< Previous Real WEDDINGS “What I thought would be the happiest day of my life unexpectedly ended up being both happy and sad at the same time,” 27 year old Lebanese-Brazilian, Nancy Ghmeid shares with Bazaar Bride as she walks us through her August 4, 2020 wedding day. Having downsized the guest list due to Lebanon’s COVID-19 restrictions and then being forced to move the date due to further limitations, to say the day didn’t go according to plan would be an understatement. “Just after 6pm as I was walking down the aisle to meet my husband-to-be, a huge blast blew open the windows of the church,” Nancy is, of course, referring to the devastating Port of Beirut explosion. “As we were quite a distance from the port, we didn’t experience anything other than the shock and fear from the blast. The pastor asked our guests to remain calm and we then continued with the ceremony. To be honest, I didn’t know about the severity of the explosion until the very end of the evening because my friend took my phone away from me to keep the news under wraps so that my husband and I could enjoy our wedding.” Despite the unfathomable events of the day, Nancy and husband, Toni Nehme, 35, tied the knot at Saint Saviour Church in front of 75 of their closest family and friends. “We didn’t write our vows, they came spontaneously from the heart.” With expert help from wedding planner, Yara Estephan, the loved-up couple who met in Dubai four years prior to saying ‘I do’ wanted the theme of their wedding to be based around love and romance, settling on the magnifi cent waterfront restaurant, La Crêperie to host their reception. “We selected warm colours and hundreds of fairy lights to create a magical atmosphere. I wanted lots of orange and peach and we used these colours as part of our table décor and place settings,” Nancy explains. Guests dined on a locally inspired menu that included hummus with cherries, manti bel laban, fatayer and grilled meat kebabs, while dessert was Lebanese favourite, maamoul mad bil ashta. The beautiful wedding cake – six alternate tiers of vanilla and chocolate chip – was adorned with fresh fl owers to match the exquisite blooms that enveloped the enchanting venue. Sharing their fi rst dance to You Are The Reason by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis, Toni in his dapper Hugo Boss suit and Nancy in Georges Hobeika Couture, the bride and groom twirled around the dancefl oor for the fi rst time as husband and wife. “I tried on more than 30 dresses. I wanted a gown that would stand the test of time – something I wouldn’t regret in the future. I tried many different silhouettes and went to boutiques alone so that I wouldn’t get confused by other people’s opinions. I settled on an off- shoulder, V-neckline with an open back. And then Georges Hobeika created it for me. Although my gown was couture, it was really lightweight and beautiful to wear all day. This was really important to me.” Just three months on, the newlyweds are looking forward to their future together. “I do feel guilty that one of the happiest days of my life coincided with such a tragedy, but a lot of our guests have said that we actually saved their lives. Sadly the homes of many of our wedding guests were completely destroyed. If it wasn’t for my wedding date having to move to August 4, those loved ones would have been at home in their living rooms – and for that, I am eternally grateful.” ■ Nancy and Toni dined beneath the stars with their closest friends and family The bride’s veil featured an intricate beaded design Nancy’s sister, Aurore looked beautiful in a pink Zuhair Murad gown Edita quatia quia nihitiate alis ipsaniasi cus veles aut expera WORDS: NINA CA TT The bride carried a simple posy of white roses HBBR_018_038to041_RealWedding_Nancy_11429622.indd 4007/12/2020 10:42:27 AMCREDIT HERE Casa Del Flora designed the fl oral archway Nancy’s mother, professional make-up artist Takla Rouphael created a stunning bridal beauty look The newlyweds shared their fi rst dance to You Are The Reason, by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK DRESS: Georges Hobeika, Georgeshobeika.com