Zahra and Faisal, Dubai

After listening to how Zahra and Faisal met and fell in love, we would have said that their story provides the perfect plot for the next romantic comedy. However, given Faisal’s love for music, it would probably be more apt to call their tale a musical. With nuptials and celebrations across Madinat Jumeirah Resort, FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai and Palazzo Versace Dubai, their wedding was one that was steeped in magnificence.

The bride gives us a peek into their romance and tells us about their big day.

How We Met
We were both at a small coffee shop in the UK, buying ourselves a cup of coffee that would help us deal with the hectic day ahead. Faisal fell short of a few pennies and I came to his rescue and we exchanged numbers because he wanted to return the favor.

We planned to meet in a few days and it turned out to be our first date. Faisal is the most fun loving and caring person I have ever met. He believes deeply in the mantra ‘live life to the fullest’. These are the things I liked best about him. He’s crazy about music, especially Bollywood and Punjabi and little did I know then, that all our future dates would be like mini music concerts for me! With time our bond grew stronger and we were sure we wanted to get married. This is when the families came in and warmly welcomed our decision.

Wedding Venue
We hosted our sangeet at Jumeirah Al Qasr at Madinat Jumeirah Resort. With a name that means ‘The Palace’, this beautiful property was designed to look like the Sheikh’s summer residence. We wanted our guests to feel nothing less than royalty as we welcomed them to our celebration. Therefore, with the stunning views of the sea and an ethos rooted in luxury hospitality, this hotel was the perfect choice.

Ours was a nikaah solemnized in a day ceremony so we chose an outdoor venue and a pastel theme. We looked at a lot of options in Dubai but the Palazzo Versace Dubai, reminiscent of a 16th-century Italian palace with subtle traces of Arabic architecture, was the perfect choice for us. It is located along the shores of the historic Dubai creek making it all the more delightful. The nikaah took place on the hotel lawn that was beautifully decorated with fresh white and pastel pink flowers.

Our reception took place at FIVE Palm, Jumeirah, Dubai. While this property was distinctly different from the previous two, more opulent venues due to the kind of contemporary and glamorous vibe that it exudes, it was just the right choice for our reception. This lifestyle hotel is perfect for an event that seeks a modern feel and aesthetic.

Pre Wedding Shoot
A lot of people fly to Dubai just for their pre-wedding photoshoots. We, on the other hand, were just lucky to be there and thought we should make the most of this opportunity. We were blessed to have Sunny Dhiman and his team as our photographers. They really cared about our choices and helped us cover all the major attractions of the city in limited time. We shot at the Downtown Dubai, getting a view of the magnificent Burj Khalifa, Madinat Jumeirah Resort, Al-Qudra desert, Miracle Garden, City Walk, The Sunset Beach and even the glorious Sheikh Zayed Mosque at Abu Dhabi. It was the most blissful experience of our lives.

Wedding Functions

Mehndi
We had two Mehndi functions. The first one was a small event at home when I got my mehndi done and the other was a lavish affair that was held at Madinat Jumeirah Resort. For the ceremony at home, the decor featured fresh marigolds and white roses. Sticking to this color palette, I wore a white and yellow crop top with a lehenga. To finish the look, I teamed my outfit with fresh flower jewellery that perfectly complimented our decor too!

Sangeet
We chose Magnolia at Madinat Jumeirah Resort as the venue for our sangeet where the guests were brought on Abras (traditional wooden boats). The theme for the event was ‘Bollywood meets Morocco’ so we requested everyone to dress up in bright, colorful and stylish outfits. The venue was decorated with flowers, antique birdcages, Moroccan lamps, candles, with bouquets of colorful fruits and flowers as centerpieces.

Arabic henna and glitter tattoos artists were present at the event for all our guests so that they could get their palms covered in pretty designs. I wore a peach lehenga by Manish Malhotra and a combination of fine and floral jewellery. Faisal opted for a golden sherwani.

Wedding
Our nikaah ceremony was followed by a high tea for the guests at Palazzo Versace Dubai. Our entry was what caught everyone’s attention. The little girls and my nephew walked in first with the flowers and cute signboards, the bridesmaids entered next with traditional Arabian oud smoke and I followed them with my father and brothers. Faisal, being a typical boy with a deep love for automobiles, entered the venue in his favorite white Ferrari. I wore a white gharara with gold jewellery and he opted for a blue sherwani.

Reception
Our reception exuded class and elegance. The theme for the night was ‘Masquerade Party’ and we chose FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai – with its beautiful backdrop of the sea and the Dubai skyline – for this glamorous event. All our guests wore masks to the cocktail which was followed by the reception party. We had performances for our loved ones at the event and everyone danced their hearts out until midnight. There was a photo booth where we had pictures of all our guests taken. At the end of the party, we gave them their photographs in pretty crystal frames as favors.

Advice For Couples
Make sure that you really enjoy this phase as these are going to be some of the most cherished moments of your life. You must make informed decisions when finalizing your wedding vendors. We highly recommend our vendors because they were definitely the best. We had our photographers flown in from India but it was worth every bit of the effort.

Wedding Makers
Venue: Jumeirah Al Qasr at Madinat Jumeirah Resort (Sangeet), Palazzo Versace Dubai (Wedding), FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai (Reception)
Wedding Planner: Love Details Events, Dubai
Bride’s Outfits: Manish Malhotra (Sangeet), Nida Azwer, Pakistan (Wedding), Elan, Pakistan (Reception)
Groom’s Outfits: Hugo Boss (Reception)
Makeup Artist: Judy Kheir, Dubai

Photography: Sunny Dhiman Photography

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