Ramzy and Rubel shared their wedding story with us long ago so think of this as both a wedding story and an anniversary story! Ramzy tells their story better than we possibly could, so we’ve made only the most minor of edits for readability. 

“We met online through match.com. We were both skeptical about online dating and didn't think it would yield anything worthwhile. Messages went back and forth and we began having conversations over the phone. The chemistry seemed great, but was it too good to be true? All in all, it took us nearly six months to meet in person.

“When we first met, I think we can both agree that we were pleasantly surprised. We were not what we were each used to dating, but that's exactly what attracted us to each other. On our first date, I prepared a home cooked meal and picked out a movie for us to watch. We had dinner and a few drinks and skipped the movie. We ended up talking all night as the conversation was electric. 

 “It was during our first date that I knew Rubel was the one for me! I had never felt so comfortable and so connected with someone so quick. It’s like we had known each other for years. And five years would go by before I popped the question. I wanted to make sure Rubel was where he wanted to be in life—finished with school and underway with his career—before making a commitment to each other. So, on a stroll along the sand in Laguna Beach, I knelt on one knee and asked him to spend forever together. 

“We wanted a memorable wedding that would also be a tribute to the long fight for LGBT rights. What better place than San Francisco City Hall? It was a beautiful Friday afternoon and love was definitely in the air. After our ceremony, our guests were picked up by two San Francisco Trolleys, cruising through SF, meeting us at the Golden Gate bridge. As we did, we felt complete joy as cars honked in support, onlookers congratulated us as they walked by, strangers photographed us and asked for our email to send photos. It was magical. 

“We quickly finished photos and hopped on the Trolley's making our way to the historic Fairmont Hotel for our reception. At one point during our reception a favorite song of ours came on and we were dancing on the dance floor and our guests made a circle around us, the energy, the excitement, the happiness… it was overwhelming and I reached out and gave my husband the biggest hug and kiss possible and everyone applauded. 

“Being in that moment was possible not only because all of the love and magic and happiness, but also because we committed to enjoying the day. Throughout the planning, we didn't argue over the little things, and focused on what really mattered to us. On the day, we didn't dwell over the things we couldn’t change or control, and probably didn’t even notice half the things that were going on! And because of it, we really stopped and enjoyed every minute of our wedding day.

“Our friends and family would describe us as the perfect match. I am nerdy and typically quiet at first,
whereas my husband is the life of the party. Together we balance each other and have managed to create the perfect team. We are now one unit!”

Credits

Ceremony Venue: San Francisco City Hall
Reception Venue: The Fairmont San Francisco
Photographer: Rachel Levine & Christian, @rachellevinephoto
Videographer: Brent Deal
Planner/Designer: Sandy Johnson
Officiant: Konrad Hole
Invitation Designer: minted.com
Caterer: The Fairmont San Francisco
Cake: The Fairmont San Francisco
Apparel/Accessories: The Black Tux
Floral Designer: Bells n Bloom
DJ: DJ AYKUT
Makeup Artist: Guadalupe Viayra