In partnership with Crown Sydney
Toss aside your preconceived notions about hotel weddings, because Charles and Jelena’s Serbian wedding at the Crown Sydney was the very definition of enchanting.
Charles and Jelena’s love story began in March 2019 at The Ivy. As they recall, “We were introduced by mutual friends and ironically in a small turn of fate, Charles ended up knowing my father.” After a year of friendship, they made their relationship official just as the first COVID lockdown approached. Their engagement came during a surprise trip to New York in December 2022, with Charles proposing in a picturesque snowy Central Park setting.
When planning their wedding, the couple envisioned a “modern, enchanting, clean, and luxurious” celebration—and wow, did they get it! They chose Crown Sydney as their venue, wanting to host their wedding at an iconic Sydney location that held special meaning for them. As Jelena explains, “As we had our first date in Barangaroo, it was only fitting to have our wedding at Crown!”
“We wanted to host our wedding at an iconic Sydney venue/building, that we could always visit and look upon for the rest of our lives,” the couple shared. “Crown offered everything we were after – amazing food, drinks, beautiful fit-out and impeccable service.”
The couple aimed for a modern Serbian Australian wedding that captured their cultures while celebrating their Australian upbringing. “We wanted a modern Serbian Australian wedding, which captured our cultures and also celebrated the modernity of our upbringing in Australia. This was shown on all aspects of our wedding day from the food, the music – to the cultural dancing and church ceremony,” they explained.
Thanks to the magic touch of JIMKET Events and Jelena’s own design background, their May 2024 wedding turned out to be everything they wanted and more. The reception was held in the Pearl Ballroom, Crown Sydney’s crown jewel (pun intended).
Jelena described, “Our overall theme for every aspect of the wedding was classic, romantic and timeless, with a sense of cosiness and natural aesthetic. With our styling, we focused on natural elements which were enchanting yet elegant. We wanted our guests to feel like they were transported to a whimsical romantic garden, yet we wanted it to feel relaxed and not uptight.”
One of the standout features of their Crown Sydney wedding was the catering. Did you know you could have Nobu cater your wedding at Crown Sydney? It’s not often that a wedding reception meal receives rave reviews, but guests were savoring world-class cuisine and holding off dancing until they’d finished their dinner!
The couple was impressed with Crown’s staff throughout the planning process and on the big day. “They were extremely accommodating and professional throughout the entire process and made the planning process feel smooth sailing. We would highly recommend Crown Sydney!” Jelena shared.
Despite some wet weather, Charles and Jelena remained relaxed and excited throughout their wedding day. They were particularly blown away during their room reveal. “We were absolutely surprised and in awe during our room reveal. We couldn’t commend Jimmy enough on the amazing job he did! It completely blew us away!” the couple exclaimed.
Reflecting on their favorite moments, the couple shared, “The church ceremony was beautiful and calming, which was an important aspect for both of us. We loved the entire church service and the majestic church choir we had present. To end it, we danced the night away and celebrated with all our friends and family. We were both on the dance floor the entire night and we both had such a blast!”
Want a luxurious wedding without the price tag? Good thing that luxury doesn’t have to mean sky-high prices.
Charles and Jelena worked with the Crown team to create a bespoke package that suited their budget perfectly. Crown Sydney proves that you can have your (gourmet) cake and eat it too, without breaking the bank. They create bespoke packages with curated experiences, tailoring everything to fit your vision and wallet.
The Vendors
Styling, Design and Production @jimketevents │ Venue @crownsydney │ Decor + Builds @whitelabelhire @wldb_au │ Florals @sweetbotanica │ Flooring @elite.dancefloors │ Trees @harboursidedecorators │ Draping @sydney_backdrops │ Stationery @jelenadesignstudio │ Seating Chart + Table Numbers @lettersbyloulou │ Calligraphy @calligraphyenvogue │ Cake @somethingbluecakes │ Styling Photography @janadraybievents @janadraybiphotography │ Photography and Videography @saltatelier_wedding
