< Previous Real WEDDINGS The love story of Michelle and Jad Mansour reads like something from a romance novel, complete with the proposal of dreams that’s has us swooning in the Bazaar offi ce. “It turned out that Jad had been proposing to me for over a year. He carried a small piece of paper with him that stated: “Will you marry me?” and took 151 photos over the course of the year holding it up with me in the background. I was completely oblivious in each picture” explained bride, Michelle. “Th e day of the actual proposal, he had a video made with all the times he’d proposed along with print outs of each occasion all put together in a beautiful setting.” Orthopaedic Surgeon Jad wins the prize for most original proposal ever. But epic romances call for epic proposals, and these two had been a decade in the making. Most people don’t expect to meet their soulmate at 18, but that’s exactly what happened to our Lebanese doctor- duo, Jad and Michelle. Attending the same university followed by the same post-grad school, what started out as BlackBerry Messenger exchanges turned into a decade-long friendship. Something shifted in 2019 though as the friendship turned into more and after one and a half years of dating, Jad knew Michelle was the one. He then spent a year planning the perfect way to pop the question. But how do you follow the most romantic proposal ever? With a fairy-tale wedding of course. Surrounded by greenery, 420 guests were in attendance as the duo married in a walnut orchard just 13 months later. “Th e minute you enter the venue you feel like you’ve entered a fairy-tale location. Th e trees, the colours and the sounds of birds,” Michelle told Bazaar. Karm el Joz is a space made for celebrations and with the help of her sister Yara – a wedding planner extraordinaire – the whole thing was a breeze. “Planning the wedding was easy because of my sister. She knew me, she knew exactly what I wanted. She asked the right questions and perfectly executed what we imagined, only better,” Yara smiles. Split into four sections, the day ran like clockwork, with thoughtful details peppered throughout. Welcome drinks in the orchard were complemented with a scent station to keep guests entertained. “We wanted something that the guests would enjoy and use later on. Our selection included scented candles, home sprays, and diff users, all custom- made with scents of our choosing. Th e response was fantastic, and it’s heartening to see our guests happily using these favours in their homes even now.” With the perfect setting in place, what of the ceremony? “It took place between the long trees of the orchard. Th roughout the whole time the leaves were shimmering in the sunlight which gave a beautiful, romantic eff ect to it. We were actually distracted by its beauty at some points during the ceremony,” said the couple. Simple fl ower selections of anthuriums and hydrangeas complemented the setting while readings by their siblings made this huge aff air feel intimate and special. Th e bride wore a custom gown by Lebanese haute couture designer Nicolas Gebran following an long search. “I went to many stores but the more I tried on the more I changed my mind. When I met Nicolas, all he had to do was have a conversation with me and without hesitation drew exactly what I imagined myself wearing. Th e dress was everything I needed without even knowing it,” gushed Michelle, who teamed the dress with custom shoes from Scarbina. Accompanied by her three bridesmaids – who also donned Nicholas Gebran – the bride walked down the aisle as a live choir led by Philipe Bachour serenaded guests with uplifting hymns. Transformed into an entertainment area complete with vintage arcade games, strategic lighting and mirrors, Yara and her team of event planners were able to turn the ceremony location into a striking and contemporary after- party. Th ere was even a hot-dog van to fuel the all-night dancing from the band. It’s Always Been You by Phil Whickam was the couple’s fi rst dance. “If you listen to the words of the song, it perfectly describes the life Jad and I have and the way we see each other,” explains the bride. A honeymoon in Mexico for a bit of relaxation and adventure rounded off the nuptials. Given everything passed off seamlessly, what advice does Michelle have for the rest of our budding brides? “Th e day of the wedding is the most beautiful day of your life. You will feel so much love from everyone around you. It is actually overwhelming. So, if you can and want to, work with a planner – they make life easy and fun. Be involved with the things you believe in and let other things be taken care of.” Sound advice indeed. A picture-perfect bride, Michelle steals the show in Nicholas Gebran