A Moment With ‘The Happiness Ring’
ABIA meets Sydney wedding planner Kadija Felipe.
Image Raquel Pires Photography
Kadija Felipe and her team, at Sydney-based wedding planning service The Happiness Ring, understand that planning a wedding can be tricky, so they make it their goal to guide couples through the process smoothly.
“Our couples’ task is to decide on their desires and ours is to make those wishes a reality,” Kadija explains.
To that end, she offers a range of wedding planning packages to assist with every step, or help ensure things run smoothly on the wedding day.
ABIA sat down with Kadija to chat suppliers, wedding styles and working collaboratively with her clients.
Image Nivaldo Filho Photography
Tell us about your wedding services.
I’m a wedding planner, offering full wedding planning packages, partial planning packages and event management, which is also know as ‘on the day coordination’.
Where are you based and what locations do you service?
I’m based in Sydney, and service the city and surrounding areas, including the Hunter Valley, Central Coast, South Coast and Blue Mountains.
How did you get started in the wedding industry?
I started back in 2016. A friend in Brazil was running a wedding planning business and I was her main assistant until 2018, when I moved to Sydney. I started The Happiness Ring in 2021.
Image Goncalves Photography
Image Roberta Gulin Photography
Image Paul Golbach Photography
Do you offer wedding planning packages?
Yes, we have three main package options ranging from our Full Wedding Planning package through to on the day coordination. Our Full Wedding Planning package includes everything from vendor recommendations to budget management.
Our Partial Wedding Planning package is for couples who already have a few suppliers hired but still need assistance with some more suppliers and with the planning process.
While our Event Management or On The Day Coordination package is designed to help couples bring all the details together in the month before the wedding, allowing them to relax and enjoy the festivities.
Do you have venues and vendors that you work with regularly? Which are your favourites and why?
Yes, I have a number of florists, photographers and videographers that I love to work with, because they’re amazing and help make the day run super smoothly. Art Botanikal, If The Florist, Karla Paniagua Photography and One Dream Films are a few of my favourites.
What sizes and styles of weddings do you specialise in?
I coordinate weddings from intimate 10-person gatherings to large celebrations of up to 200 guests, and offer a range of styles, including garden weddings, wineries, barns and industrial-style.
Image Nivaldo Filho Photography
Image Goncalves Photography
Many couples plan their own weddings, how could they benefit from the services of a wedding planner?
Planning a wedding can be a stressful time. The Happiness Ring aims to help couples manage their long checklists and guide them through the process of planning their dream wedding.
As part of this journey, our team can assist at every step of the way and our aim is to ensure that reliable suppliers are sourced within the desired budget.
Our couples’ task is to decide on their desires and ours is to make those wishes a reality.
What advice do you have for couples looking for a wedding planner and other wedding vendors? What should they consider?
They should first look at a vendor’s portfolio and see if it matches what they are looking for — if it resonates. Then, book a consultation and look for real reviews.
Can you describe the biggest challenge you encounter as a wedding planner?
The biggest challenge is researching the best suppliers in the market to match my clients’ expectations, vision and budget.
Image Nivaldo Filho Photography
Image Piller Films
What makes your wedding planning service different?
I believe that every couple is unique, and their wedding should reflect that. I am passionate about providing each and every couple with a personalised experience, meaning that my approach is collaborative and aimed at working closely with my clients to understand and match their expectations.
What was your favourite wedding?
My favourite wedding was a bush wedding with the ceremony held under a massive fig tree — beautiful!
How would you describe the couples that you connect with the most?
They’re easy-going and share their personality throughout the planning process. They are also very clear about their decisions and open to new ideas.
Image Goncalves Photography
Read The Happiness Ring ABIA Wedding Reviews
Visit The Happiness Ring website
Email The Happiness Ring
