How did you meet?
Bumble
When did you become engaged, and how?
Our engagement wasn’t a surprise to anyone. We’d talked about it at length. Our families knew about it. Alex had the ring in May 2023, but it still took him an entire year to ask because he fretted over the best way to propose. On Christmas day 2023, we had our families over for Christmas dinner and my sister-in-law cornered Alex asking if he was ever going to propose. He pulled the ring out of his pocket and said, “Actually, I was thinking of doing it tonight.” He asked my SIL if my nephew could help him out with the proposal. I was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner and my 2.5 year-old nephew runs up to me and says he has a Christmas present for me. I look down and there is a ring in the palm of his hand. The next thing I know, Alex was right there. He took the ring out of my nephew’s hand and proposed. So, he asked in front of everyone: my parents, his parents, my brother and his family. I cringe when I look at the pics because I was tired, I’m in the kitchen, and I had my house slippers on!
Biggest Challenge
Because we were having our wedding at our home, the hardest part was not knowing if I’d be able to successfully fit 70 people in our home and our deck for dinner.
Any unexpected wedding moments that happened throughout the day?
Alex shed some tears when the ceremony started. He wasn’t expecting that.
Special Songs
Cake Cutting Song: “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen
What was the best part of your day – from each spouse’s perspective, please?
Alex’s favorite part of the wedding was the Christian ceremony when he watched his family and wife-to-be walk down to the deck where they exchanged vows.
Fatima’s favorite part was the dance party.
What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
My flowers and my table settings. My wedding was aesthetically beautiful.
Memorable Moments
Because we were combining two cultures, we chose the things that were important to both of us and nixed things we didn’t care for. Afghans generally don’t have a wedding part, but I told Alex if hew wanted one, then I’d select bridesmaids. He chose not to, so we didn’t have bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.—only a ring bearer, my nephew. My most memorable moment was the “Ahesta Boro” (slow walk)—a tradition in Afghan weddings where a bride and groom walk slowly into their reception while a specific song called the “Ahesta Boro” is played.
Cultural Moment
We have one tradition where women hold a shawl over the bride and groom while they look in the mirror to see one another as husband and wife for the first time. I love this and made sure we did it. We also place a dollop of henna on the bride’s and groom’s hands; my dad placed a dollop on Alex’s hand and my father-in-law on mine.
#VendorRaves
Ramona and her team at Simple Country Weddings were amazing. So was Mike Bean Photography. They went above and beyond to make our wedding amazing! And then there is Rona, my hair & makeup artist. She saved my wedding day when she stepped up after things didn’t go so well with my first makeup artist.
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
My cousin said that we both looked like we had so much fun. We absolutely did.
Guests also keep telling us how beautiful our wedding was. The linens, table settings, glassware, and flowers.
Advice from the couple:
Keep things simple.
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
I would not have spent my time making baklava and other desserts. Instead, I would have gotten a facial or pampered myself. I didn’t focus on myself enough, and I later regretted not doing so.
