A spring celebration filled with new beginnings at Hylands Estate
Mary and Rasheed celebrated their wedding at Hylands Estate with two cultural ceremonies, bringing their plans together in one setting for a day filled with meaningful moments, plenty of laughter and the people closest to them.
How it all began
Mary and Rasheed first met during their final year at university, at a social event where they were introduced by a mutual friend.
When it came to choosing their wedding date, April felt particularly fitting.
“The month of April is all about new beginnings and renewal. It felt right for the start of our new chapter to be in this new season. And there’s a great chance of enjoying the outdoors without the stifling summer heat.”
As it turned out, the timing worked perfectly, with the couple later describing the weather as giving them “summer vibes without summer heat!”
Falling for Hylands
There were plenty of reasons Hylands stood out when Mary and Rasheed began looking for their wedding venue, from the exclusivity of the estate to the individual character of its ceremony rooms.
For Mary, there was also one detail that made an immediate impression: the Wisteria Room.
“As a huge fan of Desperate Housewives, with the bridal suite called the ‘Wisteria Room’ and having such beautiful detailing of wisterias within the whole suite, it’s so regal and timeless.”
Mary was sold from their first visit, while the versatility of Hylands House proved particularly important for the plans they had in mind.
The couple held two cultural ceremonies on the day, both of which could take place at Hylands House. Having everything in one location meant they could move between the different parts of their celebration without relocating themselves or their guests elsewhere.
A favourite moment
Of everything they experienced on the day, their white wedding ceremony was the standout moment for the couple.
“Everything was executed perfectly and completely embodied everything we had planned for. The service by our Pastor was so beautiful, and the exchange of vows felt like a dream.”
Not every part of the ceremony went quite according to plan, however.
“I was so nervous that I almost put my husband’s ring on the wrong hand. Luckily my bridesmaids saved me.”
Sometimes it’s the little unexpected moments that become part of the story!
Finding inspiration at Hylands
Mary and Rasheed didn’t attend just one Hylands Wedding Showcase during their planning — they came to two.
The showcases gave them a chance to see the spaces dressed for weddings, gather ideas and meet suppliers, several of whom went on to become part of their day.
“We attended not 1 but 2 showcases to help with ideas on what we wanted for the day and exposure to some vendors.”
They also found the opportunity to meet Hylands suppliers reassuring when making their choices.
“You could almost guarantee vendors at the showcase are almost pre-vetted by Hylands and so there is a level of professionalism and execution that you can be almost certain of. I’d recommend going to at least one for this reason alone.”
The showcase even helped inspire their décor. With so much detail already within Hylands House, they felt they didn’t need to add too much.
“Hylands House is quite exquisite so you don’t actually have to do too much with decor because the venue speaks for itself.”
Their own theme incorporated touches of spring and renewal, tying back to the reasons they had chosen an April wedding in the first place.
Their advice for future couples
After two years of planning their own celebration, Mary and Rasheed’s biggest piece of advice is to remember whose wedding you are planning.
“Make sure the most important opinion throughout your planning is yours and your husband/wife to be. Everyone will have their opinion on how things should be done, what you should include but it is your day.”
They also recommend agreeing together on the things that really matter:
“Protect the vision you both have for your wedding day and establish non-negotiables that you both agree on.”
Three things they loved
Looking back on their wedding, Mary and Rasheed picked three particular highlights:
The weather – an April day that gave them the warmth they hoped for without the height of the summer heat.
Each other – finally getting married after two years spent planning the day together.
The food – particularly the crispy prawns from a caterer they first discovered at a Hylands Wedding Showcase.
As Mary puts it: “I am still dreaming about the crispy prawns from our caterer and we found them at Hylands showcase!”
Thinking about your own Hylands wedding?
Our next Wedding Showcase takes place on Sunday 4 October.
Just as Mary and Rasheed did, you can explore Hylands Estate, see our wedding spaces, meet our selected suppliers and gather inspiration for your own celebration.
Pre-register for free now and join us and start planning your Hylands wedding.