Sabrina and Hafeez at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Hafeez and Sabrina's wedding in Tanzania included a 'spicy' haldi ceremony and Indian treats - from the Bollywood dance numbers to the delicious snacks
Our series, ‘Featured Weddings’ brings you wonderful moments from weddings held at the finest venues across different cities. Sabrina, who hails from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, tied the knot with Hafeez who lives in Washington DC. Their fun-filled wedding in Dar es Salaam included games, emotional speeches and lots more across different venues.
Beach party at Mbudya Island
Pristine beaches and pure waters lured the couple and their loved ones to Mbudya Island, which lies north of Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam. The gathering enjoyed the infectious beat of Indo-African music and competed over games such as jenga, volleyball and beer pong. The informal dress code saw lots of beachy, breezy outfits which allowed the young ones to chill out comfortably.
Pithi & Mehndi Ceremony at Golden Tulip Hotel in Dar es Salaam
Older family members and friends blessed and gifted the goodlooking couple at their ‘Pithi’ (‘haldi’) ceremony. Sabrina’s close friends applied mehndi on her hands and feet at the venue which was resplendent with embellished umbrellas, beautiful lighting, a decorated pool and lots of colours. Hafeez had a slightly different ‘haldi’ ceremony where he was slathered in turmeric paste, milk, honey, spicy ketchup, mayonnaise – and even an octopus!
Sangeet at Aga Khan Diamond Jubilee Hall
Sabrina and Hafeez’s sangeet at the Aga Khan Diamond Jubilee Hall forged a new trail as far as hosting an event with a difference was concerned. The aura of Old Delhi environs was recreated and guests tucked into favourite Indian and African street treats. They also had a popcorn stall where guests could take their popcorn and enter the theatre, like in the movies. The theatre was hidden away from the guests till they entered. As guests and relatives settled in, Sabrina and Hafeez made their grand entry on a green‘tuk tuk’ to the beats of the fabulous DJ Riz who flew all the way from Texas for the wedding. Friends and family danced the night away. Sabrina lit up the stage in a gorgeous pink lehenga with gold embroidery and a matching net dupatta, while Hafeez complemented her well in his blue kurta with a pink pocket hanky peeping through.
Wedding Ceremony at Sea Cliff Hotel, Dar es Salaam
Sabrina and Hafeez had a traditional Ismaili wedding ceremony by the beach. The outdoor venue was lush with green, pink and white accents.Sabrina was a picture of elegance in her beautifully embroidered mint green saree with dull golden accents, and looked every inch a blushing bride with a pink rose tucked into her hair behind her ear, while Hafeez looked dapper in a tuxedo. The bridesmaids all wore matching red and pink sarees and carried matching floral bouquets. There was an emotional high at the ceremony when Hafeez’s cousin gave a speech that touch almost everyone present.
Reception at Golden Tulip Hotel in Dar es Salaam
A massive chandelier and a custom-created dance floor were just some of the highlights of the glamorous reception, which was the finale of the three-day wedding. Hafeez took to the stage to profess his love for Sabrina – talk of #RelationshipGoals! The couple’s parents and loved ones made cool entries on songs played by the popular DJ Riz. Needless to say, everyone danced the night away! Sabrina wore a Shayamal & Bhumika ensemble for the reception – the red lehenga and beige blouse with dupatta made her standout like a proud bride, while Hafeez looked immaculate in his sharply-cut dark blue tuxedo.
The music at the reception was a sure hit, and Sabrina adds that DJ Riz Entertainment ensured that the gathering got to their feet to jive! “DJ Riz has an ear for good beats and can sense what a specific crowd needs. He spent hours over the phone trying to understand my vision and needs. He was kind and super easy to work with and tailored the music to create the ambience we wanted, from the beach vibes, to the ‘masti’ at the mehndi and sangeet, romantic numbers at the wedding and dance tracks at the reception.”
Wedding Planning
Organising an Indian wedding in Tanzania was not easy shares Sabrina. “My wedding was incredible because of my service providers such as Hugo Domingo Event Sets & Decor, Lekha Shah, Dj Riz and Stuti and Pratim of The Cheesecake Project who handled all the photo and video requirements. Stuti and Pratim spent every minute of their time in Tanzania capturing all the special moments into their cameras. Stuti really has an eye for rare moments. From my first interaction over email, I knew I wanted them to be a part of this wedding. I was right. She and her team were always there, they probably barely ate or slept for three days, and honestly every picture proves that.”
Sabrina adds, “Tanzania is a low resource country. If you want something in terms of decor you have to create it. Although, we had stunning venues things needed to be boosted up. Locally we are unable to buy pre-made things, therefore everything must be created from scratch.” Sabrina adds that Mario from Hugo Domingo Event Sets and Décor was responsible for a lot of the beautiful settings at her wedding. “Mario is extremely creative and spends a lot of time and energy to give you exactly what you envision. He spent many many days trying to understand our needs and wishes and then ensured I got what I wanted.”
Sabrina looked ravishing at all the events thanks to the make-up skills of Lekha Shah. She shares, “I selected Lekha Shah from The Cut Collective. She made getting married fun… the two-three hours before going to a wedding event, I laughed and engaged in amazing conversations while she made me look phenomenal. I felt like myself in every look – but she amazed me with how good I could look. I recommend her to every bride! She flew in from Mumbai and travelled to Tanzania (with no convincing at all). Whether it is a destination wedding or an Indian one – any bride will be so thankful to have her by their side as far as make-up is concerned.”
Wedding Shopping
Sabrina put together her bridal trousseau from stores in New Delhi, Mumbai and Dubai. Her picks included small-scale designers and boutiques too, and she ordered some custom-made pieces for events such as the sangeet from a New Delhi store which stocks cool pieces. For her mehndi day look, she wore a yellow lehenga which was put together using separate pieces from various outfits purchased in India and Dubai.
“I bought my mint green wedding saree from AZA at my friend Amrita’s bidding – she loved it as soon as we saw it, and convinced me to buy it. She liked the unique color and thought it was perfect for my personality. The detailing of the work, the hand-stitched pearl and thread embroidery was beautiful,” shares Sabrina.
The reception saw Sabrina clad in an ensemble from Shayamal and Bhumika’s Bridal Collection which she spotted online. “It was love at the first internet sighting. I saw it on Pinterest during a search for bridal fashions. After exchanging a few emails with their staff, they sent samples of the material and colors for approval. Then this stunning lehenga arrived 45 days later in their Mumbai showroom. I tried on this gorgeous piece of their finest craftsmanship and it was absolutely perfect. I would recommend every bride to check out their intricate work and their attention to detail.” Sabrina’s jewellery was a combination of items from Pakistan and Mumbai.
The Wedding Makers
Wedding Coordinator: Fasiha Murji, Tanzania
Decorator & Lighting: Hugo Domingo Events Sets & Décor, Tanzania
Make-up & Hair: Lekha Shah from The Cut Collective, Mumbai, India
Music: DJ Riz Entertainment from Texas
Photos & Video: The Cheesecake Project
