Wedding Story of Sharon Samra and Abraham Krikhely

	Bride & Groom - Sharon Samra and Abraham Krikhely Location of the Ceremony - Leonard's of Great Neck Banquet Hall - Leonard's of Great Neck Gown - Marie Shall (Marina) Tuxedo - Sax Fifth Avenue Bride's Makeup and Hairdresser - Avi Wedding Planner - Parents of bride and groom Band - Yohan Honeymoon - Hawaii

The first time Abe and I met was in high school. I was very good friends with his second cousin Jennifer from my high school, and one night a bunch of friends gathered together for dinner. We exchanged formal greetings and that was the extent of it all. I don't remember thinking anything of him after that. He told me a few years later that he thought I looked like a snob.

Our next encounter was in college. We met at the kosher cafeteria at NYU. I remember noticing him because he was the only one there eating a hearty, five-course meal. I was thoroughly impressed by his appetite. I did not recognize him at first, but then my friend Jennifer introduced us for the second time. He told me that he recognized my eyes as soon as I glanced at him. I believe it was then that I fell in love with Abe. He was gorgeous, and the boy knew how to eat. What else could a girl want? Well, I'm sure I could think of a few other things, but anyways, I've always had a thing for a man with an appetite for life.

We began dating after meeting up again at a few NYU parties thrown by a school organization we were both members of. Our first date foreshadowed the years to come. He took me to a movie called “The Wedding Planner” (which was pretty gutsy for a first date) and then we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. As soon as we settled down at our table, my sister along with my parents walked through the door. I was very embarrassed, but I also thought it to be a very funny coincidence.

We dated for three magical years before he popped the question. We had met after work in Manhattan, and he offered to drive me to Long Island to see my parents who had just gotten home from a trip abroad. When we walked into my home my father was sitting in the kitchen and my mother was upstairs in the bedroom. I went upstairs to my mom and Abe approached my father. When I came back downstairs, my father said he was tired and went up to bed and Abe said that he was going to go home as well. Before he left, he gave me a big bear hug and slipped a box into the back inside portion of my waistband. I did not have to open the box to know what was inside. I screeched in joy, and then told my parents the news.

Then it came time to tell Abe's parents. Apparently Abe did not mention the engagement plans to his parents, and what was a big surprise to me was an even bigger surprise for his mother. As I stood in their apartment holding my jacket in my arms, Abe took my hand and showed the ring to his mother. Wiping her eyes in confusion, Mzia, Abe's mom, was shocked to say the least. It was a very emotional moment for us all, but after the initial shock settled in the wedding planning began.

The wedding was to take place at Leonard's of Great Neck, NY on June 17, 2004. After all of that was settled, I began to look for a wedding dress. I had no particular design or style in mind, which made the process even more difficult. I spent months going from boutique to boutique but found nothing to my liking. I was then informed of a Russian Bridal Expo that would have everything needed displayed, including wedding dresses. It was there that I discovered the designer of my dress, Marie Shall. Her display was magnificent and after the show my future in-laws got her contact information. Marie Shall made the perfect wedding gown. It was more than anything I could have dreamt of for myself. I felt beautiful and majestic both inside and out on my wedding day.

When the wedding day finally arrived, everything seemed very surreal. It all started out very slow and very wrong. For starters, my mother and I were late for our hair appointment and the hairstylist refused to work on my mother at first. After minutes of begging and crying, he finally agreed to do her hair but only after his next appointment. My mother got to the reception two hours late, and I only have a few professional pictures with her and none of my family as a whole. On the other side of the family, the heavy rain and strong winds “restyled” my mother’s and sister-in-laws' hair on the way to the wedding hall. A little bit later it was discovered that the
wedding bands my mother-in-law kept in her handbag were missing. Apparently, her husband got something from her purse and flung the rings across the room without noticing. Luckily the rings were found shortly after. The heavy rains also caused the violinists and other people in the band to get into a car accident, and they never made it to the wedding. What started out as a disaster ended up being the most joyous day of my life.

My wedding itself was a dream come true. I felt as though I was living in a beautiful fairytale all night long. Abe and I were dancing till the break of dawn and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time as well.

My advice for brides-to-be is that although it may seem futile and burdensome to spend so much time and energy on your wedding, it is more than worth it to plan it with care and effort. It will be a memory of a day in your lives that you will never, ever forget. As for the months that come after the wedding, they are definitely an adjustment, but just remember that with patience, love, and a lot of communication you can make every day of your marriage as happy as you both will be on your wedding day.