This Opulent Dubai Wedding Followed A Nature-Inspired Theme | Real Weddings: Lana & Khaled
For these two podcasters, their wedding is just part of a lifelong conversation
Whether it’s cupid, fate, kismet or just plain meant-to-be, the greatest love stories always seem to contain an element of the mysterious; the feeling that an invisible force is pulling the strings to bring two people together. Such was the case for the American-Lebanese podcaster Lana and her nowhusband, the Palestinian-Kuwaiti podcaster, Khaled.
In March 2020, Lana had grand plans to move from Dubai to London for work. Instead, the pandemic hit, and she stayed where she was, working remotely. A few months later, she went to a birthday party, where she met Khaled. “My good friend had told me about this guy and how, as two podcasters, we would really hit it off,” Lana says. “I didn’t think much of it. Then, at this party, my friend brought us together and said, ‘Podcaster, podcaster: speak!’ We spoke for about 30 minutes before I had to leave.”
Desperate (but perhaps trying to seem not to be) to continue the conversation, Khaled invited Lana onto his podcast to talk about the dating scene in Dubai. “After the episode, I realised, ‘Oh no, maybe he thinks I wouldn’t want him to as me out’ so I asked him out,” says Lana. It’s not a spoiler to reveal Khaled immediately said yes, and 18 months later, they were engaged. “My favourite place in the world is Mykonos, my parents have a house there, it’s my sanctuary, I’ve been going there for 10 years,” Lana says.
“Khaled knew that proposing to me in Mykonos would be a dream come true,” continues Lana and in July 2022, (almost two years to the day since their first conversation), Khaled lured Lana out to the terrace to take photos at sunset. “I love me some good photos! We started to take photographs, wind in my hair, picture-perfect sunset, and then he got down on one knee and popped the question,” Lana says. “It was magical.”
The couple continued to weave sentimentality throughout their wedding plans, holding the ceremony at The Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, formally, the Jumeirah Beach Club. “Before we knew each other, we both grew up going there with our families every weekend, and those childhood memories are embedded in us and shaped us into the people we are today,” Lana explains.
The wedding was on the bigger side with 520 people (13 of them bridesmaids) attending the nature-inspired event. With lush greenery and other natural elements sprinkled as the backdrop, digital screens provided an immersive experience during the reception. An equal amount of thought went into the afterparty.
From 11pm to 3am, the couple and their guests raved in memento sunglasses and devoured a surprise midnight snack of sliders and fries. By then, Lana had removed the overskirt from her two-piece Zuhair Murad wedding outfit, swapped her Miu Miu crystal-adorned platforms for a pair of Nike Air Force 1s, and donned a bridal cowgirl hat. “Seeing all of our friends there together, giving so much love and happiness and energy, is a forever key moment in life,” Lana says.
Bride’s Black Book
Dress: Zuhair Murad, Zuhairmurad.com
Shoes: Miu Miu, Miumiu.com
Groom’s Suit: Tom Ford, Tomford.com
Groom’s Shoes: Gucci, Gucci.com
Event Planner: Carousel Events, Carousel.ae
Photographer: Pulse Production, Pulse-prod.com
Venue, Cake & Catering: Four Seasons Resort Dubai At Jumeirah Beach, Fourseasons.com/dubaijb
Music: Dj Chabz, Djchabz.com
Invitations: Ananya Cards, Ananyacards.com
Photography By Pulse Production