Wedding Planning by Alicia Keats | Wedding Photography by Gucio Photography
When I started working with Yasmin and Jamil on their wedding, I realized we shared a number of things in common –from our love of doughnuts and good food, to our similar taste in flowers.
I also loved the chemistry between Yasmin and Jamil, and they worked as a team which I really admired. I enjoyed their banter and they had a great sense of humour throughout the planning. Jamil and his groomsmen even played a horrible trick on me the morning of the wedding – they called me while I was in the middle of ceremony set up to tell me that Jamil was having cold feet. Like any good wedding planner, I leapt in to action before realizing that the giggling and suppressed laughs on the other end of the phone meant that it was all for fun. I don’t think my heart stopped racing for the rest of the wedding day.
Yasmin and Jamil wanted an intimate, beautiful, understated wedding – and I loved putting the various parts of their wedding together to create a truly special day for them. Their wedding ceremony was at the Ismaili Centre in Burnaby, where they had nikah followed by traditional ceremonies. Yasmin and Jamil really wanted to honour their religion and celebrate their culture, as their Ismaili faith is very important to them. Yasmin looked so happy as she walked down the aisle hand in hand with Jamil – I loved that they walked down the aisle together. Her make-up was done by one of our faves, Denise Elliott.
Following the ceremony, sherbet and sweets were served (for those not familiar with the Ismaili culture, sherbet is like a delicious strawberry milkshake).
The party then went on to Shaughnessy Restaurant, on the edge of the beautiful VanDusen Gardens, for the reception. Flowers arranged by Flower Factory lined the tables – a stunning mix of peonies, roses, ruscus, lilac, hydrangea, and eucalyptus. There was a delicate bouquet of lavender at each place setting for the guests, and the couple served lavender lemonade as a refreshment.
Guests enjoyed Lucky’s Doughnuts as a late night sweet treat (in the shape of “XO”). The couple’s cake was made by Sweet Revenge, which is where Yasmil and Jamil went for their first date.
I was so happy to see this couple get married, and we wish them a wonderful (and doughnut-filled!) married life together!
With love,
Alicia xoxo
