This Wedding Was Designed to Feel Like a New England Garden Party With an Egyptian Influence

Attorneys Kitty and Hisham, from Massachusetts and Fairfax Station, respectively, met as students at GW law school. Two years behind him in school, Kitty recalls Hisham’s “mysterious upperclassmen” vibes—always the storyteller in any group setting. He says he first noticed the way she makes a room full of people feel like she wants to be friends with everyone in it. Four years after a first date at Emissary in Dupont Circle, Hisham proposed on an after-dinner walk, with friends waiting to meet up for celebratory drinks.

The couple wanted their DC wedding to feel like a colorful New England garden party with an Egyptian twist. Kitty’s favorite parts were the locally grown flowers and wearing her mother’s veil. Hisham’s favorite element was the playlist, which he says he spent hours perfecting with the DJ, excited to introduce the couple’s American friends and family to Arab pop music. But the biggest focus in planning their big day was the menu. Cocktail hour kicked off with signature drinks that could be enjoyed as mocktails or with alcohol, plus an Egyptian-inspired mezze spread and passed saffron-spiced lobster rolls and crab cakes. The family-style dinner featured a fusion of Egyptian and New England dishes, including spiced chicken with toum and rice with toasted vermicelli noodles, and baked cod with maple-roasted carrots. For dessert, the newlyweds served a lemon wedding cake along with a few traditional Egyptian desserts, plus blueberry pie tarts and chocolate chip cookie sandwiches with chocolate ganache filling. 

Following the wedding, the newlyweds honeymooned with a road trip through the Scottish Highlands, and a stop in London. See the photos from their big day below. 

The Details

Amy Moeller

Fashion & Weddings Editor

Amy leads Washingtonian Weddings and writes Style Setters for Washingtonian. Prior to joining Washingtonian in March 2016, she was the editor of Capitol File magazine in DC and before that, editor of What’s Up? Weddings in Annapolis.