Naila & Kusal's Rainy Wedding at Caversham House

Table of Contents

1. A Small Ceremony, a Big Family
2. Getting Ready, With Luna
3. A Mustang in the Rain
4. The Ceremony
5. Stolen Portraits in the Garden
6. The Vendor Team

A Small Ceremony, a Big Family

Naila and Kusal met at work. He had to wait until she left the job before the two of them started talking, which is about the most polite way to start a love story I have heard.

Their wedding was a Friday morning, ceremony only, with the people closest to them in the room. Naila's brief for me was the vows. Kusal's was watching Naila walk down the aisle. Posed shots of everyone looking at the camera? "Not important at all," they told me. They would rather be in the moment than stand still for ten million photos. That suits me fine.

The plan was a ceremony among the vines at Riverbank Estate. Then the forecast said ninety per cent chance of rain, so the whole thing moved to Caversham House.

And then it rained. Properly.

Getting Ready, With Luna

Naila's morning had a supervisor. Luna, her dog, dressed up for the day and watched every step of the veil going on.

A Mustang in the Rain

Naila arrived in a deep blue vintage Mustang, driven by a friend, and the weather had other ideas. Their friend behind the wheel was out with the umbrella before she reached for the door, and out she climbed into the wet. I will take a bride with a sense of humour over a dry bride any day.

From there she walked in under two clear umbrellas, her dad on her left and her grandfather on her right.

The Ceremony

The Garden House at Caversham House is made for days like this. French doors, soft light, a white arch of flowers, and a rainy garden on the other side of the glass.

Kusal read his vows from a little card, and Naila spoke too, microphone in hand, a few happy tears on the way.

Then the rings, the certificate, and the first proper look at each other as husband and wife.

Stolen Portraits in the Garden

Before every wedding I sit down with my couples and ask them one question: years from now, flicking through the album, what do you see? It is how I know which moments matter most to them before the day even starts. Kusal saw the two of them embracing, close enough to feel what they felt that day. Naila saw the moment they said "I do", looking into each other's eyes. So when the rain eased, even for a minute, we slipped out for exactly that.

Then a few quiet minutes just the two of them, before the family came in for hugs.

It was a small ceremony with a bigger reception planned for later in the year. We wish them every happy minute of it.

The Vendor Team

• Venue: Caversham House
• Hair & Makeup: Makeup Artist Margarita Novoa
• Photography: Gonzalo Novoa Photography

Planning a small ceremony that still feels big? I would love to hear about it. See if we're a fit