Houda & Nader I A Le Jardin Wedding Dinner
[intro]Houda and Nader are some of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. I loved every minute I got to spend with them and their loving family & friends. I asked them to share with you their love story, and here’s what they had to say:[/intro]
How did you meet?
We were initially put in touch by our families, since they’re distant relatives from the same part of Syria. Houda kindly shared her phone number, and we actually talked over the phone several times before we met in person, because at the time Nader was in Kansas and Houda was in Utah. After a few weeks, we were able to meet in Chicago, and the first time we saw each other was in the downtown Sheraton with our parents present, and our official first date was at a romantic local coffee shop: Dunkin Donuts.
First thoughts about one another after you met?
Nader: I thought Houda was very composed and straightforward. She sat across from me and talked in a very easy manner, and I could tell she had a lot to share and that we would benefit from some time getting to know each other.
Houda: I was surprised by how direct and honest Nader was from our first conversation. It felt good finally talking in person, but also a little more difficult since I now had to pay attention to many other cues besides his voice. The trip was short and I absolutely wanted to spend more time with him and get to him better and experience things that did not only involve talking about serious issues. I also thought “he is super tall !”
Who said “I love you” first?
Houda said I love you first at the airport. We had just spent a long weekend together after a long period (about 4 and a half months while Houda was in Germany) not seeing each other. We had been keeping in touch of course but we needed that weekend together to make that leap.
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Tell us about your first date:
Since Chicago when we first met was pretty arranged, we would consider our first real chance to spend time alone to be when Nader visited Houda in UT a month and a half later. We spent a nice day together doing some form of Qi Gong called Falun Dafa, which is a mix of meditation and yoga-type movements.
Tell us about your first kiss:
It was a perfect day in UT, and we went to This is the Place Park after having breakfast at Ruth’s diner. It was a Sunday, we went to walk through the park, we took a seat under a tree to face the mountains. We layed down on the grass, got a little closer, then a little closer, then…mwah.
How did you know he/she was the one?
Houda: As we met in a traditional way, it was easier to evaluate Nader as a person before developing strong feelings. I felt incredibly at peace the first time I saw his picture and the first time I heard his voice. Later on we talked about a lot of important issues, and it was obvious that Nader and I have very similar values and imagine a similar lifestyle. At the same time it was important for me to both “like” him and “love” him before we took a serious step forward….both of which were very easy to do.
Nader: For me it was a slow, deliberate process of knowing I wanted to be with Houda for the rest of my life. I’d been thinking about marriage for quite some time, and I wasn’t anticipating meeting someone the way I met Houda. So I was stiff at first, keeping it very formal, a little too serious. A lot of this was to defend myself from exposing some of my insecurities. Over time, and especially that weekend in Utah, it hit me how Houda was the person that I could let go of that stuff, all of these things that I’d been scared to be or show of myself were embraced by Houda.
How did he propose?
Once we felt comfortable with each other and confident moving forward, we talked about our feelings and what we wanted and then we talked to our parents 🙂
What are the top 5 things you love about each other?
Houda:
- I love Nader’s kindness. His eyes are kind, and his voice is kind, and everything he says or does is filled with this kindness. And most importantly, Nader has the kindest heart.
- I love the way he looks at me when he’s smiling or laughing about something I said. He has the most beautiful smile, and the most beautiful smiling eyes (okay I know it’s cheesy, but it’s true).
- I love that Nader is such a romantic. He sends me a letter every week and it’s so exciting to see his handwriting at the back of an envelope when I open the mailbox.
- I love every single way that Nader shows me love. Through listening, planning our time together, remembering important dates, sending me thoughtful gifts, and giving me affection…
- I love how accepting and forgiving Nader is. He has a big heart and doesn’t hold on to every mistake I’ve made.
Nader:
- I love how family-oriented Houda is. She has strong relationships with her aunts and uncles and especially her cousins. In general Houda gets along with everyone, and it’s not just neutral, everyone likes Houda and it’s exciting marrying someone who’s so well-connected because I’m sure she’ll help me stay connected with family as we grow older.
- I love Houda’s warmth. No one can resist Houda’s affection, she will melt the most stoic person into pieces with her hugs and kisses. It’s a blessing being with someone who really makes you feel loved.
- I love the depth of Houda’s mind. She’s a philosopher at heart, and all of her thinking and intelligence makes her the most open-minded person I know.
- I love how classy Houda is. She dresses and acts in a very mature and elegant manner, And this applies to how thoughtful she is of the common courtesies like calling relatives and always, always minding her please’s and thank you’s.
- I love how accepting Houda is. She accepts so many worries and weaknesses of mine and assures me of her love and commitment. I know people say you’re supposed to “love yourself” first but I actually do feel like a stronger person because of Houda and I wouldn’t be as joyful as I am without her.
Wedding Details:
Venue: Le Jardin, Sandy Utah
Cater: Culinary Crafts, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photography: Moxie Photography Provo, Utah
