7 days to go! Final invitations are being handed over Syed is in contact with his friends from Dubai and they informed us the flight details. Julie is talking back and forth over the phone with her Belgian family and friends! We finished the cake tasting and choose pink/ivory flowers on the wedding cake. Our choice is a mixture of chocolate-vanilla with a swiss cream cheese filling... delicious! ;) Julie confirmed the make-up and hair artist once more & discussed the fine details. She gives Julie all the options and will make sure the traditional veil (dupatta scarf) is add on nicely. What's a Dupatta scarf? A traditional wedding veil like the traditional white one western people wear at their wedding but this one is longer and with more beads and pearls. Beautiful! Opening of our wedding registry for our Honeymoon to Santa Catalina Island, California! You can go to our link or scroll up. https://www.zola.com/registry/syedandjulie Tomorrow Julie&Syed are ready for the manicure and pedicure session at Lavo lounge. (which is a small nail salon around our corner)

Our manicure and pedicure session yesterday was a succes! I choose pink/puple nail color for my toes and nails since the flowers in our morning reception are purple. Syed picked up his tuxedo today at ‘men’s warehouse, New Jersey’. He choose a navy Blue suit with brown italian handmade shoes. We are really lucky with the weather. It seems like we can store those knitted sweaters away! yay! The Sun is shining and there is a nice spring breeze out there ... hopefully the weather stays like this till our wedding day! Julie gave Sushi a bath and is enjoying the weather after work. P.S. someone send us a first gift on the wedding registry! Thank you! (We don’t know who it is since it’s hidden until the big day) Don’t forget to check our wedding registry if you want to surprise us! click above!

Whoaaa check our registry! Thank you soo much everyone for the lovely messages. We appreciate each and everyone of you. We are definitely looking forward to the big day! Syed&Julie picked up the marriage certificate today. We went with this certificate to the mosque, informed the mullah (priest) about the planning and finalized everything. Syed&Julie informed him what time he has to be there at the ‘Nikkah’ event. (11AM) In traditional pakistani weddings the men and women have to initially sit seperate and after the prayers they can mingle. Now since they are soo undestanding of our culture difference they don’t mind women and men to be mixed from the beginning of the ceremony at 11AM. Isn’t that a nice and understanding gesture ? Julie bought linen gift bags, a wooden basket and ‘thank you’cards. Syed’s mom will fill them up with fresh dates, mints and all sort of nuts... a healthy snack :) Julie went to a local clothing store today near our home to buy a pants that matches her outfit for the pre-wedding party tomorrow starting at 7pm. She also got a white traditional Pakistani outfit for her brother ‘Nicolas’ since he asked for one. Julie called with her mom in Belgium to brief about picking up the certificate. Cedric is arriving sunday at EWR airport. Julie and Syed are very excited to host him. Julie’s dad is arriving tomorrow at 12:35pm. Thank YOU ! There is nothing more beautiful than the honest support from friends and family.

The pre-wedding party (also called Walima in Urdu) was organised by Syed’s mom and the litteral translation means ‘feast’. It is celebrated with great zeal and excitement. The pre-wedding has a host of pre-wedding customs and rituals. It is a gatherment of family and friends. Rubina Khala came to help me out with my oufit. It was very colorful , a garland of flowers & made out of special linen and beats... beautiful! She handmade my dress all the way from Pakistan with my measurements she got from Syed’s mom. I can kiss both my hands to have such great support and help during my day. It was an amazing party. We ate a buffet, danced, drank tea and ate desserts. We took a lot of pictures and ate a lot of sweets. In the walima party it is a ritual to handfeed the groom and the bride sweets. Everyone was soo helpful and concerned about Julie. They made sure she looked fabulous!