Greetings, loves! Today, we're thrilled to bring you the enchanting tale of Sadaf & Aaron, whose wedding celebrated their decade-long journey together and beautifully fused two distinct cultures in a symphony of love and unity. The festivities began at the splendid Aashirwad Palace, setting a regal tone for the Sangeet. The elegance of Dream Moulders' floral and decor encapsulated the couple's dream. Sadaf was a vision in her intricately designed ensemble by Aisha Imran, her radiance further enhanced by BEAUT by FAR, where meticulous attention to detail in her hair and makeup made her look nothing short of a royal. Roushan Ahmed Henna Squared LLC created stunning patterns that told stories of their upcoming union. Aaron looked elegant in a tailored tuxedo from Suit Supply. The reception at Meadow Wood Manor was a testament to their love, catered exquisitely by Shahnawaz Palace. DJ USA Events ensured the dance floor was never empty. Fidai Photography masterfully captured every tender look and joyful moment, creating memories they will cherish forever. Enjoy!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Aaron and I met through work; he was actually my boss for a couple of years. For that and many other reasons, I don't think either of us imagined a semblance of "the one" in the other. Over the years, and separated through other job opportunities and state lines, we remained consistent friends but the adaption of our romantic relationship and figuring out we were meant for each other wasn't totally linear. The first time, it dawned on me that he could be "the one" when I was at a family reunion surrounded by my favorite people but had this consistent nagging feeling like something was missing - him.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Aaron proposed near Mt. Rainier in Washington as we were going about our daily lives and just having casual conversations with each other. The peacefulness of it was perfect for us after working so hard to build our relationship and bring our families and cultures together.
We were also very intentional about the design of my ring, which is a toi et moi style featuring two stones and two people coming together in a beautiful way. Each of us chose a stone; the tilted pear-shaped diamond signifies compromise, both of us leaning into each other and what makes each of us different, and the upright radiant diamond signifies our pride in proclaiming our love for each other. The ring has so much meaning for both of us, and we love that it tells our story of an improbable and unlikely love.
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
We planned the wedding in 6 months - and it surprisingly wasn't all that stressful, I think largely because Aaron and I both come from the event management industry. Vendor and venue selection was hands down the hardest part because they can really make or break the experience. There's so much talent out there, but finding people who align with your overall vision and mesh well with your personality is key. We got so lucky from that perspective. Considering we had a mixed wedding, we really wanted vendors - from our DJ to our caterer to our Imam - that understood we didn't want to single out either culture or experience at all but really mesh them both together in the best ways.
We mostly relied on other couples tagging vendors in the instagram wedding photos to find what we were looking for. If the photo had the right vibe to it, I went through their vendors to understand who they worked with to achieve that vibe. Slowly but surely, that allowed us to build up our dream team of vendors for the weekend.
Once you find your vendors, take care of them as much as they take care of you! My mehndi artist, photographer, and hair and make-up artist, in particular, felt like family throughout the planning process because they were engaged in the months leading up to it and wanted to talk about inspo photos and meet to discuss the little details consistently. It made the experience so much more fun when we got to the actual big day - it felt like they were just as invested as we were!
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part for me was the time spent with my mom - planning a wedding with her was such a unique bonding experience, especially as an only child, and it was bittersweet having it all come to fruition after talking about what it could look like our whole lives.
The next best part is along the same veins - but the time spent with my family who came together with so much love in their hearts to decorate our home, put together favors, and travel in days early to help support and coordinate the details so that I could relax and play bride is something I will never forget or take for granted.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
For me, there are a few moments that stick out - but watching the culmination of our two cultures embracing each other was the best of it. Seeing our friends wear desi clothes for the first time, my childhood friends performing a dance to Desi Girl, and Aaron's family learning our traditional rasams was just heart-warming and made me feel so loved.
For Aaron, the moments that replay for him are seeing my wedding dress for the first time, taking our photos in the snow during sunset (we had really wanted a snowy wedding), our families coming together and dancing the ENTIRE night.
A key piece for both of us, though, was when Aaron's son, Hudson, presented us both with rings that he handmade for us before our ceremony. It was the sweetest gesture, and we wore his rings alongside our new wedding rings all night.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
There are so many wedding trends out there - don't worry about any of them. The moments that are unique to you and your groom, or your culture, or your family, will be what you remember the most and end up being the most sentimental.
Maybe you'll feel that delightful pinch of realizing how wondrously love can intertwine destinies.
