Real Wedding: Farah & Adil
4th May 2022 – Weddings
Written by Amy Brown
We love a love story, who doesn’t love a love story? We wouldn’t work in weddings unless we did, but Farah’s honest words touched our hearts. Grab the tissues and immerse yourself in the story of Farah & Adil…
Choosing the dates
“Adil and I chose to get married in the heart of winter on a day when the sun rose to a crisp cold morning whilst the empty branches of the trees lay still and, on a day we thought would be delightfully memorable as an anniversary, 21.12.21.
In September 2021 we made a decision to get married, which gave us just over 2 months to plan the whole event. However, we wanted to start a new chapter as a married couple in 2022 so thought it would be a magical end to the year if we could pull this off.”
Wow 2 months to plan a wedding! We love a challenge and the hard work certainly paid off.
Why Hylands Estate?
“Originally being from Mauritius and having most of our family back on the island, we’d always planned for a destination wedding. However, the effects of the pandemic meant that this was not a possibility. It meant re-creating the wedding vision. Switching from what would have been summery island vibes to wintery elegance.
“We chose Hylands Estate because of its grandeur and the reassurance that amongst such a large venue, support would be on-hand at all times to ensure that the event ran smoothly. The mansion house provided the space, atmosphere and stillness to capture our most precious moments. Our day consisted of a civil ceremony held in the Banqueting Room with our immediate family, followed by a short break for lunch with photographs, and ending with the Nikkah (Islamic ceremony) and reception in the evening.”
Here at Hylands we are experts in all types of wedding ceremonies, we work with you from start to finish to ensure your needs are met, and traditions observed.
How did you feel on the day?
“Despite Adil and I being very calm and level-headed about the wedding in general, there was something about the intimacy, calmness and closeness of our small family inside the grand Banqueting Room that brought out emotions in all of us. The significance of the event was palpable and was made even more beautiful because of the venue.
“At the door of the Banqueting Room, as I waited for my music cue to enter, my excitement for this long-awaited moment was quickly replaced with that nervous energy you feel before launching into the unknown. My legs began to shake and I started to worry about all the typical small details like tripping over my dress or messing up my words! Luckily, I got through it without a hiccup. I would do that walk a thousand times over to feel those emotions again. No words quite capture how magical it felt in that moment. Adil was waiting for me at the other end. He seemed pretty calm as I walked into the room. I am yet to ask what his real emotions were in that moment!”
*sobbing* I’m not crying, you are!
How did you choose your dress/outfits?
“Hylands’ grounds provided the perfect backdrop for our outdoor photos. As is traditional for Mauritian brides, I had chosen a white wedding dress. In keeping with themes of the winter season, I opted for lace, intricate detail and a small amount of sparkle. On the other hand, departing from the norm of a three-piece suit, Adil chose an off-white Sherwani to compliment my dress. We couldn’t be happier with how our outfits stood out amongst the wintery gardens of Hylands, the bare branches in the background and the imposing magnificence of the mansion as we stood in front of its doors.”
Tell us about your suppliers
“For the Islamic Nikkah ceremony, we used Hylands’ Grand Pavilion. This was perfect for the number of guests we had (approximately 100). In a world where social distancing was advisable, a space big enough to hold 300 seemed perfect for the number of guests we anticipated. The pavilion was decorated stunningly by A.R. Signature Events. The spacing of the pavilion worked incredibly well for the evening. Adil and I were able to circulate the room, mingling with all the guests whilst ensuring that we respected people’s personal space. We got so many compliments on the venue and the food (a big shoutout and thank you to Wishes Catering!). Although Adil and I struggled to eat much that evening, all our guests seemed to make up for our lack of eating! The food went down really well.
“Looking back at our wedding day, we would not change a single detail. Everything and everyone came together to make our day as stress-free and smooth as possible. Overall, it is the emotions felt at each stage of the day that stick in our minds. For us, we have fond memories throughout and are often reminded of the finer more delicate moments thanks to Masoud Shah’s photography.”
Farah & Adil’s dream team:
Wishes Catering | AR Signature | Masoud Shah Photography | Keep It Cake|David’s Bridal | Anjali’s Bridal | Annie Shah | The Little Bloom Room | Anu Mehndi
Would you recommend Hylands Estate to others?
“We would absolutely recommend Hylands to other couples. It is hard enough finding a beautiful venue but it is an added bonus to find a venue with such wonderful, attentive and friendly staff who are constantly on-hand to make sure the event runs as you planned.”
We’d like to thank Farah & Adil for choosing Hylands Estate, it was a pleasure to be part of your wedding journey and a huge thank you for sharing your story with us. Thank you Masoud Shah Photography for sharing such incredible images.
If you’d like to start your wedding journey with us, contact the team today:
01245 605500 | hylands@chelmsford.gov.uk
