Shenel & Gino’s Beautiful Hylands House Wedding
Sunshine, laughter, good food and a whole lot of love – Shenel and Gino’s wedding at Hylands House Estate was one of those days that felt effortlessly joyful from start to finish. Set within the beautiful grounds of Hylands Estate in Chelmsford, their wedding brought together everything we love about a summer celebration: a stunning setting, delicious food, a relaxed atmosphere and, most importantly, a couple completely surrounded by their favourite people. We were delighted to be part of their day as an accredited caterer at Hylands House, looking after the food and service from the post-ceremony reception through to the wedding breakfast and evening celebrations.
A wedding at Hylands House Estate
There’s something rather special about Hylands House. Set within 574 acres of historic parkland just outside Chelmsford, the Grade II* listed house provides a beautiful backdrop for a wedding, while the Grand Pavilion offers a wonderfully versatile space for larger celebrations. For Shenel and Gino, the day began with their ceremony before guests gathered on the mansion terrace for a relaxed post-ceremony reception. With the sunshine out and the beautiful surroundings providing the backdrop, it was the perfect opportunity for everyone to enjoy a drink, catch up with family and friends and, of course, start sampling some delicious canapés. From there, guests made their way into the Grand Pavilion for the main celebration. The atmosphere shifted from relaxed afternoon reception to wedding party – with dinner, drinks, speeches and plenty of reasons to get on the dancefloor.
The brief: relaxed, generous and full of flavour
When it came to the food, the brief was all about creating a wedding menu that felt special without being overly formal. The couple wanted their guests to enjoy beautifully prepared food throughout the day, beginning with a selection of canapés during the post-ceremony reception before sitting down to a three-course wedding breakfast. And there was plenty to tempt guests with.
Canapés to start the celebrations
The reception menu brought together a mix of flavours and textures, with four canapés designed to keep guests well fed while they enjoyed the sunshine and celebrated with the newlyweds. There was our sun-dried tomato and mozzarella arancini, alongside black truffle and porcini mushroom arancini – two beautifully crisp bites with rich, indulgent centres. For something a little more substantial, guests could enjoy seared ribeye with fondant potato and truffle mayo, as well as miso-glazed chicken. A good canapé menu should give guests a little taste of what’s to come, while still feeling like an occasion in its own right. Shenel and Gino’s selection did exactly that.
A wedding breakfast with a comforting twist
For the seated meal, the couple kept things beautifully simple. The starter brought back one of the afternoon favourites: sun-dried tomato and mozzarella arancini, giving guests that delicious combination of crisp, golden coating and creamy mozzarella.
For the main course, the menu moved into something rich and comforting with slow-braised beef. Slow cooking allows the beef to become beautifully tender and full of flavour – the kind of dish that feels right at the heart of a relaxed wedding breakfast.
And to finish?
A bright and summery passion fruit and mango cheesecake, bringing a little tropical sweetness to the table and rounding off the meal perfectly. It was a menu that felt generous, approachable and celebratory – exactly what you want when you’re sitting down to dinner with the people you love most.
Catering at Hylands House
As an accredited caterer at Hylands House, we’re fortunate to work within one of Essex’s most recognisable wedding settings. But catering at an established wedding venue is about more than simply arriving with the food. Every venue has its own layout, facilities, timings and way of working, and our experienced team works closely with the venue to make sure the catering runs seamlessly alongside the rest of the day. At Hylands House, that means understanding the movement between the different spaces – from the ceremony and mansion terrace through to the Grand Pavilion – and ensuring that food, drinks and service are ready at exactly the right moments. For the couple, that means one less thing to think about. And on a wedding day, that matters.
A day centred around the people who matter most
Of course, the food and venue are only part of what made Shenel and Gino’s wedding so memorable. At the heart of the day were the two of them – celebrating their marriage with their favourite people around them. There was laughter, sunshine, plenty of happy moments and that wonderful feeling that comes when everyone in the room is there for the same reason: to celebrate two people they love. From those first post-ceremony drinks on the terrace to the wedding breakfast inside the Grand Pavilion and the celebrations that continued into the evening, the day had a lovely sense of flow. Nothing felt rushed. There was time to enjoy the food, time to talk, time for photographs and, importantly, time to simply enjoy being together.
Your Hylands House wedding
Hylands House is a wonderful choice for couples looking for a wedding venue in Essex that combines beautiful historic surroundings with the flexibility of a dedicated events space. And for us, being an accredited caterer means we get to be part of some truly special celebrations there. Whether your vision is an elegant formal wedding breakfast, relaxed sharing-style dining, beautifully presented canapés and cocktails or something completely personal to you, our team can work with you to create a menu that fits your day. Shenel and Gino’s wedding was a beautiful example of how food can help shape the atmosphere of a celebration – from those first little bites on the terrace to the final course of the wedding breakfast. And, ultimately, that’s what great wedding catering should do. It should bring people together, give them something delicious to talk about and become part of the memories they take home with them.
Congratulations again to Shenel and Gino. We were so pleased to be part of your beautiful day and wish you both a lifetime of happiness together. 🤍
Planning your own Hylands House wedding?
If you’re getting married at Hylands House or looking for an experienced wedding caterer in Essex, we’d love to hear from you. As an accredited Hylands House wedding caterer, Inside Out Eventz can help bring your wedding menu and dining experience together – from canapés and drinks receptions through to your wedding breakfast and evening food.
Get in touch with our team here to start planning your wedding catering.
