Lucien's Manor

Mehndi

Intercontinental Buckhead Atlanta

Valima

Loews Philadelphia Hotel

Baraat | Wedding Reception

Welcoming of Baraat

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Winter

Please visit our RSVP page to see the specific events you're invited to.

To help us create beautiful, lasting memories, we kindly request no boxed gifts and instead ask that you gift cash or checks that will contribute to our honeymoon fund.

Our Wedding

Throughout the course of our relationship, Arhum and I have marveled at our “universe coincidences” - the twists of fate that allowed our paths to cross and the moments throughout our relationship where we knew only a divine power could be behind it all. Our first date, on July 1, 2019, at La Pecora Bianca in Midtown East, was six weeks before Arhum moved out of New York and shifted to Miami for medical school. We embarked on a four-year New York-Miami long distance relationship after only those six weeks together, with the faith that the universe would be on our side. Arhum and I immediately connected on our shared passion for impact and helping others - a driving force for my career in impact investing and for Arhum’s decision to leave healthcare consulting and pursue medicine. But beyond that, we connected on our shared Pakistani culture, our Type-A tendencies, our Muslim faith, our appreciation for a well-made latte, our love for history and learning, and our relentless belief and optimism in the world.&nbsp; We discovered on our first date that not only were we reading the same book&nbsp;- Bad Blood by John Carreyrou - but we were also on the same chapter. Arhum’s office in New York was on the same block as my beloved first apartment in the city; we presumably crossed paths many times without even realizing it. Both our families immigrated to the US from Pakistan for our fathers to pursue medical residency; Arhum’s family settled in Atlanta, while mine settled in Philadelphia. But perhaps our favorite “universe coincidence” of all is that our names come from the same Arabic root, meaning “kindness” and “mercy”, as my Nano pointed out excitedly the first time I told her about Arhum. People often ask us both how we were so confident in pursuing a long-distance relationship after only six weeks of knowing one another, but if I were to answer honestly, I knew I’d marry Arhum before they even served our appetizers on our first date. It is the greatest cliché of all, but when you know, you know.&nbsp; We have counted down the days until our long-distance relationship becomes a short-distance relationship, and we are so excited to&nbsp;begin this next chapter with your blessings and support. With all our love,Rahima and Arhum

Our Story

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Wedding Party

FAQs

We have reserved a room block at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel starting from Thursday, December 28th to Sunday, December 31st. This is where the wedding reception will be held and where we recommend out of town guests stay. To reserve your room, please use the provided link or call the hotel reservations line and mention the Jamal-Saleem Wedding. The deadline to book is one month prior to the wedding, though we anticipate the room block will fill much earlier. Home to an architectural landmark and Philadelphia Savings Fund Society (PSFS) building, the Loews Philadelphia Hotel is a true classic and one of the nation’s first modern skyscrapers. The historic hotel is located in the heart of Center City and within walking distance of City Hall, Reading Terminal Market, Independence Hall, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Barnes Foundation, to name a few of the city’s most popular attractions. We look forward to welcoming you to the City of Brotherly Love!

For those guests who would prefer to stay closer to the Jamal Family residence and to the Mehndi venue, we have also reserved a room block at the SpringHill Suites in Voorhees, NJ. This is ideal only for guests who plan to stay in the area for an extended amount of time and who would rather not stay in downtown Philadelphia. For all other guests, we recommend booking through our room block at the Loews Philadelphia.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Voorhees Mt. Laurel/Cherry Hill

For guests who will be attending the Valima in Atlanta on January 6th, the Saleem family has reserved a room block at the Intercontinental Buckhead Atlanta from January 5th to January 7th. We recommend staying at the Intercontinental as that is where the Valima will be held on Saturday evening. The room block can be accessed through the below link.

InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, an IHG Hotel

Travel & Hotels

Restaurants in Philadelphia

A few of the Jamal family's favorite restaurants in the Philadelphia area walking distance from the Loews Hotel include Xiandu Thai, Sampan, The Dandelion, and Barbuzzo. If you're willing to venture a little farther, Buddakan, Zahav, and Suraya are all exceptional. To try the famous Philly cheesesteak, we recommend Pat's and Geno's. However, if you're looking for a halal option, Saad's Halal in West Philly is a great alternative. For brunch, we recommend Cafe La Maude, Sabrina's Cafe, and Green Eggs Cafe. For those with a sweet tooth, we recommend Mango Mango - make sure to try their crepe cakes!

Christmas Village

Given our wedding is during the holiday season, we highly recommend visiting the Christmas Village by City Hall. Reminiscent of European Christmas Villages, the Philadelphia Christmas Village features an ice skating rink, carousel, many market stalls, and festive food &amp; drink.

Philadelphia Art Museum

The Philadelphia Art Museum is a must for any art aficionado - it holds a vast collection of artworks spanning various time periods, cultures, and artistic styles, ranging from European, Asian, American, and African art, as well as decorative arts, textiles, and arms and armor. The museum's claim to fame is its feature in the "Rocky" film series, where the Museum's iconic steps became a training ground for Rocky Balboa.

Rittenhouse Square

Rittenhouse Square is a picturesque, historic public park located in the heart of Philadelphia. The square is flanked by charming cafes, restaurants, and eateries that spill out onto the sidewalks - we recommend going to the restaurant Parc and sipping on an authentic, French hot chocolate!

Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market is a vibrant, historic indoor food market in Philadelphia, located across the street from the Loews Philadelphia hotel. It is one of the city's most beloved culinary destinations, known for its diverse range of vendors offering fresh foods, produce, and prepared foods from a variety of cuisines. The market has a rich history dating back over a century, originally built by the Reading Railroad Company in the late 19th century as part of its train station complex.

Rahima & Arhum

Rahima & Arhum

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