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How We Met
Kamran
and I met while visiting a mutual friend in Paris. I was at the
end of a week long visit with a girlfriend of mine, and Kamran
was on a weekend trip to visit that same friend, whom he had gone
to high school with. The night before we were all flying home,
we were walking home from dinner with a large group of friends
when we broke off to sit on a bench along the River Seine beside
the Cathedral of the Notre Dame. Dawn came and we were still on
that bench talking… As it turns out, Kamran had just accepted
a new job in Boston, MA where I was living. A few years later,
Kamran asked that we spend the rest of our lives together at that
same bench in Paris!
Our
Wedding
A traditional
Pakistani Nikah and Shadi celebration was held on the evening
of July 21, 2001.
The
Venue
 The
event was held at the Castle Hill Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
The ocean views from the estate provided a magnificent backdrop
for the stage during the Nikah celebration.
The Shadi was held under a tent outside the grand ballroom, overlooking
the ocean. Dozens of round tables were covered in floor sweeping
damask linens and decorated with vibrant flowers, crystal glasses
and little red pouches of sweets.
The
Food
The
catering was done by Samir from Rangoli Restaurant of Boston,
Massachusetts. Samir did a wonderful job of ensuring all the food
was Halal and prepared in a traditional Pakistani style. The appetizers
included: Vegetable Samosas, Chaat Papri, Dahi Bhala, Reshmi Kebab,
Shami Kebab. Entrees included: Mutton Khorma, Chicken Kadahi,
Chicken Biryani, Aloo Subji, Bhindi Masala. Desserts included:
Gulab Jamun, Gajar Halva.
What
Allie Wore
 Some
South Asian brides are fortunate to have their family in Pakistan
or India whom they can trust to oversee their bridal outfit. I
did not have that luxury... my family is from Portugal. So I visited
a few boutiques in Houston and New Jersey but didn't find anything
that I really fell in love with. Then I learnt about the Sila
boutique and much to my surprise, it was based out of Boston.
(Sila has since moved to Austin, Texas.) I started by making appointments
to see pieces for my trousseau. Well, one look and I knew that
I had found outstanding quality. It was the little things that
impressed me… the designs were without a doubt beautiful.
But it was the quality of the embroidery, and the delicate, precise
application of the dabka, and the neatly stitched seams and hems,
and the exquisite feel of the silks, and the care with which Saman
Tauseef Khan (Sila's aesthetic creator) handled each piece in
her collection that left me really impressed.
The
only question then was, which of the many beautiful lehnga's would
I choose for my Nikah. I ultimately went with a beautiful crème
and gold lehnga, with burgundy accents and burgundy choli. Saman
then helped me tie everything together with a makeup consultation.
Throughout the entire experience, Saman was a good friend, offering
advice when asked, but mostly letting me find my own style and
my own look (no pushy sales pitch of any kind).
 And
on the day of my wedding I truly felt like a princess, with the
sun setting overhead and the embellishments from the resham and
dabka work sparkling in the afterglow.
What
Kamran Wore
Kamran
wore a handsome white raw silk sherwani, with elegant embroidery
in gold and maroon, and little accents of gold dabka (or Kora
- can't tell the difference), trimming the collar and extending
over to the shoulder. His headpiece was in a burgundy silk with
subtle gold polka dots.
More
on Allie and Kamran's Wedding
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