Mandy and Thomas Got Married!

Over the weekend, our EIL CEO, Mandy Al-Aswad, got married to Thomas Steinmetz at the beautiful Radisson Blu hotel in Chicago! Best wedding ever!

The delightful ceremony, lit with candles, had just enough formality to make it real and just enough humor to make it delightful. The minister told the story of how Mandy and Thomas met (at work) and fell in love (at first sight), the bride and groom had composed their own vows, the Lord’s Prayer was movingly sung in Aramaic, and the groom’s sisters did wonderful readings from the Book of Ruth and from When Harry Met Sally!

The reception, decorated with blue and lavender hydrangeas and more candles, was glorious and fun. Lots of dancing, wonderful food—including Middle Eastern pastries and late night pizza and milkshakes—and plenty of laughter. Here are the bride and groom lovingly slicing the elegant cake.

Family and friends came from all over the country and all over the world to celebrate this joyous event. Here is Basel Al-Aswad, father of the bride, with some of his buddies.

And here’s Mandy with her flower girl. Oh, those smiling faces!

Here is Basel dancing.

And here he is being lifted into the air!

Basel gave a great toast, welcoming his son-in-law into the family with an important heads-up: “He will hold hands with men and dance in circles.” Yep! And here it begins!

Here are the bride and groom, kissing aloft!

And here is Basel with his beautiful daughter!