Lifestyle

The pelamin, or ceremonial wedding dais, was lavishly adorned with blooms that complemented the wedding's English Garden theme.

The canopy at the reception area was popular with wedding guests as a spot for candid photos, with its trellises and hanging doilies.

The floral theme extended to every aspect of the wedding - even the customary wedding gifts were adorned with flowers.

The vibrant floral displays injected a splash of colour into the solemnisation ceremony.

Decked out in subtle whites and cream to complement the decor, the couple shared a private moment amid the bustle of the wedding festivities.

<<

>>

Like many girls, Ilinadiah Ismail often dreamt about her perfect wedding day. Ilnadiah, who goes by Ili, would spend hours on the internet, looking at wedding-related photos on Tumblr blogs and fantasising about a fairytale wedding. She eventually fell head over heels in love with the idea of an English Garden theme, and its romantic, dreamy feel.  

When her boyfriend Sophan Basir popped the question after nine years of dating, Ili did not hesitate to translate her garden vision into reality. The couple, both self-professed nature buffs, decided on HortPark as the venue for their special day.

“Ili and I frequent the outdoors. We’ve hiked the MacRitchie trails and scaled Mount Kinabalu in Sabah together. Ili also loves all things floral, so it was only natural that we agreed on having an English Garden wedding,” said Sophan. “We wanted our guests to share our love for nature and its beauty on our wedding day.”

The splendid gardens of HortPark, the gardening hub, provided the ideal backdrop for their creative floral vision to play out in the park’s Leaf and Flower function rooms. Subtle pastels were the order of the day, with classic English garden staples – roses, lilies and poppies – adorning the reception area. These illuminated the function rooms’ surroundings with their organic, earthy gleam of cream, ivory and gold.

Adding to the grandeur were two wooden arches along the aisle, forming a trellis for dramatically spiralling floral accents. The charming effect was complemented by a swing, where guests could relax and take photographs among the blooms.

The couple also added many personal touches to their garden-themed décor. To reflect their Malay heritage, the décor incorporated elements to evoke a kampung feel, including a bamboo canopy at the guest reception area and low wooden fences placed around the swing. The floral arrangements featured Ili’s favourite flowers, orchids and hydrangeas, while their engagement photos were exhibited in beautifully-handcrafted wooden frames which nestled in woven baskets lining the walkway.

“Ili’s requests were simple: the colour concept, from the choice of flowers, make-up and outfits for the bridesmaids, must reflect the overall theme,” shared Hidayah, Ili’s maid of honour and wedding planner. “Even though it took two full days to set everything up, and months of planning the specific details, the wedding was a real sight to behold once our ideas materialised.”    

The English Garden won bouquets of compliments from wedding guests throughout the two-day celebration. Many stopped to admire the floral decorations, and to pose for photographs under the arches which overlooked HortPark’s lush green lawn.

“I love how different it is from a typical Malay wedding where loud and bold colours are the norm,” shared Murniati, the bride’s older sister. “Also, this venue’s open concept allows us to feel surrounded by nature. It’s such a serene setting for my sister’s special day.”

By Adam Rahman