Also I’d like to extend a special thanks to my friend Steve for loaning me his golf clubs for a special photo below. I need to get those back to you

For the next 72 hours I documented the process through which this chaos was brought together into what I must describe as a fabulous wedding. I’m not just saying that. As crazy as Jumana is, she’s also a last minute genius. We landed in Marsa Alam with her friends and family to a 4 hotel resort complex that still had no clear idea as to what the plan was for the weekend. As you’ll see in the photos below. The first 36 hours was mostly meetings upon meetings upon site checks upon meetings trying to finalize every detail for the parties and activities for the guests. In spite of the seeming absence of a plan Jumana had a clear vision and somehow managed to pull it off. It was an amazing weekend. The guests were all wonderful, friendly, interesting people and I count many of them among my friends today. So many people played a crucial role in bringing this weekend together. Jumana’s mother performed amazing logistical feats organizing the resort management and staff. The management and staff at the Intercontinental hotels at Port Ghalib are perhaps the best mind readers on earth because they somehow managed to navigate Jumana and her mother’s, at times, contradictory instructions. Jumana’s brother Mohamed drove from Cairo to Marsa Alam in what he described as some sort of monster truck to bring in supplies for the wedding. Her friend Mona stayed behind in Cairo to pick up Jumana’s dress from the tailor who was doing some last minute touches and then did Jumana’s makeup for the Bedouin night party. Nermine spent the weekend trying to keep Jumana sane and relaxed. Jumana’s dad was just incredibly hilarious. That was his primary contribution, but it was valuable I assure you.

Now as for my dear friend Ashraf; he is a pillar of patience. He survived the most haphazard elaborate and last minute wedding planning process I have ever witnessed in my career without any sort of breakdown. I’m still impressed. I brought him cigars with me from Cairo which successfully got us both yelled at. I take full responsibility, of course, for corrupting him That said with the help of the occasional whisky he was able to gracefully glide across the chaos while actually attending a surprising number of these meetings himself.

All in all, in spite of the stress and confusion this was honestly one of the most fun wedding weekends I have ever attended and while I was the photographer I felt welcomed as a guest. Congratulations Jumana and Ashraf and best of luck in the years to come.

Oh yes, and here are some of the photographs

You can find the magazine in Costa, Cilantro, Starbucks, etc. or online at http://www.momentsmagazine.net/

Sherifa’s brother officiated the marriage ceremony and Fredrik’s sister put on a skit with caveman outfits! Oh, and one of Fred’s relatives I believe ending things nicely by nearly setting fire to the garden with a hot air balloon contraption he brought. The guests were from literally just about everywhere. Sherifa herself was half Egyptian while Fred was half Swedish and half Venezuelan. Guests came from Australia, the UK, China, the US and elsewhere. It was an exceptionally warm and intimate wedding with a really great crowd of close friend and family who knew how to party.

Thank you Sherifa and Fredrik for having me there and best of luck to you both.

In the case of Asma and Amer the venue was absolutely stunning. The Four Seasons in Alexandria is truly beautiful and the view of the Mediterranean from the room was amazing. Flower Power did a great job with the decoration at the venue. Shady from Mohamed Sagheer did brilliant work with Asma’s makeup as always and Mass Gharios worked his wonders on her hair. It all came together in the wedding you see below. As always please leave a comment. I love hearing your thoughts. Thanks.