HBBR_025_46-49_RW_Michelle Jad_13256007.indd 4825/06/2024 09:04Far left: Michelle and Jad say their vows in a beautiful orchard Above: The entertainment went well into the night Below: The couple’s fi rst walk as husband and wife Below left: The stunning set-up pre-I’dos 49 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK WEDDING PLANNER : Yara Estephan Weddings & Events @yaraestephan VIDEOGRAPHER : Shades Production @shadesproduction WEDDING FAVOURS: Under the Scented Spell @underthescentedspell MAKE UP : Yvonne Hatem @yvonnehatem HAIR: Fadia El Mendelek @fadiaelmendelek FLOWERS: Ivy Lane @ivylane FURNITURE: GhorayebTechnotel @ghorayeb_technotel LIGHTING: Bacchus Production @bacchus_production CATERING: Saveur Plus @saveurpluscatering BAR CATERING: Double Shake @double.shake CAKE: Cuisine D’Amour @cuisinedamour VENUE: Karm el Joz @karmeljoz HBBR_025_46-49_RW_Michelle Jad_13256007.indd 4925/06/2024 09:0450 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring /Summer 2024 HBBR_025_50-53_RW_Aya & Mohamed_13246316.indd 5025/06/2024 09:2451 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Spring /Summer 2024 Tradition, glamour and modernity intertwine in this celebration of love amidst the enchanting backdrop of an Egyptian castle Words by EVE NEWMAN Photography by MUHAMMAD GAMEL EL-DIN Real WEDDINGS AYA & MOH A M E D A wedding of royal proportions, the newlyweds got married in majestic style HBBR_025_50-53_RW_Aya & Mohamed_13246316.indd 5126/06/2024 07:20 Real WEDDINGS Yasmine Kennawi, and wore a dress by Hamda Al Fahim, working closely with founder Layal to choose the perfect shape and fabric. “Our synergy was incredible, leading us to brainstorm ideas like adding a bridal bag to my look, which eventually evolved into a collaboration on a bridal collection,” she adds. Not to be outdone by the elegant aesthetics and fabulous wardrobe, guests were treated to a delectable feast throughout the day, starting with canapés followed by the likes of salmon gravlax and panko breaded shrimps. Th e main course featured a food station with live grilling alongside porcini mushroom risotto and truffl e pasta, while Aya collaborated with Fou by Farah to curate a dessert table of bite-size desserts and larger cakes with a vintage aesthetic using lace and silver tableware. “I wanted a vintage-style cake with a twist, steering away from overly layered designs,” explains Aya. “Inspired by the trend of Italian single-layer cakes, I went for a wide, double-layered style that merged traditional aesthetics with modern simplicity. Th e strawberry fi lling coincided with December strawberry season, adding a touch of freshness to the confection.” Th e highlight for the couple, Aya tells us, was undoubtedly the dancing, with For Your Precious Love by Otis Redding coming on as they took to the fl oor man and wife. “We had fi rst dances with our families too, and watching both families come together on the fl oor was incredibly special,” she explains. DJ Zenhom got the party started with a mix of Arabic and old-school hits, while Madrid-based DJ duo Sparrow and Barbossa followed up with house music and Afro beats. “It was the perfect mini rave,” she enthuses. “Finally, Cairo-based funky house DJ Aly B closed the night with his infectious tunes, ensuring the celebration ended on a high note.” Th ankfully Aya was able to dance all night long after switching from her Jimmy Choo pumps into a pair of Nike Air Force 1 Low Drake Certifi ed Lover Boy sneakers for the party, while her glowing make-up from Chanel – product highlights included Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Colour, Lumiere Graphique eyeshadow palette and Rouge Allure lipstick in Mise A Nu – kept the bride looking radiant from ceremony to after-hours. Post wedding, the duo jetted off to the Maldives to make the most of its perfect winter sun season, spending their days relaxing and soaking up rays on the beach. They say you should never mix business with pleasure, but for Aya Abdel Raouf and Mohamed El Kahhal, it was a work meeting that kickstarted their enduring love story. She, the co-founder and co-creative director of Okhtein, a luxury fashion and accessories brand with an outpost in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, and he the managing director of Kahhal 1871, which specialises in bespoke hand-knotted rugs. Th ree years ago the Egyptian couple teamed up to create a collection and the rest, as they say, is history. “As we worked together, we grew closer and realised we wanted to spend more time together beyond work,” Aya reminisces. It was a year and a half later in February 2023, during a New Year’s trip to Barcelona, that Mohamed popped the question. “We visited the Moco Museum, and he unexpectedly proposed