SARA + FADI

The beauty of the unforeseen

On February 6, 2013, Sara boarded a plane from Penn State University Park Airport to Boston for a weekend visit with her childhood friend. She had no idea that her flight would be the last to land at Boston's Logan National Terminal, due to mega snowstorm "Nemo." A state of emergency was declared and people were asked to stay home for safety reasons. Ironically, that "lock-down" weekend was when Sara and Fadi met. They clicked immediately, and their connection grew stronger as they learned about their common origins and passions.

Even though Fadi moved to Guatemala and Sara moved to Panama after finishing her studies, love prevailed over distance and borders. Five years later, Fadi proposed to her at the American Trade Hotel in Panama City, surprising her during a supposed "charity event," at which they were the only two attendees.

Flawless planning

The wedding planning began immediately and Sara and her mother chose Grupo Pompa, led by Carlos Mastellari and Carlina Terrientes, to oversee planning and decoration. Meanwhile, her wedding dress was being customized by Ziad Nakad, Sara's favorite Lebanese designer. A year filled with productive meetings with suppliers resulted in what guests would call "a fairytale wedding."

The party begins

More than 300 guests traveled from abroad to Panama to enjoy this multicultural wedding, including Lebanon, Venezuela, Jordan, the United States and Guatemala. The weekend began on Friday with a white sunset party on the American Trade Rooftop. Panama hats, Cuban cigars and colorful cocktails infused the nightlife.

On Saturday, February 16, 2019, Sara began her day with her bridesmaids preparing for the evening’s events. The ceremony was held at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral by the Metropolitan Bishop for Central America. The reception took place at Casa Veranda, where a live orchestra was playing as more than 600 guests arrived. Sara's dream was to recreate an Arab garden and Pompa made it come true. The decor consisted of thousands of roses, tulips and orchids; glass birds flying on the ceilings, arches and modern gardens. A seven meter long table with miniature desserts and a twelve-story wedding cake greeted guests as they entered the venue.

The meal options included international cooking stations, along with a variety of charcuterie and main dishes. Surrounded by the dance floor, the bar offered the finest liquor and champagne.

The party began with the traditional Middle Eastern entry of the groom, accompanied by an Arab band, followed by flying fairies to announce the bride's entry from the upper stage. The party lasted until 6:00 a.m., with performances by live artists and DJs from Miami and Panama. The theme of the la hora loca, or crazy hour, was international love; neon accessories, mini flags, hats and shots were distributed by flying fairies. The next day, brunch and Panama Canal Tours were offered to visitors from abroad.

After the celebration, Fadi and Sara traveled to Hong Kong, Bali and the Maldives, where the magic of marriage continued.

This celebration can only be described as a fairytale wedding.

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