Bull Run Golf Club | IHG Wharf

Maya & Rami

PHOTOGRAPHY & FLATLAY DESIGN — Anna Schmidt Photography
PLANNING & EVENT DESIGN — Christine Godsey (CG&Co Events)
VENUE FOR HALDI, MEHNDI, & SHAHRA — Bull Run Golf Club
VENUE FOR SHAADI, COCKTAIL HOUR, & RECEPTION — IHG Wharf
CATERING — Moghul Catering
FLORALS — Sophie Felts Floral Design
HAIR & MAKEUP — Makeup by Ana B
CINEMATOGRAPHY — Love in Color (Julian Spessard)
DABKE DANCERS — Faris El-Layl Dabke
PUNJAB DANCERS — Mehfil Mitraan Di (MMD) Bhangra Dancers

This Wedding at The Wharf Fused Indian and Palestinian Traditions Through a Kaleidoscope of Colors

Maya and Rami's relationship strengthened through three years of law school and a global pandemic. After crossing the stage and graduating together from law school in Virginia, Rami surprised Maya with a trip to San Francisco where he proposed at the awe-inspiring Palace of Fine Arts amongst its picturesque lagoon and stunning Greco-Roman rotunda while a string duo played "Can't Help Falling In Love" in the background. How romantic!

The cosmopolitan couple wanted their energetic fusion celebration to seamlessly blend their families' two distinct cultures, customs, and traditions into a thoughtful and heartfelt weekend experience their guests would never forget. Originally hailing from California and Texas, the Rami and Maya also saw their wedding celebration as an opportunity to bring their friends and family from across the US and around the globe to a place that shared special meaning for them, uniting their guests in the cultural melting pot of the DMV area they’ve called home since meeting and falling in love at law school just years prior.

Situated in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Bull Run Golf Club provided the perfect indoor-outdoor setting for their first day of events. The outdoor Haldi pre-wedding ritual with turmeric honored Maya's Indian heritage, and afterwards the celebration segued to the tented Mehndi henna party and indoor Palestinian basket dance and Shahra to honor Rami's culture. 

When it came to their shaadi ceremony, cocktail hour, and spectacular multi-cultural reception, the couple selected expert South Asian wedding planner Christine Godsey (CG&Co Events) to immaculately design and coordinate their celebration at the IHG Wharf in Washington, DC. overlooking the Potomac. Maya and Rami hired the talented Sophie Felts Floral Design team to create an incredible extravagant floral mandap and lush arrangements that leaned heavily on bold summer colors with a sophisticated and whimsical organic design. Their elaborate celebration also featured Palestinian Dabke and Punjab Bhangra dancers, stunning custom henna designs, international cuisine, four distinct bridal fashions, and a grand sabre cake cutting finale.

Scroll to see the images from this extraordinary wedding weekend.

Creative Team: 

DJ — DJ Shilpa
CAKE — Classic Bakery
RENTALS — Something Vintage
OFFICIANT — Ranjan Ravaliya
HENNA — Bhavna's Henna (Bhavna Naik)
SARI DRAPING/PINNING — Khadija Chaudhry
LIGHTING  — Dan Goldman Events
DRAPES — Fabrication Events
PHOTO TEAM — Oscar Navarre, Danielle Lawrance

PHOTOGRAPHY & FLATLAY DESIGN — Anna Schmidt Photography
PLANNING & EVENT DESIGN — Christine Godsey (CG&Co Events)
VENUE FOR HALDI, MEHNDI, & SHAHRA — Bull Run Golf Club
VENUE FOR SHAADI, COCKTAIL HOUR, & RECEPTION — IHG Wharf
CATERING — Moghul Catering
FLORALS — Sophie Felts Floral Design
HAIR & MAKEUP — Makeup by Ana B
CINEMATOGRAPHY — Love in Color (Julian Spessard)
DABKE DANCERS — Faris El-Layl Dabke
PUNJAB DANCERS — Mehfil Mitraan Di (MMD) Bhangra Dancers

DJ — DJ Shilpa
CAKE — Classic Bakery
RENTALS — Something Vintage
OFFICIANT — Ranjan Ravaliya
HENNA — Bhavna's Henna (Bhavna Naik)
SARI DRAPING/PINNING — Khadija Chaudhry
LIGHTING  — Dan Goldman Events
DRAPES — Fabrication Events
PHOTO TEAM — Oscar Navarre, Danielle Lawrance