in a traditional Arab manner, asking to meet my father,” she explains. “It was a heartfelt moment, perfectly refl ecting our intimacy and tradition, set amidst a room fi lled with art.” After just fi ve months of planning, the pair pulled together a spectacular winter wedding with 350 guests at Dahab Island Palace, a lavish castle on a picturesque island on the Nile accessible only by felucca [wooden sailing boat]. “I was determined to have our wedding in a venue whose beauty stood out naturally, without needing elaborate construction,” continues Aya. “It was important for me to embrace my culture and history, and I wanted a unique experience for our international friends too, so it was just perfect.” Honouring the castle’s architecture by enhancing it with elegant fl owers and lighting, Aya and Mohamed weaved inspiration from ancient fl oral motifs found in Ottoman carpets throughout their wedding décor – a subtle reference to how the pair met. Th ey also incorporated a printed sail along with their hashtag ‘Kayoko’, a fusion of Mohamed’s surname and Aya’s nickname, Yoko. Fresh and dried fl owers were mixed with each centrepiece featuring anthurium, chrysanthemums, gypsophila, cordyline and olive leaves, to name a few. “Th e inclusion of rosa cappuccino and rosa athena represented themes of love and admiration, adding depth to the overall aesthetic,” adds Aya, who walked down the aisle to a unique version of Lana Del Ray’s Young and Beautiful by a Saudi composer that the bride discovered on TikTok. She was styled by her friend 52 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 Aya poses pretty in her custom made Hamda Al Fahim dress and Jimmy Choo shoes The brides wedding bag was delicately embroided with crystals and pearls HBBR_025_50-53_RW_Aya & Mohamed_13246316.indd 5226/06/2024 07:20 Real WEDDINGS BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK DRESS: Hamda Al Fahim, hamdaalfahimoffi cial.com SHOES: Jimmy Choo and Nike, jimmychoo.com and nike.com JEWELLERY: Diamond Land, @diamondlandoffi cial STYLIST: Yasmine Kenawi, @yasminekenawi PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY: Muhammad Gamal El-Din, @muhammadgamaleldin VENUE: Dahab Island Palace @dahabislandpalace CATERER: Sage, @thesageexperience FLORIST: Karim Violette, @karimviolette CAKE: Souffl é, @souffl e_egypt BEAUTY: Reham Khalifa using Chanel Beauty, chanel.com @chanel.beauty INVITATIONS: Mona Zanana, @monalikethelisa WEDDING PLANNER: The Ape Studio, @theapestudio HBBR_025_50-53_RW_Aya & Mohamed_13246316.indd 5325/06/2024 09:2554 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 Real WEDDINGS The New York-based power couple exchanged vows in the blissful setting of Dubai with a dazzling white wedding Words by BECKY LYNNE Photography by VIOLET STUDIO YA R A & TA L A L With endless views of the Arabian Gulf, the aisle set the perfect scene for the ceremony HBBR_025_54-57_RW_Yara & Talal_13245403.indd 5425/06/2024 09:2655 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 HBBR_025_54-57_RW_Yara & Talal_13245403.indd 5525/06/2024 09:2656 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 Real WEDDINGS “It was the fi rst time I met someone that instantly felt like home,” says Yara Bishara when talking about her fi rst date with now-husband Talal Alyan. “We felt so comfortable with each other and it just immediately clicked. We were inseparable from that moment on and I couldn’t imagine a life without him in it.” It was exactly seven years later that Talal, a Palestinian/Lebanese-American business operations manager and NYC-based stand-up comedian, got down on one knee against the backdrop of an enchanting sunset at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort. “It was the most beautiful moment of my life,” gushes Yara. “Following the proposal, Talal guided me to a private dinner he had planned in the desert. Th e sun was setting, and there were beautiful carpets, candles and fl owers everywhere. It started to drizzle while the sun was still out. It felt like I was dreaming.” Just shy of a year later, on 3 February, 2024, the couple made it offi cial surrounded by 160 of their closest family and friends at the Four Seasons Resort Jumeirah Beach. Stefanie Heller from Jam Wedding Planner was enlisted to help them plan their dream day from the Big Apple. “She raised it to a level I didn’t know was possible,” says Palestinian- American Yara. She adds, “Stefanie and her team managed everything from venue co-ordination, design, fl orals, hair and make-up, DJ and everything else you could think of.” Opting for a ‘romantic garden’ theme, the blooms were of primary importance for both Yara and Talal, with the couple saying their vows in front of an all-white fl oral gazebo approached