Venue Vibe
On the look out for their perfect barn wedding venue in the West Sussex countryside, Noora and Nashwan fell in love with Upwaltham Barns.
“It immediately felt like home,” smiles Noora. “It has a family oriented vibe and it had so many things to offer, from the two barns to the Moroccan snug. We loved it all and every member of the team made us feel so welcome.”
Setting the Scene
Deciding on a July wedding date, the happy couple chose a magical theme akin to a Midsummer Night’s Dream. With a delicate sage, gold and ivory colour scheme, white flowers sat alongside beautiful foliage and gold candelabra.
“Mumford and Sons are our favourite band so every table name was a title of one of their songs,” explains Noora. “We also made sure the DJ played them at the end of the night!”
All About Flowers
Keeping the décor minimal and letting the barn speak for itself, an abundance of foliage was interspersed with sprays of white roses and gypsophila. Noora’s bouquet reflected the same style, a beautiful arrangement of peach and white roses with eucalyptus leaves and gypsophila, while the bridesmaids carried gypsophila posies.
Bridal Style
Noora was stunning in an A-line satin and lace Mori Lee gown from Aurora Bride in Cheam.
“It was the kind of look I wanted to go for,” she says. “I felt so comfortable and beautiful, despite the bizarre feeling of being in a wedding dress!”
She completed the look with a diamond bracelet, pearl earrings, classic ivory stilettos and an elegant, long veil.
Nashwan wore a tailored blue checked suit from Astares in Havant with waistcoat and sage bow-tie.
“Nash absolutely loved Astares and the team,” says Noora. “They really catered for the style he wanted.”
Finally, a vintage 50s style dress in a beautiful shade of green was chosen for Noora’s two bridesmaids.
Order of the Day
Following their romantic ceremony in The East Barn, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed drinks and canapés before moving in to dine.
Caterers Nibbles2Nosh served a seasonal menu, starting with individual sun-blush tomato and mozzarella tarts and moving on to a choice of lamb shank or roast breast of chicken.
“We loved the menu choices we made,” smiles Noora.
Let them Eat Cake
A stunning four-tier cake created by Gemma at Tartufi featured one gold layer.
“It expressed just the kind of style we wanted,” says Noora, “Elegant and classy.”
Evening Celebrations
As the sun set, a DJ played both English and Arabic / Kurdish music, delighting the guests and filling the dance floor. Noora and Nashwan took to the floor for their first dance, ‘Have I Told You Lately that I Love You’ by Van Morrison.
“This song spoke close to our hearts,” says Noora. “The lyrics hit home and we were singing out loud to each other as we danced. We were so absorbed, we forgot everything around us. I will never forget it.”
Advice from the Bride
“Give yourself a break from wedding planning when you need to. It can easily become all-consuming.”
Images © Clemmy Photographer
