Elena + Sam's Al Qasr Wedding in Dubai

Last week I posted a selection of images from Elena + Sam’s Dubai wedding. I started getting together the feature and found myself looking at 100s of images of Elena’s smiling.. so I blogged about it. If you missed it, you can read about it here.
Sam and Elena got married on the 4th December at Al Qasr in Dubai last year. I was lucky enough to help Elena style her wedding, and throughout the process my fondness grew for this gorgeous girl. She’s now expecting a little human, and I’m excited to meet with her soon. Hope you enjoy reading her love story.

Sam +Elena’s story…
When did you realise you’d fallen in love?
Sam: Elena and I were friends for a long time and my love for her grew through that friendship and has continued to grow stronger now that we’re a couple. I still pinch myself sometimes when I think about it!
Elena: I don’t think I can pinpoint an exact moment in time to be honest. Our relationship was “slow-cooked” so to speak. It started with being colleagues, which relation then grew into a warm friendship which then gradually blossomed into love. It all happened gradually and therefore each new phase and chapter seemed to come so naturally. I for sure am glad we actually progressed to the love stage! As wonderful as Sam was as a friend, he is so much better as a lover and definitely as a husband heheh:)

What’s your favourite memory from your special day?
Sam: I remember our first dance as a couple, to our favourite  song; All of Me by John Legend. That was very special. The whole day was magical though and couldn’t have gone any better.
Elena: Again here it is very hard to chose just one moment! I know probably every bride says the same thing about her wedding day, but I really do think ours was just so beautiful. It was serene and calm, filled with love -and laughter, and so much joy shared with our families and friends. If i do have to chose a moment though it will be Sam and I and all our guests from all colours and countries singing Amazing Grace, united in love and humbly offering gratitude for our good fortunes on such a wonderful day.

If you could offer any advice to someone planning their wedding what would it be?
Sam: Make sure you have people you trust and have confidence in to work with you on the big day. You only get one chance at it and you won’t have time to he co ordinating anything yourself on the day.
Elena: As cliche as it sounds – relax, chill and enjoy every moment of it. Things may and most probably will not go according to your exact plan but no one will care or know! And get a good photographer – the pictures are the only thing that will actually last and remind you of the details of this day. Get the photographer to take as many spontaneous shots as possible as those really  capture all the emotions that everyone experiences: from Sam’s look when he sees me in the wedding dress, Mum’s tears whilst helping me to get dressed to my own raw emotions when my Dad and my brother take me down the aisle. We had the wonderful Abbi Kemp and I cannot recommend her high enough if that is the kind of  photography you are after.

Where did you get engaged?
Sam: We were having dinner at home when I proposed. She had no idea. I had been planning it for a while but was waiting for the best moment to do it.
Elena: We got engaged exactly a year before the wedding. Sam and I have this wonderful tradition of celebrating our version of Christmas (called ESmas) on the first Friday of December. This is the day when we put up our Christmas tree, have a proper Christmas dinner with tons of mulled wine and exchange our presents – we just feel this is our own intimate celebration which you do not get on the actual Christmas when it is all about sharing the holiday joy with friends and family. Sam proposed over ESmas dinner in 2014 – just the two of us in our beautiful home with candles, Christmas lights twinkling and warm mulled wine – the following year on ESmas we got married!

Use 3 words to describe your wedding?
Sam: It was a day “Full of love”
Elena: Whimsical, joyful and colorful.
Oh I have a lovely wedding for you today. Elena and Sam got married last December and I was lucky enough to help style her big day. Abbi Kemp was there to photograph the day, and together with some talented vendors we created a beautiful set up. Elena was an absolute darling to work with. I adore her. Right now she’s pregnant and expecting a little human early next year. There is something extra lovely about seeing one of your brides get married, and follow with a baby bump. I don’t know way but it makes me feel all fuzzy.

Lovely Vendors 
Photography: Visuals by Abbi.
Venue: Magnolia, Al Qasr Dubai
Styling + Decor: Joelle at My Lovely Wedding
Hair + Makeup: Monica at MHG Beauty 
Chair Rentals: Mint Events
String Lights: Teddy ay Fushia Events