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Real SA wedding: Ulpha & Zunaid

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My husband and I got married on 25 February 2017 after only getting 48 hours to plan our wedding. Yes, you read right – we had two days to plan our wedding.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

We first met when I was 15 and he was 18. He was the best man in a family member’s wedding. When I first saw him, I had this crush on him and little did I know the feeling was mutual – something I only recently found out.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

Being the “break-dancer” that he was, he tried to impress me with his dance moves and I completely ignored his attempts – instead we ended up being really good friends at the time. After the wedding ended, we hardly saw each other.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

I briefly saw him at his mom’s funeral but I couldn’t say much and then we never ever saw each other again.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

Years passed, we both got married and divorced. I was a single mom for four years and he married his second wife, had a son with her and that also ended.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

Fast forward to very late 2016, we reconnected again, but as friends – as my focus was on studying and making 2017 all about me. But hanging out with him, it was as if nothing changed – he just got cuter and funnier.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

Two weeks into February 2017, he asked me on our first date. My 5-year-old daughter labelled him Prince Charming – she quickly fell in love with him.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

On our first date in early February, he joked about us getting married.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

Two weeks later, I was his plus one to his step sister’s wedding on the 18 February and, once again, he joked that the next weekend it will be us.


Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

He proposed to me two days after asking my mom for permission to marry me, and that was on her birthday.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

The proposal was adorable – he sat on the floor in our lounge while I was eating ice-cream and gave me the most loving speech ever that was impossible to say no to.


Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

He asked my grandfather for my hand in marriage on the 22 February 2017. Since everyone knew I never wanted a big wedding, when I told my family what I wanted, they loved the idea.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

My sister in law did the décor and my family all offered to bring something sweet for the table. The next day, we did a photo shoot on the beach since we didn’t have an engagement shoot and that helped end off the perfect wedding we both always wanted.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

By Saturday, we were married. Being an intimate, home garden wedding, it was us – enjoyable and relaxed. I didn’t wear a wedding dress which was exactly what I wanted.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

After our ceremony, he went down on bended knee and proposed to my daughter with a beautiful bracelet and you could hear all the sniffles from the women.


Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

Today, he still thanks me for saying yes and also being a stubborn all those years ago because he realised what he let go and never wants to have that feeling again.

Image credit: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works

We just want to say THANK YOU to everyone!

Photography: Shahied Johaadien of Inspired Creative Works
Makeup: Zaakirah Jacobs

Skirt: The Designer Warehouse
Top: H&M Waterfront

Zunaid’s suit and shirt: Studio W – Woolworth

Did you get married in 2017? Send us your story and pics - here's how.

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