We’ve heard of many weddings forced to pivot or postpone due to Covid-19. But we don’t always think of the other pre-wedding celebrations that have been sacrificed or majorly adjusted as well. Originally, Zahra + Ali were slated to have a modern soirée downtown Milwaukee, but made a big switch to an engagement party at home.
Words like ‘pivot’ and ‘switch’ might imply that Zahra + Ali settled with an at-home engagement party, but quite the contrary! A grand arch made up of 80+ bundles of sprayed baby’s breath and a cinnamon-sweet churro wall is just the beginning of this at-home magic.
The bride-to-be shares her inspiration for the day: Much of the inspiration for the engagement party comes from my Kashmiri-American identity. Like my identity, I knew I wanted the design concepts to be multifaceted and unique. In Srinagar, Kashmir, our ‘pink drink’ exists in the form of nuun chai, a salty pink tea that is rich in flavor. Knowing we would serve it to guests as tradition, I opted to maintain a coordinating soft-pink palette, accompanied by a whimsical fusion of textures. Finally, I have always loved the cloud-like appearance of hand-dyed baby’s breath, and thought that it would provide a fitting landscape for the occasion.
The collaboration of culture, color and churros make this pivoted celebration a win-win-win! Bonphotage snapped all the charming moments from this engagement; with Rosewood Weddings at the planning + design helm.
Pink wedding flowers and the delicate integration of sprayed baby’s breath is introduced here with this wedding invitation suite by Emily Rose Ink. From the envelope liner to the wax seal stamps, every detail is sweet + stylish. We particularly love the whimsical addition of Z + A in pop art form!
She’s a beaming bride-to-be, and her sparkly, pink energy is contagious! Additional beauty glow from Arch Apothecary Milwaukee.
South Asian wedding culture emphasizes that engagements and weddings unify not only two individuals, but rather, two families. Receiving a family heirloom from Ali’s mother during our engagement ceremony showcased this best. Before his maternal grandmother’s passing in November 2018, Ali’s naani left a gold bracelet with his mom, with the intention to gift it to Ali’s future wife on his mangni (engagement). During an emotional moment for both of our families — one I’ll cherish forever — Ali’s mom fastened her late mother’s bracelet onto my wrist.
Sweet Engagement Party At Home
‘Make it work’ might be the theme of your engagement party at home. And did this team make it work with a feminine and modern tablescape for the luncheon!
Pink baby’s breath beautifully compliments the velvet napkins and acrylic schedule of events. What an elegant setting for a micro celebration! The acrylic signage is also from Emily Rose Ink, and the napkins are Nüage Designs.
With Zahra’s vision of modern pink elegance in mind, this ceremony ‘altar’ was grand in nature. The arch is made up of 80+ bundles of sprayed baby’s breath. Erika from Flowers For Dreams hand-sprayed each bundle with different shades of pink. The elegant seating is rented from Chance Productions.
Pink Baby’s Breath Everywhere!
Even though this dessert display is at home, it feels anything but average!
A pink baby’s breath-adorned staircase defiantly makes for a grand entrance! The bride-to-be processed down these steps to kick off the engagement party at home.
If only these photos were scratch ‘n sniff! Individually cupped churros from Movida steal all the attention – especially while resting on this custom pink wall from Cedar & Spice. Too sweet (literally and figuratively)!
Our parents said yes! Martha’s Pakistani FavorsLoving the whimsical pop art from.
If every engagement party at home had a cake like this, perhaps they’d happen more often! It’s a stunning, hand-piped pink design from Bon Vivant Cakes. If it’s between this or the churros, how do you choose?!
For those planning an engagement or wedding right now, my main piece of advice would be to be patient with yourself and know that adapting your event does not mean sacrificing details. Initially this was difficult advice for me to accept, because hosting my event at home was not something I ever envisioned myself doing. In fact, in years past, I always said I would never host an engagement at my house because of how unmanageable it can become. Though initially disappointed by the change of plans, a smaller event at home gave me an opportunity to indulge in the fine details. In scale, my engagement was ‘micro’, but the overwhelming joy I felt this day was anything but micro, which is what I choose — and what I’d advise others — to focus on.
To illustrate her multifaceted identify, Zahra has Kashmiri chai out for guests to sip on. Sweet, salty and, of course, pink!
Cheers Z + A! We’re toasting churros in honor of this pink celebration, and wishing you all the best in wedding planning!
Peek at this funky pastels and painted palms wedding. Besides, your churro craving rages on!
photography: Bonphotage // venue name: Private Residence, Racine, Wisconsin, USA // event design: Rosewood Weddings // planning: Rosewood Weddings // florals: Flowers for Dreams // bride’s shoes: Jimmy Choo // hair stylist: Arch Apothecary Milwaukee // makeup artist: Arch Apothecary Milwaukee // paper goods: Emily Rose Ink // catering: Saz’s Catering // cake: Bon Vivant Cakes // tabletop rentals: Tablescapes // furniture rentals: Chance Productions // linen rentals: Nüage Designs // specialty rentals: A La Crate // churro wall: Cedar & Spice // chocolate bars: Martha’s Pakistani Favors