A Moment With ‘BNJ Events and Decorations’
ABIA meets one of the creative minds behind this wedding planning and decorating business, now servicing the whole of Victoria.
Images courtesy of BNJ Events And Decorations
When Joel Alforte Stewart moved to Sydney from the Philippines in 2008, he left behind the successful catering and events business he’d built with his brother to introduce the concept to Australia.
20 years on, his experience has culminated in BNJ Events and Decorations, a full-service wedding planning and styling service, run with husband Benjamin Stewart, from the Macedon Ranges in Victoria.
“Our team is committed to exceeding expectations,” he explains of the company’s immediate popularity. “We pride ourselves on attention to detail, quality and customer service.”
ABIA met up with the busy wedding planner and decorator to find out how he goes about creating unforgettable experiences for marrying couples.
Image courtesy of BNJ Events And Decorations
Tell us about your business and decorating service.
At BNJ Events and Decorations we specialise in providing exceptional event planning and styling services, and our team of experienced and creative professionals are dedicated to coordinating memorable weddings and special occasions.
Our wide range of services include:
- floral arrangements
- lighting
- draping
- furniture rentals
- customised event styling and design.
How did you get started in the wedding industry?
More than 20 years ago, in the Philippines, my brother and I established a catering and events business. It was a huge success, so when I moved to Sydney in 2008 I brought the concept here, and in 2021 my partner Benjamin Stewart and I launched BNJ Events and Decorations.
Image courtesy of BNJ Events And Decorations
Where are you based, and what locations do you service?
We’re based in Lancefield, in the Macedon Ranges, but service the whole of Victoria.
How should couples begin deciding on their theme and decorations? Where should they look for inspiration?
When it comes to deciding on a wedding theme and decorations, we suggest couples begin by considering their personal style, interests, and preferences. They also need to take into account their budget, their venue, and the time of year they plan to get married as all of this will shape the decision-making. We encourage our couples to look for inspiration — online, in wedding magazines, or on social media — to help personalise their love story, then consult with a wedding planner or decorator for guidance and to ensure a cohesive look.
What sorts of decorations and effects do you offer?
As a full-service wedding and event design company, we offer a huge range that extends from floral arrangements, bouquets, boutonnieres and table centrepieces, right through to backdrops, draping, customised welcome signs and seating plans, themed decorations and pyrotechnics.
Our goal is to create a unique and personalised wedding experience for each of our couples, to ensure an unforgettable celebration.
How far in advance should couple’s book? And at what stage of their planning process?
Ideally, as we can provide all weddings services, it's best to contact us first before starting the planning process, but we always recommend booking 6 to 12 months in advance.
What are some of the ‘trending’ themes, decorations and effects you are seeing at the moment?
We work hard to stay on top of the latest wedding trends to ensure that we offer our clients the most up-to-date and innovative design ideas, and we’re seeing looks ranging from rustic and bohemian through to luxe and glamourous at the moment. Modern minimalist styles, bold colour themes and interactive installations — like photo booths, dessert bars and lounge areas — are also popular right now.
What do you suggest for couples who want to go ‘all out’ to impress?
Custom installations, like floral arches, suspended floral arrangements, floral walls and interactive displays are perfect for adding wow-factor.
Lighting — the likes of chandeliers, uplighting and even projection mapping — can play a significant role in creating a memorable atmosphere too, as can specialty linens and tableware.
Pyrotechnics, or live acrobats, aerialists or dancers are almost guaranteed to leave a lasting impression!
What makes your service unique?
We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and exceptional service, and on offering a truly personalised service that is tailored to the individual needs and preferences of each of our couples. Our experience and creativity also set us apart — we are always looking for new and innovative ways to bring each vision to life!
How would you describe the couples you connect with the most?
The couples who value quality, attention to detail and exceptional service, and are looking for a team that they can trust, often become close friends — like family.
Read BNJ Events and Decorations ABIA Wedding Reviews
Visit BNJ Events and Decorations website
