower care and advice
Orchid Care Guide: How to Make Orchids Last

Complete orchid care guide from Sydney's premium florist. Learn how to care for orchids indoors including watering, light, temperature, feeding and reblooming tips. Expert advice for making your...
Wedding planning
How to choose your wedding florist

Choosing a wedding florist is about alignment, not aesthetics. Look for a clear, consistent point of view, backed by experience in logistics and venue coordination. Budget should be...
Wedding planning
What to expect from a floral consultation

A floral consultation is a working conversation, not a presentation. Venue, timing, and guest numbers shape the direction, while tone and structure define the overall feel. Budget is...
Flower care and advice
How to Choose Luxury Flowers for Every Occasion

Expert guide to choosing luxury flowers for every occasion from Sydney's premium florist. Learn how to select the perfect flowers for birthdays, anniversaries, sympathy and corporate events with...
Flower care and advice
Luxury Flower Delivery in Sydney: What to Look For

Discover what distinguishes luxury flower delivery in Sydney from standard services. Expert insights on professional handling, timing precision, presentation standards and why delivery quality matters as much as...
Seasonal flower guide
Spring Flowers in Sydney: Fresh Colour and Seasonal Wedding Ideas

Fresh colour, changing flower choices and room to be flexible: planning spring flowers in Sydney from September to November.
Seasonal flower guide
Winter Flowers in Sydney: Shape, Scent and Flowers for Cooler Days

A winter guide to flower choices, sculptural shapes and indoor styling, with practical ideas for Sydney weddings, events and the home.
Seasonal flower guide
Autumn Flowers in Sydney: Colour, Texture and Seasonal Choices

Dahlias, chrysanthemums and layered colour: a practical guide to autumn flower choices for Sydney homes, weddings and events.
Seasonal flower guide
Summer Flowers in Sydney: Colour, Abundance and Planning for the Heat

Summer flower possibilities and practical design ideas for Sydney, including bouquets, table arrangements and planning around warm weather.
Seasonal flower guide
Seasonal Flowers in Sydney: A Guide Through the Year

A year-round starting point for choosing flowers in Sydney, with four seasonal guides and advice for planning a flexible floral brief.
Seasonal flower guide
What’s in Season: Autumn Flowers for April and May

Autumn in Sydney brings some of our favourite blooms — dahlias, garden roses, and the first ranunculus of the season.

Photography: Charles McKean for Susan Avery.