Your London Wedding - November/December 2020 (Issue 74)

REAL WEDDINGS 33  D r Naeem Meghjee and Dr Rahima Meghjee first started chatting at the tender age of 13 on MSN Messenger (remember that?), but they grew apart during their teenage years. It was when they both went to university in London that they reconnected. “I was initially reluctant about him,” Rahima laughs. “But his charm, wit and good looks were hard to resist!” Naeem was attracted to her beauty and innate “goodness”, eventually winning her over with a first date to the Natural History Museum. We absolutely love Naeem’s thoughtful proposal. Rahima says, “Given how much we enjoyed our first date there, and it was inside the Earth Hall where we shared our first kiss, Naeem thought the Natural History Museum would be the perfect place to pop the question.” By speaking to staff in advance, he was able to secure a 15-minute window when traffic in and out of the room would be diverted so it was almost empty. “He wanted as much privacy as possible,” Rahima says. “I think he was worried I’d say no!” Naeem got down on one knee with a bespoke ring that he had painstakingly designed. So romantic! The loved-up pair soon set the date for 24 th August, 2019, at the spectacular Syon House, with a ceremony in The Great Hall and reception in The Great Conservatory. We caught up with Rahima to find out more… THE PERFECT SETTING In agreement that they wanted a summer wedding, the couple were on the hunt for a venue that was beautiful inside and out. “When we saw pictures of Syon House we fell in love immediately,” Rahima says. “The visit we made there solidified our adoration of the estate, from the magnificence of the house to the Great Conservatory and surrounding gardens. The wonderfully helpful staff who showed us around assured us they would be present on the day, as well as every day leading up to the event. We were sold!” They were so set on tying the knot there that they waited in a queue for 10 hours prior to the August wedding dates being released to ensure that not only did they have the perfect venue, but the perfect date too. PUTTING THEIR STAMP ON Rahima and Naeem’s design concept was to keep things simple and elegant, ensuring the beauty of the surroundings were not masked by over-the-top decorations. “We explored this brief with our florist, Mary Jane Vaughan Designs,” Rahima explains. “She was patient and understanding and her vision was second to none. We met her at a wedding show at Syon Park as she is an approved supplier at the venue. Once we saw examples of her work, she was top of our list. She even managed to deliver to me a hand-written note from Naeem on the wedding morning along with my favourite flower: a white orchid.” RAHIMA’S WORDS OF WEDDED WISDOM: “WHILE YOU CAN PLAN EVERYTHING IN ADVANCE, TRY NOT TO STRESS ON THE DAY. YOU ARE THERE TO SOLIDIFY YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER IN FRONT OF YOUR NEAREST AND DEAREST. EVERYTHING ELSE IS AN ADDITIONAL EXTRA. ”