This Couple’s Pakistani Wedding Was Fit for a Fairytale at Morgan Estate in Temecula, California
What is a wedding if not the ultimate chance to live out your childhood fairytale fantasies? Marrying your sweetheart in front of friends and family can create the ultimate setting for magic. This sentiment was especially true for bride and groom Ezza Munir and Saqlain Mushtaq at their summertime nuptials. “We wanted to go for a pastel, dainty, airy look for our wedding!” Ezza reveals. “We wanted lots of cool-toned colors and a variety of florals to give a whimsical, fairytale look that would enhance the glass candelabras around the wedding venue.”
Meeting through family, the Desi couple knew they wanted to host a traditional Pakistani Muslim wedding with Pakistani Islamic traditions. Guests gathered on the gorgeous open-air lawn of the Southern California venue to witness the “I dos.” In perfect prince-and-princess style, Ezza and Saqlain arrived in a horse-drawn carriage. Both wowed attendees in their wedding-day attire. “My dress was designed and hand-stitched by Makkah Bridals in Karachi, Pakistan,” the bride tells. “The dress had three different layers and was embellished with pearls, embroidered pastel flowers and heavy golden jewelry that paired perfectly with the pastel-themed decor of the event.” Ezza sported intricate henna tattoos and a show-stopping veil pinned under her low-braided bun—she carried a lush, pastel bouquet of ivory, lavender, blush and blue flowers.
Under a canopy of greenery and striking red blooms, the couple participated in a ceremony filled with time-honored traditions. “For the ceremony, we wanted to tie in a traditional Pakistani Islamic tradition where the bride and groom sit facing one other, with a floral curtain separating the two. Then, as the officiant advises the couple on maintaining a healthy marriage, the witnesses (wali) and groom sign the Islamic marriage contract, and the two souls are officially one!” Ezza explains. “At this moment, the groom opens the floral curtain, lifts the Qubool Hai (“I do”) veil and kisses the bride on the forehead instead of on the lips, practicing modesty per Islamic custom.”
The party moved into the reception space to kick off the festivities. Dreamy white-and-blue details made for a blissful aesthetic: flowing table linens, low floral centerpieces and clusters of candles dotted each tablescape. The new Mr. and Mrs. took their places atop a raised stage fit for a royal couple, which featured similar blooms in a stunning new way. “We wanted to include a high backdrop with pastel flowers around the top of the stage. We added crystal curtains to the backdrop to provide a glimmer in the photos.”
The groom did a quick change into a second outfit that mirrored his first. “The Nikkah outfit for the ceremony was made of premium cotton, with a white satin vest and gold threading, embroidered with pink and white florals and hand-stitched satin buttons,” his bride details. “His reception outfit included a copper suit, an embellished gold collar, hand-stitched embroidered buttons and sleek white pants.”
Ezza and Saqlain’s personalities shined through in their meal choices. “As a couple, we both love to eat together, so we knew we had to personalize the food to what we enjoyed! The custom coffee bar was a huge hit, and our guests loved the iced lattes on a warm summer night,” says Ezza. “We also added a dessert bar full of unique Pakistani treats, like mango panna cotta, paan, gulab jamun and more!” During the later part of the evening, the groom’s family performed a bhangra dance to bring in his Punjabi background. Friends and relatives hoisted the newlyweds over their heads and carried them around the dance floor in celebration. “It was so much fun. Our guests, who may be from different cultures, let go and had fun participating in our Pakistani tradition.”
In the afterglow of their fairytale wedding, the couple has some sage words for other brides and grooms: “Create a budget and try your best to stick to it, knowing that you may not get everything you want, but at the end of the day, you and your partner are standing at the altar and agreeing to spend the rest of your lives together. Don’t let social media dictate how extravagant or different your wedding should be. Enjoy the planning process but work harder to build a solid foundation in your relationship.”