Maira & Afiq

The Solemnization of Maira & Afiq

AkuSembunyi, PJ

1 Jan 2020

It was one of the most emotional weddings I ever shot, I almost cried not once but three times throughout the entire event. First was before the event even started. After Maira was done dolled up, her mum came into the room to check on her and from the first look, I could tell that her mum (which she insisted everyone to call her Umi) was holding her tears. I already had a few words with Umi before she came into the room and she was telling me how proud she was with all of her children, despite having to raise them on her own, with very much struggles financially and emotionally. And right when I took their pictures together, Umi started crying and of course Maira could not hold her tears as well. As they were both crying and wiping the tears down, Umi went ahead and hugged Maira from the back and she said “Umi sayang Mai” and the air just got even more sadder, turning everyone in the room in a mellow. I was so very close to joining everyone on the crying fiesta, I knew I had to hold it together. That was moment #1.

The second one happened during and after the solemnization itself. Umi was literally the one setting the mood of the wedding as she was sitting right there on the dais with Maira. But this time it was slightly bearable as I was so focused on getting all the moments as I was working alone without any assistant. Before the wedding, Maira told me to not have both her mum and dad in the same frame because they were separated and it was the first time they see each other after 20+ years. As much as I want to avoid that, it was quite impossible since their positions are meant to be framed together. And to my surprise, Maira actually thanked me after the wedding because I let her review all of the photos from my camera and she saw so many photos of them together in a frame. In fact she was glad I caught all of that, it was truly one in a lifetime moments, to have both their parents together on her wedding day.

The third one was Maira went to salam and hug her dad. At first, he looked alright but after a few seconds, I realized that he started crying and it kept on going for a moment. I don’t know much about what happened between them as a family but I know they have such a strong bond and love between them. Maira is someone I know since 2018 when I shot her bestfriend’s wedding, she was one of the bridesmaid and now that friend became one of hers. It’s so amazing how life works. I have so much to say about the beautiful wedding but I’m gonna let the photos speak for me.

Photographed by: @areenazainal
Bride’s attire: @majandrue
Make up: @fiqahafizi
Hair: @yusofruzaimi
Hand bouquet: @alfie_rahman
Henna: @hennabyeren
Dais: @munstara.event