There are moments in life that drift toward us like soft petals on a quiet breeze. Unhurried, delicate, impossibly beautiful. Moments that make the world pause around us, and whisper…”Oh, my heart was made for this.”
I have known Shaly only for a brief sliver of time, yet it
feels as if our souls met long before our names ever did. Watching my sweet
Shaly manifest and live ‘her’ year…an absolutely fantastic one, Masha
Allah, I might add…has been nothing short of witnessing a tender miracle
unfurl.
Through every shared laugh and spontaneous rendezvous, I
found myself understanding her more deeply, and discovering truths about myself
that I had always known but never dared to say aloud. Our friendship is still
young, still shimmering with unopened doors and unlearned secrets. Perhaps that
is why being invited to stand by her side, through her bridesmaid proposal, her
bridal shower, and eventually her wedding…felt like something beyond honor. It
felt like being entrusted with a chapter of her heart. Even now, a month later,
my chest is still full to the brim.
The Bridesmaid Proposal: A Whisper of “Will You Stand
Beside Me?”
When Shaly asked me to be her bridesmaid, it felt like the
warmest kind of embrace, the kind that wraps around you with a familiarity you
didn’t know you were craving. Her joy, her thoughtfulness, the radiance of her
smile…it pulled forward every memory we’d woven together. Once again, every
laugh, every shared silence, every spontaneous little adventure that stitched
itself into the fabric of our friendship.
When she meticulously planned her bridesmaid proposal, she
wasn’t simply asking us to stand beside her. She was asking us to journey with
her heart. Despite the whirlwind I was living through at the time and the utmost
chaos of a new chapter along with the relentless pace of my days…she still
wanted ‘me’ there. And that… that was deeply endearing. And yes, it was
my very first bridesmaid proposal.
I said yes with every bit of love I carry.
Shaly planned everything with such tenderness, such intention, that I want to show you the thought she poured into it. Take a small peek:
The Bridal Shower: A Soft Celebration of Her Becoming.
Her bridal shower felt like stepping into a cozy seaside cocoon crafted just for her. Gentle, sun-kissed evening glow, with quiet joy. We gathered not just to celebrate her upcoming union, but to honor the woman she has blossomed into: kind, grounded, radiant, and so beautifully, unapologetically herself.
None of this would have come together if not for Shahy & Shaff 💓
She walked in wearing the prettiest flowy white organza abaya, soft as a morning tide and shimmering with a magic that only she could carry. For a moment, time itself held its breath. She looked like a wish someone whispered into the universe… and we know who that is. 100 points to Hammu!…and the universe listened.
Watching her surrounded by people who adore her, people who have witnessed her evolution, her quiet strength, her gentle heart…made something in my chest tighten in the loveliest way. This wasn’t merely a shower; it was a tender tribute to who she is and who she is still becoming.
The Wedding Day: Where Forever Takes Her Hand.
And then came the day.
The day she walked toward the love of her life.
The day she stepped, with grace and certainty, into forever.
Seeing her in her wedding dress felt like witnessing a dream bloom into being. Ethereal and impossibly serene. She glowed with the quiet brilliance of someone who has found a home in another soul.
Overall, the ambience of the wedding felt like stepping into
a dream stitched from light. Beneath the soft fall of drapes, glass birds that
perfectly caught the warm light.. the room glowed with a warmth that felt
almost otherworldly. White blooms surrounded them in quiet abundance, as if the
flowers themselves had gathered to witness this moment.
In the midst of it all, she stood with her red roses. Bright as a promise, while Hammu stayed by her the whole night… with an aching tenderness that made the whole scene feel like a page from a well-loved story. Not to mention, 'family' that cherished them both made it even more perfect. Everything around them seemed to hush every now and then. As though the world had paused to let love take a long, steady breath.
And there we were…
Bridesmaids standing beside her like chapters from the same beloved book. Each one of us dressed in velvety deep cherry shade that glowed warmly against the sea of white blooms around us. Shaly had chosen the main sequin fabric herself, and it showed in the harmony of it all: the sequins catching the light like tiny scattered stars was perfect. I felt incredibly cute.
Together, we looked like a constellation, crafted just for
her. Beautifully woven into the magic of her day. Here are 4 of my favorite shots:
Now, don't be fooled. We weren't as collected as the images would have you believe. In fact, for a group of girls that was brought together to celebrate Shaly & Hammu's love for the first time...we were 'madness' in the absolute best way possible. As a cheer, here are some more memories, I know that I will deeply cherish:
Muk, Cha, Shaff, Shahy and Aileen... you were drop dead gow-jas!
A Short Letter to Shaly: No I Do Not Claim To Know Everything…
My sweet Shaly,
Love with all your heart when the days are warm and bright…
and love even more fiercely when the skies grow heavy.
There will be seasons of golden light, days stitched with
laughter, ease, and the quiet joy of simply existing beside each other. Cherish
them. Dance in them. Let them fill the deepest corners of your memory, because
they will become your compass in moments when the world feels dimmer.
And yes, there will be rainy days, as all great love stories
have. Days that ask for patience, for gentle words, for understanding that
takes a little longer to reach. On those days, let the memory of your sunlit
moments remind you of the ground you stand on.
In those difficult chapters, love deeper. Hold on tighter.
Soften your voice, but strengthen your intention. Because storms pass…and when
they do, love that has been watered with resilience blooms even more
beautifully beneath the returning sun.
Thank you for letting me walk beside you through all these
moments. Thank you for growing, evolving, and still remaining the luminous soul
that you have always been.
Yours truly,