SHOES: Jimmy Choo, Jimmychoo.com ENGAGEMENT RING & JEWELLERY: Zoughaib and Co, Zoughaibandco.com WEDDING RINGS: Hanna Jewelry, Hannajewelry.com MAKE-UP: Takla Rouphael Beauty Care, Instagram.com/ taklarouphaelbeautycare HAIR: Joseph Saad, Instagram.com/josephsaadoffi cial GROOM’S SUIT & SHOES: Hugo Boss, Hugoboss.com BRIDESMAID DRESS: Georges Hobeika, Georgeshobeika.com WEDDING PLANNER: Yara Estephan, Yaraestephan.com PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER: Pulse production, Pulse-prod.com RECEPTION & CATERER: La Crêperie, Lebanon, Lacreperie.restaurant FLORIST: Casa Del Flora, Casadelfl ora.info CAKE: Savoury Sweets, Instagram.com/savory_sweets011 MUSIC: Sky Light, Skylightlebanon.com INVITATIONS: Polygon Wedding Furniture, Instagram.com/ polygonweddingfurniture Place settings included a thank you note and personalised sanitiser HBBR_018_038to041_RealWedding_Nancy_11429622.indd 4107/12/2020 10:42:47 AM Real WEDDINGS 42 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Autumn / Winter 2020 Sicily’s iconic Teatro Antico di Taormina played host to a magical affair that transported guests on a fun-fi lled three-day festival of celebrations ITI R GORG UC Photography by RAQUEL BENITO HBBR_018_042to047_RealWedding_Itir_11443067.indd 4207/12/2020 04:10:26 PM43 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2020 Itir Gorguc and Karim Charaf were the fi rst couple to ever get married at the incredible Teatro Antico di Taormina HBBR_018_042to047_RealWedding_Itir_11443067.indd 4307/12/2020 04:10:33 PMCREDIT HERE Real WEDDINGS Never before had Sicily’s Teatro Antico di Taormina (Ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina) allowed weddings to take place inside its fascinating historical walls, but for one lucky couple – thanks to the persistence of their wedding planner – the rules were about to change. Having previously spent a week discovering the picture-perfect Italian island leaving no stone unturned, 29-year-old Turkish banker, Itir Gorguc and her commodities trader beau, Karim Charaf, 37, immediately set their hearts on getting married at the stunning location. Falling head-over-heels for the ancient rugged structure and mesmerising views of Mount Etna and the glistening Mediterranean Sea, Itir tells Bazaar Bride, “Karim and I told each other then and there that this was the perfect spot to become husband and wife.” With 12 months to plan their “Sicilian Affair”, the bride and groom reached out to Beirut-based wedding planner extraordinaire, Jessy Karam and her team at Strawberries & Champagne to turn their dream into a reality. The couple’s three-day fantasy was complete with a Fellini & Bellini-themed welcome party on night one, followed by the magnifi cent wedding ceremony and dinner under the stars, and on day three, a La Dolce Vita-themed feast at a local village in the hills – where guests were encouraged to wear fl orals and dance in the street until dawn. When it came to selecting a wedding gown, “It was a really easy decision,” remembers the bride. “I went to Vakko Wedding House in Istanbul. They carry beautiful brands and are renowned for their fantastic service. I picked a simple yet elegant St Patrick dress and paired it with an embellished veil and lace and crystal Dolce & Gabbana pumps. My mum and sister helped me pick the dress and accompanied me on fi ttings.” Akin to a grandiose scene from a romantic movie, on June 15, 2019, just moments before sunset, Itir and Karim exchanged emotional handwritten vows alongside passages on love and marriage from their Lebanese priest. Set amid what is unquestionably one of Sicily’s most picturesque locations, there wasn’t a dry eye between the couple’s 230 guests, particularly when sopranos and tenores from Milan’s La Scala Opera serenaded the group with renditions of Aria Della Regina Della Notte and Con Te Partiro. “The singers gave goose-bumps to everyone – it was truly a magical moment,” Itir remembers. After making their way back up the aisle with an upbeat energy that matched that post- ceremony feeling, the newlyweds and their nearest and dearest made their way to Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo