sam & sanjana I
January 4, 2010 | Filed Under wedding posts
i’ve been blessed with the opportunity to share two of samjana’s… i mean… sam and sanjana’s important wedding occasions with them, over the past two weeks, and i can’t say enough how thankful i am to both their families and friends for welcoming me so warmly, taking care of me, trusting me and being patient with me. sam and sanjana are one of those couples with a truly meant-to-be story, from the fact that sanjana’s family were present at his shahada (conversion to islam) six years ago with no idea he would one day join their family, to the way each one’s abiding faith and devotion to God draws them toward the same goals. i felt almost wistful watching them proclaim their union (their actual vows were exchanged back in august) and take this first step of their lives together, because their journey ahead – working and studying abroad, coming back home for graduate study – is SO the young american muslim dream, and i’m, like, past that stage now 
and so, i can’t help but feel tremendous excitement for them!
the following images are from the first of the two wedding events, on dec. 26, 2009 at the knoxville convention center, given by the bride’s side of the family, who are from bangladesh. one note: if anyone’s confused by the one particularly blurry picture, with what appears to be (and actually is) the groom upside down in the air in the process of being bodyslammed to the ground, let me just clarify that while this is NOT a traditional or recommended method of regaining one’s shoes after the shoe-stealing ritual, it WAS possibly the most exciting moment of the wedding and i had JUST inserted a brand new card into my camera and just barely managed to get this shot – so even though it’s not top-notch, i had to include it!
sam and sanjana, thank you again – jazakumullahu khairan – for letting me be a part of your celebrations! i hope you enjoy these images… there’s plenty more… and inshallah i truly hope we get a chance to meet up again soon, either abroad (one can always dream…) or when you guys get back!
Comments
15 Responses to “sam & sanjana I”
Leave a Reply
Ayeha beautiful captures of the Samjana union (I love that
The colors are excellent and I really love the shot of her shoe being put on with the woman laughing immersed in the bokeh. Great job.
What gorgeous smiles and the colours are divine!
Amazing pictures Ayesha! Sanjana looked so beautiful, mA!
oh my god! such great pics of sam and sanjana!!!! sanju, you look BEAUTIFUL! im so sad i couldn’t make it but at least these pics capture all the precious moments and i feel im apart of it!!
Wonderful captures and love the smiles. I really like all the detail shots you captured – especially the shoes. I’m a guy, but I love shoes (for men and women).
Beautiful work, Ayesha! I love seeing the rich colours and traditions of non-western weddings. And I lurve her shoes!
You do a great job at capturing the entire day and presenting it in complete. Great post!
I love these weddings. They’re always so colorful and beautiful. You did a fantastic job capturing all the beauty. Nice work!
What wonderful memories, al-hamdu lillah. You guys look radiant, as you should, ma sha`Allah.
Ayesha, I am officially your biggest fan
You totally captured the moment, ma’shaAllah!!
Just an awesome job all around Ayesha. You did a great time processing all those colours and they look so happy !
Ayesha – this is my first time seeing your work and it is truly beautiful! I’m definitely adding your feed to my blog reader….LOVE THEM! Just beautiful.
OK, This is just fantastic! Hard t pick a favorite, from the dancing flip and the amazing imagery. You did a beautiful job with this wedding Ayesha!
[...] gorgeous westfields marriott in chantilly, virginia at the start of the new year, a week after the rukhsathi, or bride’s-side reception, held in sanjana’s hometown of knoxville, tennessee. [...]
Great colours. Very well captured