Interview with a Real Wilds Bride

Keeping your mind on what matters with Kayla and Faris, real Wilds couple

We are thrilled to share a lovely conversation with real Wilds bride, Kayla, about her experience on her wedding day at our Brown County venue. She and her husband, Faris, had a stunning wedding day that never lost sight of who they are as a couple. If you hope to plan a day centered on the meaningful details, incorporation of beautiful heritage, and absolutely bursting with joy, you won’t want to miss our real bride interview!

Poignant Beginnings and a Cozy Proposal

The Wilds: Thank you so much for chatting with us today! We absolutely loved hosting your wedding and are so excited to be sharing it with other couples. Can you tell us a big about how you and Faris met and how he proposed?

Kayla: Faris and I met at our church and have several mutual friends. He actually started coming to an earlier service time just so he could see me and say hi. Eventually the small talk and church turned into a friendship and eventually a date at a coffee shop! Two days before I left for school in Ohio, Faris asked me to coffee and we sat and talked until the employees had to kindly ask us to leave so they could close.

We kept in touch all throughout my year at school and would see each other any time I came home for a break. Eventually we started dating and four years later, Faris took me back to the very same coffee shop. We sat in the same seats, read the Bible, and went for a walk. Little did I know, he had a ring waiting for me! We were “wasting time” before a “dinner reservation” on a walk when he got down on one knee and proposed. Our friends were disguised and popped out of the trees and took our pictures. We headed home to all of our friends and family waiting for us. We ended the night with worship and prayer and began our journey to marriage!

Planning for the Moments that Matter

The Wilds: Were there any special moments with family members that stand out from your wedding day?

Kayla: I had a first look with my dad and brother and it was so sweet! The tears were flowing but it was a special time that I cherish. It was a private moment we got to share as a family before the ceremony.

A Cinematic Wedding Ceremony

The Wilds: Your ceremony was truly special, and we got to see you two really embrace the unpredictable in a beautiful way on your wedding day. Can you tell us a bit about how the ceremony felt for you as a bride?

Kayla: Like many girls one of my most anticipated moments of my wedding day was walking down the aisle to my husband. We chose not to a first look so the first time I saw Faris was walking down the aisle! It was a beautiful moment and full of emotion. I will never forget it! I stepped outside to begin my walk and was shocked to see rain! Like a downpour rain! At first my heart sunk but as soon as I turned the corner, saw the venue full of family and laid eyes on Faris all I could think was “beautiful.” It was like a movie scene. The rain pouring, the thunder, everyone all cozy under the pavilion and my husband next me it was a dream!

We had a time of worship and as we sang the lyrics “rain came, wind blew, but my house is built on You” while it was literally blowing and raining. It was such a beautiful moment. Time was still! And we all stayed dry thanks to cute umbrellas and the pavilion. It was the most commented on part of our entire wedding.

Your day will be beautiful and perfect rain or shine!

When The Wilds is The One

The Wilds: How did you know that our venue was ‘the one’?

Kayla: I had looked at so many wedding websites and felt like I could tell you everything about every venue within 1 hour of my house. But I kept going back to The Wilds! As soon as we pulled in we just knew it was the one. It was secluded, natural, and the people were so kind. 

Easy and Interactive Details

The Wilds: Let’s talk wedding decor! Are there any unique touches or decor items that stand out in your memory that helped to make the celebration feel extra special?

Kayla: The venue itself is naturally beautiful and clean and really didn’t need much extra decor. We had a good mix of DIY, florals, and decor from The Wilds inventory. The Wilds available decor was a game changer and saved us so much time and money! We used cheesecloth table runners, and gold candle sticks as well as scattered tea lights. We used the garlands and incorporated live florals into the table runners. The mantle in the coat room also worked perfectly for us to display photos of our loved ones in heaven!

We also had little stands with QR codes on each table for people to upload their pictures, it was a blast to look at the next few days! We decided to do a Polaroid guest book and it was actually a big hit as well. Our guests really enjoyed it and it’s such a fun keepsake for us.

An Impeccable Party Honoring Jordanian Roots

The Wilds: Getting to see you two and all of your loved ones celebrate Faris’ culture was so wonderful! Can you tell us a bit about how you incorporated his Jordanian heritage into your celebration?

Kayla: We loved getting to incorporate my husband’s culture into the wedding! He was born and raised in Jordan, and didn’t move to America until he was 18. We got to have his dad say a prayer in Arabic and incorporate a passage from the Bible into our ceremony which was so sweet. We also got to have a traditional entrance into our reception with lots of dancing and clapping, Arabic music, lights, and special robes and scarves for our guests. Later in the evening our dance floor was hot and faris and I even went up in chairs. It was the time of our lives!

Don’t Lose the Love in the Planning

The Wilds: We love how centered you and Faris were on celebrating the right things with all of your loved ones, and it feels like that had its roots in your planning process. Do you have any wedding planning advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

Kayla: Make it fun! Make date nights out of planning and don’t forget it’s your special day, so try not to get overwhelmed by outside opinions. We tried to start with the big things and work our way from there. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, people actually love feeling included in this way. And never forget the big picture, you aren’t just planning for a wedding but you are preparing for a marriage and for the rest of your lives! Keep perspective and try not to stress the small stuff. 

Vendor Team