Salima + Ali | Married | Valley Forge Pa

Wedding season 2016 kicked off on Saturday for us here at AGP with a vibrant wedding celebrating the love of Salima and Ali. The eve of the first day of spring, and the weather didn’t get the memo. But, despite the chill of the wind, the warmth of these two was not to be dampened.

Salima, already a beautiful person, was adorned in traditional Muslim attire, including henna on her hands from a Mendhi ceremony that had been held before the wedding. The intricate lines on her hands drew attention to the amazing bangle bracelets that ascended her arm. Her white sari, with exquisite beading detail, was fetchingly draped on her. The jewel on her forehead completed the look of royalty and grace. Her matron of honor and her soon to be sister’s in law were all in their own saris, each a vibrant shade of royal color. Deep royal blue, a stunning fuchsia, crimson red and a lovely lilac purple. The combination of these was a feast of opulent colors for the eyes, and Salima was the crown jewel.

Meanwhile, Ali was at the DoubleTree Center City with his best man Michael and his wife Ashley. They were going over last minute wedding details and doing their best to ensure that the day went as smooth as it could, for everyone’s sake. His suit jacket was hung with care, his amazing cognac hued shoes were polished, and his incredible purple paisley pocket square was laid out, ready to be folded and placed in his breast pocket. The view from his room was a perfect view down Broad street leading up to City Hall. Philadelphia was on display, in all her glory. As Ali finished getting ready, we received word that the girls were a little behind schedule, so what else is there to do, but get some coffee?

When the ladies were ready, we brought Ali over to Salima for their first look. In a teeny park across the street from their condo, we watched all their pre wedding nerves melt away as they beheld each other. They’re amazing together. They have been since their first date, in Salima’s own words “I could talk to him so easily and things just flowed”. And flow they did. We bolted over to Penn’s campus (one of our very favorite locations to taking wedding photographs, remember?) and they filled our cameras with their adorableness. We rarely had to give them any sort of direction, they just were amazing together. They laughed, danced, kissed and embraced and it was all perfect.

After family formals in Valley Forge, we headed over to their mosque for the marriage ceremony according to Ismaili Muslim tradition. It was very intimate, only family and close friends. Family is amazingly important to Salima and Ali. When Ali decided he wanted to marry Salima and was in the process of getting her engagement ring, his father became gravely ill. So important was it to Ali that his father be part of the engagement ceremony, he and Salima went to the mall and bought a costume jewelry ring and used that in the proposal so that his father could be present. A beautiful tribute to family and a testament to the character of these two incredible people.

We can’t wait to see what happens next for these two. Ali will be finishing up his fellowship at HUP in the coming months, and they will be taking their honeymoon in the summer; a tour of Europe (so jealous). We wish you both many years of happiness and love, a rich relationship with your families, and all the very best life can give.

xo, Ashley + Rachel