1.5 years before their wedding, Navin and Faika spoke to me over Skype, all the way from New York city. They were planning their Bangladeshi wedding way ahead of time, and soon, we were hired to photograph their event in 2017. By this time, I have been to Bangladesh a number of times, and it felt like familiar ground once I stepped off the plane in Dhaka once again. For Jamie and Jennifer who were with me, it was their first time traveling there, so the experience was new and exciting. The moment we arrived at our hotel, we were welcomed with a gift from the couple, which included wet wipes, chanachur snacks, medication for tummy aches, mosquito repellant and more! They were so thoughtful and we felt blessed to be part of this wedding.
As part of the usual wedding celebrations in Bangladesh, there are the exchange of gifts. It’s pretty similar to our Muslim weddings here with our ‘hantaran‘ exchange between the families. But one major difference is that we do not have this giant fish which is usually decorated to represent the bride and groom. It was a huge fish, and weighed about 20kg each!
From the fun chip san leong games to the religious akad nikah ceremony, Zaha and Rachel’s fusion wedding was filled with laughter and tears. I love how the bride DIY-ed a tissue paper flower wall for her Chinese tea ceremony, which turned out gorgeous in the photos. The red contrasted so well with the white gown!
A year ago, the Stories team headed to a small village in Kelantan to photograph portraits for the families affected by the devastating 2014 flood. We were just so blessed to be able to meet these families and to replace precious family photos that were lost in the flood. We braved the Hari Raya jam and drove up north, to a place we had never visited before and ate Raya kuih with families who welcomed us with open arms. Have a look at the behind the scenes video that describes more about what took place over the few days we were there. It was a one of a kind experience for all of us. Wishing a great time of family bonding for everyone celebrating Raya!
This couple seems to be complete opposites – he is an extrovert, loves the outdoors, enjoying time with friends, and taking photos. She, on the other hand, prefers to cuddle up at home reading a book or watching light hearted romantic comedies. A bit like a yin and yang, seemingly opposite in some ways, but still sharing and holding the same principal values that are important to them namely family and friends.
The fact that they are opposites is what makes the relationship work. They make sure each other is grounded or at times flying high. They balance each other’s extremes well, be it work, or leisure. Each personality trait complements the other, and it only brings out best of each other.
We love how their personalities really shone through in this wedding, and how relaxed Amir looked as he said his vows (though we’re pretty sure he must have been nervous!). The pantun exchange was a really nice touch, and we love the candid moments caught on video. Watch their highlights here!
The first time they met…
Halina: I did not realise it was a set up till months later, but Amir realised what was happening as our common friend kept nudging him to find out about what he thought of me. We only met up a couple months’ later, at a friend’s birthday event. The next day, he messaged me to ask about my New Year eve’s plans. I was surprised as to how he had my number, only to later realise that our common friend passed him my number without telling/asking me first! He invited me to meet with a group of friends for New Years eve, which i declined. However, at the last minute, i attended it in the end. That started the ball rolling and we had our “First” date on 1 January 2013. And here we are now :) .
Amir – I didn’t know it was a set up either, but got the hint during the course of dinner. I wasn’t really sure at first what I needed to do and since she was travelling for work a lot, it didn’t cross my mind to immediately ask her out. It was at a second meeting that I told her friends I’d be interested to date her. And they helped out during the NYE party at the friends house. It was till a few months later that we decided to seriously date, but we both had some hectic work schedules at the time. Our first movie date was “Oz the Great and Powerful”.
Though we don’t necessarily share a similar taste for music and movies all the time, but we both give each other our space and enjoy it doing things together.
Credits:
Videographers: The Stories Team (Chi Yin, Delvin, Nick)
Dinner Reception: KL Hilton
Wedding Gown: White and Lacy
Evening Gown: Amata Wedding Studio
Make up & hair: Jasmine Yoong
Shoes: Lewre and Nine West
Photographers: Funky Dali
Dinner Entertainment: Mosaic Entertainment
Wedding Planners: Sherly of Tie the Knot
I first met Azran Osman-Rani at an ICF coaching event. He struck me immediately as down to earth, casual, approachable, the kind of person you forget is a CEO within five minutes of talking to him. Months later I had the pleasure of getting to know him better when I invited him to speak at one of the ICF events I organized for International Coaching Week. So when the invitation came to photograph his akad nikah, I felt genuinely privileged. It was not just another wedding. It was a chance to witness something quieter and more personal than the version of Azran most people know.
That quieter side runs through his whole story with Patricia. They found each other on LinkedIn, of all places, through a discussion post about branding and marketing. Their first date was at La Bodega, where they ended up talking about climate change. From there it grew into something built on shared instincts: a love for cities like San Francisco, Sydney and Seoul, and an equal pull toward nature, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Bali. Somewhere in that balance, in a convertible on the Pacific Coast Highway or on a trail in the Himalayas, two people who present very differently to the world found a rhythm that works entirely their own way.
Their akad nikah reflected that same spirit. Held at the home of Azran’s sister Azleen, who poured her own vision into every detail, the setting carried a whimsical mossy green forest theme. Elegant yet informal. Classy yet relaxed. Surrounded only by family and close friends, it felt warm, personal and intimate. Thank you for giving me this privilege of being part of your special day, Azran and Patricia!