A Colourful Sudanese-German Wedding in Dubai

One of the things we love most about the UAE is how culturally diverse it is, and today’s wedding is no exception. Captured effortlessly by photographers Coffee Stains, Nesreen and Christopher were married in October 2015 in an intimate ceremony at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. Although the couple actually met in Germany, they decided to get married here in Dubai, as Nesreen grew up here before moving to Germany twelve years ago. Having been together since 2007 after meeting at work, Nesreen says that she found Christopher’s “quiet and introvert ways” extremely interesting, whereas Christopher was intrigued by her “outgoing and extrovert nature”. Nesreen says, “We ended up being the personification of ‘opposites attract’, because we definitely couldn’t be any more different!”

To celebrate Nesreen’s Sudanese heritage, the wedding incorporated many traditions, such as the lighting of incense in small clay holders by family and friends, and both the bride and groom wore traditional Sudanese attire called Toub and Jalbeya. The Sobheya (wedding) ended with a tradition known as ‘jirtik’, where the bride and groom drink milk and whoever spits milk at the other’s face first is supposedly ‘the leader at home’. They couple were also blessed with perfume and incense to prevent the evil eye from befalling them. Finally, the groom sprinkled essence on his bride and the guests as they danced.

Planning the wedding from Germany was challenging for Nesreen, but fortunately she had the support of her sister, and as you can see, everything worked out beautifully on the day itself! We think Nesreen sums it up perfectly when she says, “This wedding for me was about love between two completely different cultures. It was about family and friends. It was about different worlds coming together in the most beautiful, open, relaxed and intimate way. There were no rules to be broken and no guidelines to follow, just an open-hearted gathering of people who share love and respect for each other. I had an amazing team of photographers from India (Coffee Stains) who perfectly captured all of it in the most beautiful way. I feel so blessed for that wonderful day, getting married to my wonderful man.”

How lovely! Read on to find out Coffee Stains’s take on the day, and to see the bright, colourful photographs that they took. We particularly adore the sunflowers and the way that the German language was incorporated into the wedding…Enjoy!

 A Note From The Photographers

Above: The dream team at Coffee Stains

To document a wedding involves trying to capture the essence, the little details that make up the wedding, which are also the elements that speak volumes of the bride and groom as individuals and as a couple.

A Sudanese bride and a German groom automatically translates to colour, fun, joy, sharing and everything else that a wedding should be made up of. Two fun loving cultures, each from different ends of the rainbow, and the rest to make up the hues in between.

The wedding itself was held at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht club; a venue that was a perfect reflection or two cultures mixing with the setting sun as the back drop. When couples put their hearts into a wedding it shows, not just on their faces but in every little aspect of the evening. There were carefully chosen colours, and little sunflower studded goodie bags for the guests. The simple but elegant décor blended into the summer evening. This small and close-knit handpicked gathering that was here to celebrate the couple’s joyous day made for a photographer’s delight. 

The Bride’s Little Pink Book

Venue – Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club / White wedding dress – Vbridal.com / Red wedding dress and accessories – Borrowed from family and friends / Bride’s shoes – DOGO from Amazon / Altar, ceremony seating and lights – Al Quaim Wedding Services / Cake – Love Affair Cakes by Mirela Sundov / Film – Patrick Fronda Films / Flowergirls’ dresses – Mothercare Dubai / Make Up – Gul and Naz Makeover Mansion / Hair – Nicole Stehle from Haar Atelier / Bride’s bouquet – Black Tulip / Photobooth – Smile Corner / Lanterns – IKEA / Flowers and tea light candles – Home Centre / Wedding favours and headbands –  all handmade

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