Real Ceremonies by Sonal Dave
Venue – Froyle Park
Coordinator – Sagar Vyas
Celebrant – Sonal Dave
Photographer and Videographer – Picturthat
Caterers – Greenleaf
Photo booth & guest book – Soiree 360events
Music – Dj Arun | Enigma, Dj & Dhol Players | Mistry Music – Sitar and flute | Dhol Drummers
Styling – Lotus Events
Dancers – Kandyan Dancers
Make Up – Shinthuja Ratnaselvam (Shindy)
Saree Draper – Agshana Gunaseelan (Ags)
Froyle Park is a great dry hire venue, and many London suppliers work here. They have a great preferred supplier list, and you can also bring in other suppliers as long as they meet the required insurance requirements. Additionally, if bringing equipment, then a PAT testing certificate.
As it is a dry hire, you will need to bring in everything that you require for the ceremony. Dry hire means renting a physical space only. For venues, it’s like renting a “blank canvas” where you are responsible for bringing in your own catering, furniture, decor, and staffing.
In the main hall, Froyle Park does have an inbuilt PA system that the DJ and any musicians can connect to.
If you choose to have an outdoor wedding ceremony, there are specific restrictions that you should be aware of. There is no amplification allowed, so no PA system is permitted for the celebrant, musicians, and the couple when exchanging their vows or family members delivering any poems or readings. You can ask your videographer to place a clip on mic to the celebrant, couple and those reading so for the purpose of creating your video, you do hear the words. However, on the day of the ceremony, the celebrant needs to find a suitable place to stand so that everyone can hear the words of the ceremony. The couple and anyone reading will need to speak a little louder.
The ceremony for Anjealh and Lewis was held outdoors, and we had the most glorious summer day. The ceremony began with Lewis arriving in a Ferrari, Anjelah’s mum placing a garland on Lewis, and the dhol players escorting him to the aisle. There was a lot of dancing along the way. Guests were asked to sit down, and then the Dhol players started again, and Sonal led the Groomsmen and then Lewis down the aisle.
After the welcome and reminder to the guests to switch off their phones, the Kandyan dancers made their way down the aisle, followed by the bridesmaids and then Anjelah.
The couple then exchanged garlands. Then followed a reading by Anjelah’s brother, Dillan, and Prez, which included Song of Solomon, chapters 2, verses 10-13, and 8, verses 6 & 7. The couple’s love story followed, and then it was time for the guests’ commitment.
Lewis and Anjelah then shared their heartfelt personal vows. They had written them independently of each other, so it came as a surprise to them, as well as to their family and friends. Next, the ring exchange, followed by the Thali Kodi, a key moment in Sri Lankan and Tamil weddings.
A Thaali is a plain gold necklace with one or more pendants. The kaluthiru is the marriage necklace of the Tamil community. The groom would tie this necklace around the bride’s neck at weddings. The pendant of the thaali is usually a small gold disc or a decorative design tied to a yellow thread or a gold chain. It is considered a sacred symbol of the marriage union between a husband and a wife and is believed to protect the couple from harm or evil. The groom ties the Thali around the bride’s neck, and the immediate family showers the couple with petals. The Bride’s mother is standing behind her, ready to assist with the tying if needed. It really is a beautiful ritual and is similar to the Mangalsutra in a Hindu wedding ceremony.
Then followed another reading by the groom’s father, titled “The Wedding Poem” by Whitney Hanson.
The Sand Ceremony was next, which represented the couple’s love and the importance of their extended family to them. The couple chose four different vials of colour to represent their hopes and dreams for their future. They chose an empty heart-shaped vessel for the sand to be poured into. This vessel is made from glass, and therefore, it is also made from sand. The sands of time have come together to make this vessel. The sands of time also remind us of the eternal nature of love and the inevitability of mortality. Once the sand colours have been poured into the vessel, they are encased by the love of the two respective families. As the sands mingle, new people enter our lives and hearts. Once mixed, the sands can never be separated. They become part of a new and greater whole, something new and unique and together for all time.
To conclude the ceremony, we played a game of Koda Kodi, also known as “find the ring.” There is a bowl on a stand or table, containing water, milk, pebbles or shells, petals, and some copper coins. The celebrant also holds a fake ring. Everyone closes their eyes, the celebrant places the fake ring in the bowl, and the couple has to find the ring. It’s the best out of 3, and whoever finds the ring wins.
Froyle Park is an exclusive-use wedding venue in Surrey, ideally situated on the Surrey-Hampshire border, just one hour from London and 40 minutes from Heathrow and Southampton airports.
The venue is situated within a breathtaking historic country estate, offering a unique setting for outdoor wedding ceremonies, grand receptions for up to 300 guests, and unforgettable celebrations. With stunning countryside views, 32 hotel-style guest bedrooms, a honeymoon suite, and dedicated getting-ready spaces for both the Groomsmen and Bridal Party, Froyle Park provides everything needed for an unforgettable country house wedding.
Sonal bespokely curated and conducted a ceremony just for us and it was so so special. I am sri lankan and my partner is english, we are multi cultural and come from backgrounds that have multiple religions. Sonal was able to create a ceremony that respected and honoured those cultures whilst also balancing the fine line of our expectations! She really was a wonderful celebrant and she offered lots of advice along the way on how we can curate the perfect ceremony. I cannot recommend her enough! Her humour and professionalism was fantastic.