by a long white aisle. “We really wanted it to feel like you were walking on a cloud,” explains Yara, who was escorted down the aisle by both her mother and father wearing the Antoinette dress by Vera Wang. Th e ceremony took place at sunset in the resort’s beautiful outdoor garden, offi ciated by Yara’s brother and Talal’s two sisters. “We knew we wanted the ceremony to feel personal and intimate, and it was so special hearing our siblings share anecdotes about us individually together and as a couple,” Yara notes. Inside the ballroom, the couple had a dreamy foliage- fi lled stage with a sea of blooms at the head table, as well as a ceiling full of fl owers and crystal chandeliers that really created a fairy-tale ambiance. Guests were seated on vintage wooden tables covered with lavish bouquets and candelabras and dined on corn fed chicken roulade, slow cooked lamb shank and seared salmon fi llet against a backdrop of candlelight and the scent of fresh fl owers. Four Seasons’ senior executive pastry chef Nicolas Lambert was the man behind the execution of the stunning fi ve-tier wedding cake, which boasted both classic vanilla and salted caramel fl avours. Guests were also treated to a perfume bar, where they could make their very own scent bottled in unique packaging that included the couple’s names in traditional Arabic calligraphy. “Each bottle came with a little personalised note from Talal and I as well,” adds Yara. “We really wanted to make our guests feel special.” While the wedding was a thoroughly international aff air, Yara, Talal and their families were keen to give a nod to their Palestinian and Lebanese heritage, entering the ballroom as husband and wife with a traditional zaff eh that saw them ushered in by a group of dancers and drummers dressed in traditional clothing. “Th en it was time for our fi rst dance, which we wanted to be a mix of emotional but also fun, light and silly,” continues Yara. “We started out with a slow dance to Th e Book of Love by the Magnetic Fields and then the DJ did a fun transition to Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin. It defi nitely put a smile on everyone’s faces!” Lebanese singer Nader Al Atat performed for guests at the reception, followed by Dubai- based DJ Ron who fi red up the room with some Western crowd pleasers. “It was so magical seeing all of our friends and families come together in one city under one roof,” she continues. “We both recognise how rare this is given our background – our guests made their way from around the globe including the US, Middle East and Europe – to be with us and celebrate our union, and we are eternally grateful for them.” In need of a well-deserved break, the couple jetted off to Th ailand for their honeymoon, staying at Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which sits pretty on the Andaman Sea, making it the perfect place to decompress, relax and refl ect on the most special day of their lives. “Honestly, I wish I didn’t stress so much in the months leading up to the wedding,” admits Yara. “I’m someone who can sometimes be overly consumed with what other people think of me, but a few days before the wedding when we landed in Dubai, my mum sat me down for a talk. She told me to soak in the moment because I will never live it again, laugh, smile, cry and, most importantly, dance. My favourite line that she ended with was ‘don’t be so uptight’. It was the best piece of advice I’ve received, not only for my wedding but for my life. A reminder to live and sink your teeth in the moment.” Yara’s parents walked her down the fl ower-fi lled aisle HBBR_025_54-57_RW_Yara & Talal_13245403.indd 5625/06/2024 09:27BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK DRESS: Vera Wang, verawangbride.com SHOES: Manolo Blahnik, manoloblahnik.com JEWELLERY: Dior, dior.com GROOM’S SUIT: Suitsupply, suitsupply.com BRIDESMAID DRESS: Azazie, azazie.com VENUE: Four Seasons Resort Dubai, Jumeirah Beach, fourseasons.com FLORAL DESIGN: Jam Wedding Planner, jamweddingplanner.com CAKE: Senior Executive Pastry Chef Nicolas Lambert, Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach MUSIC: DJ Ron, @dj.ron.offi cial, Nader Al Atat, @naderalatat INVITATIONS: The Knot, theknot.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Violet Studio, violetstudio.ae VIDEOGRAPHER: Violet Studio, violetstudio.ae WEDDING FAVOURS: The Perfume Bar, theperfumebar.com CALLIGRAPHY: Nabila Amedioune @missndesign MAKE UP: Elena Zhosan, elenazhosan.net HAIR: Iryna Soltaninia, @hairmakeupbyira Romantic garden was the theme of the wedding with thousands of blooms lining the tables, aisle and entrance. Even the roof was fi lled with fl orals. HBBR_025_54-57_RW_Yara & Talal_13245403.indd 5725/06/2024 09:27Next >