THE FIRST IMPRESSION: During their second date, Shayan Abbasi, a management consultant at Accenture, took Alveena Rashid Bhatti, a fashion marketing and management student at the Art Institute of Seattle, to dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Throughout the meal, all Alveena could think was: “He’d make a great husband.”
WONDERFUL WEEKEND: In a nod to their heritage, the couple created a three-day series of events that honored traditional Pakistani multiday wedding ceremonies. The weekend started with a spirited mehndi ritual and reception at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront, with an intimate wedding ceremony taking place at their family mosque on the second day and a formal wedding reception wrapping up the celebration on the third at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel.
POP ART: The mehndi reception was drenched in pink and orange, designed to play off the duo’s fashion tastes and inspired by the vibrant truck art graffiti that has captured the imagination of popular culture across Pakistan and India. The celebration included dancing competitions, a photo booth, and a bright cart filled with Pakistani sweets and colorful bangles for all the female guests to don as accessories.
DEEP ROOTS: The couple incorporated a one-of-a-kind living bench, which they had originally spotted while on a date at University Village, into their reception. Rented Elegance embellished the bench with pink orchids to create a larger-than-life seat for the groom and bride to sit on as their guests mingled around them.
