Real Weddings: Ameena & Asad

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It’s always beautiful when two people who are so well matched find one another through online dating, which can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Asad found his stunning and brilliant wife via match.com. Ameena, actually “Dr. Ameena,” is a dentist, while Asad is an ER manager. After only a few dates, each instinctively knew their relationship was the final stop for both of them; no more having to sift through profiles online. Asad attended the University of Iowa for undergrad and University of Illinois for graduate school, though he eventually ended up in Texas, where Ameena is from. She went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas for her undergraduate degree and continued on to the Texas A&M College of Dentistry for medical school. Asad was immediately drawn to Ameena’s “passion, drive and intelligence,” he says. After securing her father’s blessing, Asad proposed and the couple sought a wedding planner to help showcase their heritage and bring their vision to life in the form of a wedding. The couple had a large bridal party — four bridesmaids and 12 groomsmen — to match their large guest list of 300 that was filled with friends and family from all corners of the Earth. The wedding was cast as a traditional affair, though there were some non-traditional aspects of their nuptials, such as the couple did not have a first dance, and for the ceremony Ameena was brought down the aisle by both of her parents. In so many ways, the couple achieved their goal of showing off the best of their faith and culture, while putting their own distinctive mark on the most memorable day of their lives.

black north african american muslim islamic bride wife Ameena doctor dentist groom Asad hijab wedding marriage henna bridal traditions customs heritage Texas

black north african american muslim islamic bride wife Ameena doctor dentist groom Asad hijab wedding marriage decor tables place setting traditions customs heritage Texas

Wedding Details

LOCATION: McKinney, TX

TIME OF YEAR: Spring

WEDDING STYLE: inclusive, delicate, distinct

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: McKinney Cotton Mill

MENU: Food stations. To acknowledge their Southern upbringing, the couple had a station featuring macaroni & cheese, chicken & waffles and fried green tomatoes, an Indian food station provided dosas and samosas and finally a North African cuisine table served a lamb and rice dish.

DESSERT: Cake

INSPIRATION: both of their heritages inspired their wedding, with common traditions you’d find at a Muslim wedding.

SPECIAL FEATURES: for dinner there were food stations that featured food from around the world; African drummers; tradition of jumping the broom; a custom wedding gown; custom groomsmen and bridesmaids ensembles; a pre-wedding henna party for the bride; the bridal party rallied around the bride and groom holding signs spelling out the couple’s name and blowing bullhorns, cheering them on during the reception

HONEYMOON: Turks & Caicos

COLORS: