ON A STARRY NIGHT IN LEBANON, FASHION DESIGNER’S SON
CELEBRATE A FAIRYTALE WEDDING WITH FAMOUS FRIENDS
ELIE SAAB JR AND CHRISTINA MOURAD
W
henyoursoon-to-be father-
in-lawis fashion aristocracy,
youwouldexpect to walk up the
aisleonyourwedding day in the
mostexquisitegown. And for
ChristinaMourad, wearing Elie
Saabwhenshetied the knot with
thedesigner’seldest son Elie Saab
Jr fulfilleda long-held dream.
“WhenI firstmet him ten years
ago,I saidI wouldlike him to design
myweddinggown,” she exclusively
toldhello!asshe shared images
fromherbigdayin their native
Lebanon.“Ihadn’t even met his
sonthen.Nowhe’s my groom.”
Manyfamousfaces were among
the1,000guestsatthe celebrations
inBkerki,justnorth-east of Beirut,
includingburlesque artist Dita Von
Teese,oftenonthefront row of Elie
Saabfashionshows, and models
KarolinaKurkovaand Toni Garrn –
allwearinggownsby the designer.GARDENPARTY
They allgathered in the early
eveninginthehistoric Maronite
Christianchurch,which had been
transformedintoa secret garden by
NeimanAzziwithtrees and foliage
aswellassilverbells and more
than 600 candles, as the couple
exchangedvowsunder an archway
ofgreenery.
Alleyes wereon the bride’s
stunningsleeveless tulle gown and
veil,embroidered with ivory silk
andchampagneLurex thread and
glitteringwith500,000 sequins.
It took 450 hours – and 12
embroiderers, three pattern
cutters,sixtailorsand ten “petites
mains”seamstresses – to create
thedress,whichhada fitteds
Christinainthe
weddinggown
createdbyhernew
father-in-law.The
tulledresssparkles
with500,000sequins- withthousands
moreontheveil
The groom poses
with mum Claudine
and dad Elie Sr22