Pink Was the Star of the Show at This Wedding at the Waldorf Astoria in Dana Point, California
Pink ended up anchoring Alaa and Mujahid’s (Muji) (both 25 and data scientists) wedding along the California coast, but initially there wasn’t a single drop of pink in their design plans. At first, the couple imagined a neutral palette with shades of beige, but ultimately pivoted so the day felt less bohemian and more “whimsical, airy and dreamy—those were the adjectives we used about 100 times when describing our vision to our wedding planner,” jokes Alaa. Throughout the planning process, Alaa and Muji, who both have backgrounds in design, were hands-on in bringing their ideas to life. The couple even made their own stationery and “visited the printers to sample how different shades would print, playing around with color and texture to get the perfect look,” says Alaa.
The couple displayed their seating chart and wedding favors on an oversized wall decked out with flowers. The favors were bottles of perfume with notes of amber and vanilla that Alaa and Muji created just for the wedding. “Muji found a local perfumer in the Bay Area who specialized in attar. Attar is the Arabic word for a fragrant and potent perfume oil that delivers concentrated natural fragrances derived from botanical sources,” says Alaa.
A highlight for the couple was the surreal feeling of being with loved ones after prolonged periods of lockdown. From getting ready with friends to a festive zaffeh, in which a band leads the newlyweds to the reception, the couple loved the community focus of the wedding.
“I didn’t want any one element of the table design, from chargers to florals, to stand out too much,” explains Alaa. “I wanted it to all be cohesive and flow together.” Additionally, Alaa and Muji didn’t want to obscure the stunning ocean views with a tent, but they still wanted something to add structure to their reception design. A floral arch installation did just that. Even the couple’s wedding cake, iced in strawberry buttercream, fit their pink vibe. Not only was the reception filled with lots of dancing, but the couple kept the energy going with an after-party that lasted until 1 a.m.
"Muji and I are huge Kishi Bashi fans," says Alaa. "I loved our first dance to his song ‘manchester.’ the best part is that Muji arranged to have Kishi record it for us and Takénobu play instrumentals live." Songwriter Kishi Bashi often tours with the cello-violin duo Takénobu. “When I heard them perform at one of his concerts, I loved their music,” Alaa says. Not only did Takénobu play during the first dance, but they also performed a memorable private concert for the couple and their friends in between the wedding reception and after-party. “It was unreal,” she adds.
“We wanted our wedding to be fun for everyone and free of the stressors associated with weddings,” says Alaa. Alaa and Muji invested in a wedding planner so they could “enjoy the process at a higher level” and feel more relaxed. The couple invests in their relationship by taking regular in-state mini vacations. “We both have busy schedules, but we take time for ourselves,” says Alaa.