An Exclusive Look Inside Content Creator Sara Sabry’s Big Day | Real Weddings: Sara Sabry & Marwan Aboughris
It was an emotional affair for bride, Sara Sabry who held her wedding at the spectacular Dahab Island Palace in Egypt
When Sara Sabry and Marwan Aboughris went on their first date, the Egypt-born content creator admits she didn’t realise it was an actual date. “The story of how Marwan and I met is perhaps the most typical boy-meets-girl at university scenario. We met through a mutual friend at the American University of Cairo in 2016. Both having grown up in Montreal, we instantly clicked. We became good friends over the span of a year which made a huge difference to our relationship. I always say Marwan is my best friend and I feel I owe it all to that period,” the 26-year-old tells Bazaar Bride.
“I was completely oblivious, the first time we went out I didn’t even know we were on a proper date. We had an on-going joke that we would beat each other at ping pong and bowling, so one day we put it to the test. After I beat him (he might recall differently), I suggested we grab a bite and watch a soccer game. Once we sat down, he asked me to play ‘20 questions’ and that’s when I realised, OK wow, this is a date.”
The couple’s relationship blossomed over the next year before they moved back to different cities in Canada and spent three years doing long-distance. “When the pandemic hit, I moved so we could be together.” Sara shares. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Fast forward to 2022, Sara, now an incredibly successful fashion and lifestyle guru, and Marwan, a data science network specialist could not be more in love – a fact immediately recognised by anyone fortunate enough to spend time in the couples’ company.
“We decided to have our katb al-kitāb on the same day of the wedding so that everyone we love could also be there to witness it. I think I cried almost the entire time. On the table sat my father-in-law, my dad, the sheikh, Marwan and I. Halfway through, both our mothers came and stood by our sides. It was extremely emotional. I looked into the crowd and saw my friends crying. The sheikh said some lovely words and used my name in the most beautifully poetic way,” Sara reminisces.
“Once he announced us husband and wife, everyone started hugging and kissing us to congratulate us. I ran into the crowd to hug my grandfather (Actor Abou Zahra) who cried throughout the entire ceremony. We then had the closest thing that I could find to a Libyan zaffa, which was one of the highlights of the day.”
Later that day it was time for the bride to walk down the aisle. Swathed in a stunning champagne-hued, long-sleeve Maram Borhan gown with a lace overlay, Sara walked down the aisle on the arm of her father to a rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major performed by her cousins, globally renowned violinists Amira and Mariam Abouzahra.
“It was everything I hoped for. Even though Marwan likes to deny it, he definitely cried when he saw me walk down the aisle!” Sara smiles.
Celebrating on March 5, 2022 at Dahab Island Palace with their 250 guests that had flown in from all corners of the globe, the newlyweds shared a magical evening of love, laughter and a lot of dancing, officially opening the dancefloor as husband and wife to a cover of Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love by Kina Grannis – the perfect song choice for a couple so deeply devoted to one another.
BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK
DRESS & VEIL: Maram Borhan, Instagram.com/maramborhan
SHOES: Lily’s Bridal Shoes, Instagram.com/lilys.bridal.shoes
WEDDING DAY JEWELLERY: Iram Jewelry, Instagram.com/iramjewelry_
MAKE-UP: Kiki Beautique, Instagram.com/kikibeautique
GROOM’S SUIT: Maison Gamil, Instagram.com/maisongamil
PHOTOGRAPHER: Rafik Fouad, Instagram.com/rafikfouad
VIDEOGRAPHER: Risha Films, Instagram.com/risha.films
EVENT PLANNER: By Aya Fahmi, Instagram.com/byayafahmi
EVENT COORDINATOR: Events Around Egypt, Instagram.com/events.around.egypt
VENUE: Dahab Island Palace, Facebook.com/Dahab-Island-Palace
CATERER: Butlers & Co, Instagram.com/butlersandco
CAKE: The Cake Corner, Instagram.com/thecake.corner
MUSIC: DJ Armen, Instagram.com/djarmenv
LIVE PAINTER: Esraa Obeya, Instagram.com/esraaobeya.art
INVITATIONS: My Arts Diary, Instagram.com/myartsdiary
Photogrpahy: Rafik Fouad courtesy of Sara Sabry.
From the A/W22 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Bride