Delicious Asian-French fusion cuisine, great wine and lots of laughter was the recipe to an amazing first date that started the whirlwind romance between Aisha and Shalaby. The two met online and had an unforgettable first date "It was a summer night in New York City and it began to pour – like the gentleman he would prove himself to be time and time again, he jogged out in the rain to hail me a cab. Perfect," said Aisha. However, when Shalaby shared on their second date that he was an anxious flyer, Aisha thought it was going to be a short-lived relationship. "Second only to my love of food is my love of travel. So imagine my surprise when, two months later, he presented me with tickets to Toronto, where we stayed at the Four Seasons and he thoroughly wined and dined me. Realizing my love of travel, he had been listening to instructional audio tapes about flying, trying to conquer his hesitations," recalls Aisha. It was this trip to Toronto that started their wine and culinary adventure around the globe that will soon lead them to their greatest destination yet- love and marriage. Check out their super chic engagement session, captured by Jenny DeMarco Photography.
Bride: Aisha Gayle Turner, 33; Managing Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations,
Teach For America – New York
Groom: Shalaby Turner, 33; Senior Financial Consultant
Place of residence: South Orange, New Jersey
Engagement Shoot Location: Austin, Texas
Wedding location: Barton Creek Spa & Resort, Austin, TX
Wedding date: 4/13/13
Engagement Story:
Shalaby set up a romantic Spanish café in our living room, surprised me with a proposal when I walked through the door, and then had a private chef serve some of my favorite foods like pecan-crusted salmon and chocolate hazelnut cake. Naturally, travel and food was the inspiration behind our wedding.
For the Groom: How did you decide that you wanted to propose in such a grand way?
I could think of no more special way to propose than to include Aisha’s favorite elements in the evening: a gourmet meal with her favorite food, wine she loved and the chance to enjoy it all in the beautiful home she created for us. That also meant she could wear her fuzzy socks under the tablecloth — the evening was incredibly intimate and I would do it all over again just to see the look on her face.
What makes your love special?
Shal’s anger is a flame, there quickly and brightly, and then gone. I am the opposite – mine is chilly, pervasive, long- lasting. I’m a neat-freak who feels crushed by clutter of any sort. He’s a messy hoarder. I like to wake up early and attack my ‘to do’ lists. He’s a night owl and I have never, ever to this day, seen him write a ‘to do’ list. But he loves to cook and I love to eat his food. He loves to laugh and the sound of it makes me smile. He teaches me every day about the beauty in forgiveness because he gives it so willingly, so graciously when most of the time I don’t deserve it. When I would take myself and life too seriously, let weekends dissolve into errands, he pulls me back figuratively and literally – relax, he says, life is too short, and he wraps his arms around me. That perfectly structured world I had has been upturned by life and by this man, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Most memorable wedding moment:
The best thing about our wedding day for me was hearing the letter Shal had had written about me to the pastor. His words even brought the string quartet to tears.
Congratulations to newlyweds Aisha and Shalaby! We wish you many more years of wedded bliss! Click HERE to see pics from their big day!
Vendors:
Photography: Jenny DeMarco
Beauty: Make-Up: Gertie Murray of Rae Cosmetics (Austin, TX)
Stylist: The Hair Clinic Salon (Austin, TX)
Curated by our Wedding Features Editor, C.K. Alexander. C.K. is the owner and founder of Love Ink and Brownstone Bridal. Keep up with C.K. on Twitter here: @Love_Ink
