Inside The Wedding Of Nancy Ghmeid And Toni Nehme – On The Day Of The Tragic Port Of Beirut Blast
Love filled the air as this happy couple wed on a date they will never forget
“What I thought would be the happiest day of my life unexpectedly ended up being both happy and sad at the same time,” 27 year old Lebanese-Brazilian, Nancy Ghmeid shares with Bazaar Bride as she walks us through her August 4, 2020 wedding day. Having downsized the guest list due to Lebanon’s COVID-19 restrictions and then being forced to move the date due to further limitations, to say the day didn’t go according to plan would be an understatement.
“Just after 6pm as I was walking down the aisle to meet my husband-to-be, a huge blast blew open the windows of the church,” Nancy is, of course, referring to the devastating Port of Beirut explosion. “As we were quite a distance from the port, we didn’t experience anything other than the shock and fear from the blast. The pastor asked our guests to remain calm and we then continued with the ceremony. To be honest, I didn’t know about the severity of the explosion until the very end of the evening because my friend took my phone away from me to keep the news under wraps so that my husband and I could enjoy our wedding.”
The bride’s veil featured an intricate beaded design
Despite the unfathomable events of the day, Nancy and husband, Toni Nehme, 35, tied the knot at Saint Saviour Church in front of 75 of their closest family and friends. “We didn’t write our vows, they came spontaneously from the heart.”
Nancy’s mother, professional make-up artist Takla Rouphael created a stunning bridal beauty look
With expert help from wedding planner, Yara Estephan, the loved-up couple who met in Dubai four years prior to saying ‘I do’ wanted the theme of their wedding to be based around love and romance, settling on the magnificent waterfront restaurant, La Crêperie to host their reception. “We selected warm colours and hundreds of fairy lights to create a magical atmosphere. I wanted lots of orange and peach and we used these colours as part of our table décor and place settings,” Nancy explains.
Nancy and Toni dined beneath the stars with their closest friends and family
Guests dined on a locally inspired menu that included hummus with cherries, manti bel laban, fatayer and grilled meat kebabs, while dessert was Lebanese favourite, maamoul mad bil ash-ta. The beautiful wedding cake – six alternate tiers of vanilla and chocolate chip – was adorned with fresh flowers to match the exquisite blooms that enveloped the enchanting venue.
Nancy and Toni, beaming with joy in a memorable moment as they cut their wedding cake
Sharing their first dance to You Are The Reason by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis, Toni in his dapper Hugo Boss suit and Nancy in Georges Hobeika Couture, the bride and groom twirled around the dancefloor for the first time as husband and wife.
“I tried on more than 30 dresses. I wanted a gown that would stand the test of time – something I wouldn’t regret in the future. I tried many different silhouettes and went to boutiques alone so that I wouldn’t get confused by other people’s opinions. I settled on an off-shoulder, V-neckline with an open back. And then Georges Hobeika created it for me. Although my gown was couture, it was really lightweight and beautiful to wear all day. This was really important to me.”
The bride wore Jimmy Choo shoes
Just three months on, the newlyweds are looking forward to their future together. “I do feel guilty that one of the happiest days of my life coincided with such a tragedy, but a lot of our guests have said that we actually saved their lives. Sadly the homes of many of our wedding guests were completely destroyed. If it wasn’t for my wedding date having to move to August 4, those loved ones would have been at home in their living rooms – and for that, I am eternally grateful.”
BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK
DRESS: Georges Hobeika, Georgeshobeika.com
SHOES: Jimmy Choo, Jimmychoo.com
ENGAGEMENT RING & JEWELLERY: Zoughaib and Co, Zoughaibandco.com
WEDDING RINGS: Hanna Jewelry, Hannajewelry.com
MAKE-UP: Takla Rouphael Beauty Care, Instagram.com/taklarouphaelbeautycare
HAIR: Joseph Saad, Instagram.com/josephsaadofficial
GROOM’S SUIT & SHOES: Hugo Boss, Hugoboss.com
BRIDESMAID DRESS: Georges Hobeika, Georgeshobeika.com
WEDDING PLANNER: Yara Estephan, Yaraestephan.com
PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER: Pulse Production, Pulse-prod.com
RECEPTION & CATERER: La Crêperie, Lebanon, Lacreperie.restaurant
FLORIST: Casa Del Flora, Casadelflora.info
MUSIC: Sky Light, Skylightlebanon.com
INVITATIONS: Polygon Wedding Furniture, Instagram.com/polygonweddingfurniture
From the autumn/winter 2020 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Bride
All images: Pulse Production