Married! Asma and Zubair’s Pakistani Wedding in Hoffman Estates

 

What I love most about South Asian weddings is how ornate the traditional costumes always are. There’s no two alike, trust me, I’ve done my fair share of Indian and Pakistani weddings! Take Asma here, a stunning Pakistani bride. She wed Zubair in a magnificent Hyderabadi gown in deep ruby and emerald green, and he in an understated yet princely wedding sherwani.

Asma’s ruby and pearl nose ring is called a nath, a traditional bridal ornament.

We did the bride-and-groom portraits in Busse Woods in Schaumburg. Ever a favorite location of mine to shoot at, I thought the natural starkness of the woods was a beautiful complement to their colorful and ornate costumes.

The reception was in Hoffman Estates. Though Pakistani weddings tend to be on the conservative side, they are nevertheless steeped in rich cultural traditions and brimming with deep respect for family.

It is customary for the bride’s family to “badger” the groom for money as he tries to pass through to the reception. They were diligently negotiating with Zubair for over five minutes, until someone tipped him off that there was another door leading to the reception room! Obviously, the groom (and his entourage) made a beeline for it. While I don’t know how much the bride’s family managed to make off with – Zubair, I think you were the big winner that night. And Asma, you are truly a kind and gentle soul, you radiated from the inside out! Readers, I hope you will enjoy a glimpse of their beautiful reception!

xo, Melissa

Asma and Zubair’s Wedding Guide ::

Venue, The Stonegate  //  Bride’s Attire, from India  //  Bride’s Hair, Farah’s Artistry  //  Bride’s Makeup, Farah’s Artistry  //  Groom’s Attire, from India  //  Bridesmaids’ Dresses, from Pakistan  //  Flowers, Amer Design Studio  //  Wedding Consultant, Janet Lobo, The Stonegate  //  Videographer, Shivam Photography  //  Food, Ali’s Catering  //  Cake, The Stonegate  //  Music, Nick Desai- DJ Baadshah