From London to Bahrain: Hassan and Dania's cross-cultural love story

Hassan Sheikh, a Canadian-Pakistani fintech businessman, and Dania Alshowaikh, a Bahraini fintech entrepreneur and consultant in MENA, put together a lesson in ‘marrying’ the best of distinctive cultures and traditions. 

How we met 

“Hassan and I met in London while pursuing our MSc at Imperial College. In one of our first lectures during orientation, a professor told us to look around the room and check out who’s there because our future spouse might be in the room. He said that’s how he met his wife. We laughed it off, and I distinctly remember thinking, ‘Yeah, right.’ But life has a funny way of surprising you. When Hassan and I first met, neither of us was looking for any type of commitment, but everything between us just clicked. Being together felt like home, even though we came from totally different cultures and backgrounds. It was like we were cut from the same cloth. Just two weeks into dating, we decided we wanted to get married, but then it took us six years to make it happen! We both wanted to focus on our own personal goals before taking the big step.” 

The next step 

“Honestly, neither of us can remember the exact moment we decided to get married because it was a done deal from the start. I like to tease Hassan that I never got a proper proposal, and he always teases back, saying, ‘I didn't want to give you a chance to say no.’ We both always say we didn’t just fall in love; we chose each other consciously because we knew it made our lives better. So one day, we just woke up and said, ‘Let’s stop waiting and do this!’” 

Leading up to the big day

“Figuring out what kind of wedding we wanted was the toughest part, considering we come from two distinct cultures: Hassan is Canadian-Pakistani, and I’m Bahraini. Eventually, we ditched the cultural stress and decided to mix the best of each tradition. We settled on having the wedding in Bahrain— my big family lives there—and for Hassan’s family and our friends, we planned an exciting island adventure. We kicked things off with a cosy welcome lunch at my childhood home and had our dream beach wedding at the place that makes me the happiest. Planning the wedding was stressful, given how Type A I am, and but all the Notion boards, meticulous planning and late nights were worth it in the end!”

Memories that will last a lifetime 

“Walking down the aisle with my parents by my side, my sisters holding my dress and my fiancé—who swore he wouldn’t cry— tearing up at the altar was hands down the best moment. A close second would be when Hassan and his friends absolutely crushed it on the dance floor. Saying that everyone’s jaws dropped at their moves would be an understatement!”

My advice

“Remember that this day—and your life—is all about the two of you. Don’t get bogged down by cultural norms or traditional roles. Forget about trying to please everyone else—this is your celebration. Focus on building a strong, loving partnership that can handle whatever life throws at you, and do what makes you both happy because it’s your big day and, eventually, your life together. 

Remember, some things might go awry—flowers might wilt, the cake might tilt, and a random uncle might try to steal the show. But those imperfections often make the memories. As long as you choose what makes you happy and don’t sweat the small stuff, you’ll be just fine. The key is to roll with the punches and keep smiling. 

Finally, keep in mind that the wedding is the fantastic, magical start of your journey together, but it’s just one day. So relax, enjoy the ride, and make sure every decision feels right for both of you.”

The details 

Wedding planner & décor: Lalabella 

Wedding photographer: The Photo Lab 

Bride’s outfits: Vipgelinlik and Cigdem Metil 

Bridal make-up & hair: Rihanna Zawath, Budoor Alasli and Aysha Ateeq 

Location: Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort & Spa

This article first appeared in Brides Today, June-September 2024, print edition.

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