Congratulations to Sania and Sadeq on their nuptials! May Allah bless them with long, healthy, contented lives together, ameen.
Their wedding was perhaps the most lavish and well-choreographed events I’ve had the pleasure of attending, ever. Herding 500ish people through buffet lines, getting everyone seated, and keeping everyone entertained is a monumental effort, and the family did a magnificent job with everything.
My darling, adorable wife looked amazing, as always, and I wore a new shirt, but didn’t get a haircut, and so looked a bit disheveled standing next to her. I’m glad I didn’t take any selfies, but expect there are some pictures of me out there somewhere…
We got to the venue—the Fort Worth Hilton—a little bit after 7, and found a nice set up waiting for us on the Mezzanine level. We ran into the mother of the bride (our dear neighbor Dr. Sabahat) straight away.
And we wandered around, chatting with neighbors and other guests. I shot a portrait of brother Riaz. (I need to work on my technique some… I’m not a portrait photographer, but could try to learn some skills.)
Snacks were served (chana, lentil salad, samosas) and we enjoyed some more fellowship.
We discovered a photobooth and had some fun with the props.
We discovered a guy handing out fruit popsicles. I had a raspberry lemonade one that was delicious.
And then it was time for Maghrib salat. We filed upstairs, found the room, and lined up to worship. There’s something interesting about praying in groups in strange places. Muslims all face Mecca to pray. Allah azza wa jall ordained this for us, to help us unify when we worship. Whenever we gather in some strange place, there’s a brief moment where we’re not sure which direction Mecca is. There are compasses, of course, but usually the first person in the room picks the spot, and if that person didn’t check the compass, some confusion can ensue as people line up.
We ended up praying a completely different direction, almost lined up with the beams in the ceiling…
Anyway.
On my way out of the hall, I stopped for a minute to photograph from the landing. I waited and waited, and *bang* got it.
After prayer, it was time to enter the hall. The whole thing was beautiful. I wandered around photographing random people and looking for my seat.
The emcee lady was getting ready, and she looked pretty and there was something to the scene. I stayed for a minute and worked it some.
I found the cake. Sadly, this is as close as I got to it… by the time they cut the cake, it was already 11:30, and well past my bedtime. Oh well.
And then I found my seat. I hoped for a seat nearer the center, where the cameras could see the action. Alas, I was jammed all the way against the wall, just about perpendicular to the stage.
The decorations were lovely, and the other brothers at my table were friendly and more or less engaged.
Brother Sham requested a picture of him and his son, and I obliged. Several times.
After some time, the wedding party entered and performed the brief nikkah ceremony. I was a long way away, and didn’t think to get up, so I don’t have pictures of that.
A nice dinner was served: curries, biryani, vegetables. It was really delicious, but I don’t have pictures of that either.
After dinner, I wandered around and found the bride and groom at a little private table off the dance floor, meeting and greeting guests and passers-by. I waited for a long time, but the bride never looked my way.
We had some desert… Brother Sham’s son didn’t want the carrot halwa (a sweet desert dish). It took quite a bit of coaxing and encouragement to get him to try it. I wonder what was going through his head.. Maybe he thought it was vegetables or something? Maybe he’s health conscious? Allahu Alim, and it was cute.
After desert, I walked around a bit. I found my father in law and a kindly neighbor, and was surprised when they happily sat for portraits.
And I ran across my wife and mother in law. (The 50 f/1.2 is not the easiest to focus…)
Then it was picture time… The bride and groom on the dais, with various family members filing by. I steeled my nerves and forced myself up there. I’m glad I did… got a good couple of pictures of the beautiful bride and handsome groom.
In one, it almost looks like she’s looking at the camera…
Score.
By the time they finished the parade of pictures, it was past 11, and I was getting tired. They announced the cake cutting, and I rushed up, but didn’t get in very good position. I got better pictures of the crowd than of the actual cake cutting or feeding.
Oh well. I was mostly out of film, anyway. I finished the roll of Kono Kolorit, and was nearing the end of the HP5+. So I found my wife and we split.
And that was it… the most opulent and well-choreographed wedding event I’ve ever attended. MashaAllah. It was really a great time.
May Allah bless the bride and groom and their families for their generous hospitality, and may He make them the coolness of each other’s eyes, and bless them with believing children, ameen.
For film, I shot the Kono Kolorit! 400 and Ilford HP5+. I have one more roll of the Kolorit!, and I think I’ll rate it at 200 next time. It was well underexposed at 400. I shot the HP5 at 1600, and I think that’ll be my go-to for black & white for awhile, at least for stuff I can just go and buy at the camera shop anytime, and at least for something I can shoot indoors, handheld, without flash. Beautiful. Alhamdulillah.