for the reception. Beginning the evening with their fi rst dance to Andrea Bocelli’s Vivo Per Lei, the couple then sat down with their guests at al fresco banquet- style tables, festooned with quintessential Italian ornaments and ceramic tiles. “We served a bespoke three-course menu which included live bruschetta and fritter stations, followed by risotto with creamy basil sauce, cherry tomatoes and courgette fl owers, as well as sea bass baked in a salt crust with seasonal grilled vegetables and a ricotta mousse sphere, with citrus coulis.” The hotel’s award-winning chef created a stunning four-tier white wedding cake with hand-painted Sicilian tile prints, featuring a citrus fi lling – the famed fl avour of the island. As for their honeymoon, the adventurous couple couldn’t resist a multi-destination extravaganza, hiking in Chile and Argentina as well as experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime cruise, sailing around Antarctica. ■ Smiles all around as the newlyweds made their way back down the aisle Itir wore lace and crystal pumps from Dolce & Gabbana Sebastian Flowers were responsible for the beautiful blooms The guest’s outfi ts were just as colourful as their surroundings WORDS: NINA CA TT 44 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Autumn / Winter 2020 HBBR_018_042to047_RealWedding_Itir_11443067.indd 4407/12/2020 04:10:41 PMCREDIT HERE 45 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Autumn / Winter 2020 The reception tables were decorated with colourful Italian ornaments and ceramic tiles The beautiful bride, surrounded by her best friends HBBR_018_042to047_RealWedding_Itir_11443067.indd 4507/12/2020 04:10:49 PMThe dress code was black, red and white and female guests were gifted shawls and lace fans The stunning waterfront setting Itir and Karim made their grand entrance by boat Real WEDDINGS DAY ONE: WELCOME PARTY Upon arrival guests received a customised beach bag containing the three-day itinerary, a map of the island and beautiful sweet treats HBBR_018_042to047_RealWedding_Itir_11443067.indd 4607/12/2020 04:10:56 PMCREDIT HERE 47 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Autumn / Winter 2020 The three-day celebrations were a dream come true for the newlyweds BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK DRESS: St Patrick at Vakko Wedding House, Vakko.com SHOES: Dolce & Gabbana, Dolc egabbana.com ENGAGEMENT RING: W. Salamoon & Sons, Wsalamoon.com WEDDING RINGS: Cartier, Cartier.ae GROOM’S SUIT: Saint Laurent, Ysl.com GROOM’S SHOES: Tod’s, Tods.com WEDDING PLANNER & INVITATIONS: Strawberries & Champagne, Strawberries-and-champagne.com DESTINATION MANAGEMENT: Sicily Lifestyle, Sicilylifestyle.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Raquel Benito, Raquelbenito.net VIDEOGRAPHER: Alberto & Yago, Ayvideo.es DAY ONE WELCOME PARTY VENUE: Grand Hotel Atlantis Bay, Taormina, Grandhotelatlantisbay.icastelli.net CEREMONY VENUE: Teatro Antico di Taormina, Teatrogrecotaormina.com RECEPTION VENUE, CAKE AND CATERER: Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Taormina, Belmond.com DAY THREE FAREWELL VENUE: Piazza of CastelMola, Visitsicily.info FLORIST: Sebastian Flowers, Sebastian-fl owers.com MUSIC: Theatro Alla Scala, Teatroallascala.org (opera singers and mu sicians), Musica e Sposi, Musicaesposi.it (orchestra), DJ Ash, Instagram.com/ashmusic (DJ) Guests dined on a traditional Italian feast DAY THREE: FAREWELL PARTY The post-wedding farewell party in full-swing HBBR_018_042to047_RealWedding_Itir_11443067.indd 4708/12/2020 11:39:01 AM Real WEDDINGS 48 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Autumn / Winter 2020 With a love story that was written in the stars, Lebanon’s Ociel Venue was the perfect location for Noor and Hussein’s spectacular celebration NO OR ME R E BY Photography by DAZL PRODUCTION HBBR_018_048to051_RealWedding_Noor_11428950.indd 4807/12/2020 10:44:20 AMCREDIT HERE 49 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2020 Real WEDDINGS Noor Mereby and Hussein Fouani HBBR_018_048to051_RealWedding_Noor_11428950.indd 4907/12/2020 10:44:30 AMNext >