Wedding Party

    Bridesmaids

     Hiba El-Issa
    Hiba is Nayla's Maid of Honor and first cousin. They have grown up together in Houston since they were little girls and have remained close ever since! As Nayla's little sister, Hiba has always been Nayla's laughing buddy. They both have high hopes to one day host a television show together (watch out world!). Hiba is currently in real estate and a Lebanese dabke enthusiast. 


    Meredith Ann Phillips
      Meredith is Nayla's Maid of Honor. After meeting almost 7 years ago through a mutual friend, they have bonded over their love for Jesus, Mediterranean food and travel. Meredith has been adopted by the Raad family and remains bffs with Mama and Baba Raad; she is an honorary sister-Raad. Meredith is currently the Marketing Director of a local Houston non-profit, LifeHouse and has a sweet little black pug named, Webster.


      Dede Birkelbach Raad
      Dede is Nayla's sister-in-law (married to Nayla's brother, Ted) and is Nayla's fav little sis. Besides being Nayla's wedding planner side-kick, Dede is a fashionista and brings so much joy to the Raad family. Dede studies restaurant and hotel management at the University of Houston and travels the world in between: YOLO. She graduates December 2014!

      Wadad Lahoud
      Wadad is Nayla's little cousin and partner in crime. She is a creative designer and modern artist. Nayla and Wadad enjoy lots of talk and lots of laughs...the hugs and kisses are always inclusive. They are the type to know what the other is thinking before even saying it...yes it's weird :) Wadad is currently a freshman at the University of Houston.  

      Sarah Michel
      Sarah is Nayla's co-worker at Baylor College of Medicine and her Egyptian female co-equivalent. Outside of work you'll find them shopping together around the Village, taking a walk at Memorial Park, or taking it easy with family and friends. The stories and laughter are all in between. Sarah is currently a Sr. Project Manager at Baylor College of Medicine. 

      Parinaz Firozi
      Parinaz and Nayla have been close friends since high school. They have travelled all over Europe together and experienced many adventures together throughout high school and college. They share many memories and have been known to laugh way too much when around each other. They have remained close no matter life's seasons. Parinaz is currently the Managing Director at Jumia Kenya. 

      Jackie Sime Graves
      Jackie is Nayla's HBU Phi Mu sorority sister and close friend. They met as classmates at Houston Baptist University and have remained close friends ever since. Jackie has a creative talent for interior design and shares Nayla's love for the band Coldplay among other interests. Jackie is married to the love of her life, Chris, and is currently a stay at home mom to her two adorable and VERY photogenic young children, Luke and Emily. 

      Beth Taylor
      Beth is Nayla's adopted Lebanese princess and sister friend from college. They met as suite mates sophomore year at Houston Baptist University and have experienced many adventures together since! You'll find them catching up on a monthly basis over breakfast, watching a movie together or dressing up for the latest broadway show. Beth recently married her best friend, Carter, and is currently Counsel at LyondellBasell. 

      Jr. Bridesmaids
      Jeanette Lahoud
      Jeanette is Nayla's first cousin and math tutor (just kidding, but seriously this girl is smarter than ME!). You can find her leading worship on Sundays at church (this girl can sing AND play piano/guitar), keeping up with the latest tv shows or chauffeuring her cousins around town (she got her drivers license this summer)...all with her couz Nayla by her side. She is currently a junior at Dulles High School in Sugar Land, TX.

      Joya Lahoud
      Joya is Nayla's second cousin and giggle mate. They love to laugh with each other and spend time doing fun things in the sun. Joya has an eye for interior design and helped Nayla pick out her wedding colors. She is currently in 7th grade and lives in Miami, FL.
      Groomsmen

      Michael Kakish
      Michael is Nady's best man and brother-in-law. They have known each other since Nady's sister Jackie said "I do" to Michael almost 10 years ago. Michael and Nady have served together leading worship using their musical talents and even collaborated together in the studio on an Arabic worship album. Michael is currently father to two beautiful girls with his wife Jackie. 

      Ashraf Kakish
      Ash is Nady's best man. They met as teenagers at Nady's annual church retreat in Detroit and have been close friends ever since. Growing up together, they combined their creative sense of humor on several comedy Arabic spoofs/parodies on YouTube. YouTube characters like "Um Atrees" and "Um Ziad" have made Ash and Nady the perfect duo for Christian Arabic entertainment and hence, King Tut Collaborations (KTC) was born. Ash is currently married to his beautiful bride, Sarah. In the meantime, be sure to check out Nady and Ash on YouTube.

      Mark Shams
      Mark is Nady's first cousin. Growing up together in Detroit they have bonded over their love for technology and techno music. Mark is never short of a good laugh and always finds a way to bring humor to any situation. He also brings a lot of smarts to the family. He is currently an automotive engineer and just recently married the love of his life Sandra. 

      Shady Benjamin
      Shady is Nady's first cousin and partner violin geek. They have grown up together since little boys in Egypt. Like Nady, Shady plays the violin and plays in several Christian worship groups. Shady and Nady currently serve together in the Candles Orchestra in Los Angeles on a yearly basis. Currently, Shady is a Sr. Business Analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield in LA, Calif. He is married to his wife Mary and have an adorable baby boy, Isaiah. 

      Daniel N. Haddad
      Danny and Nady grew up together in church in Detroit and became close friends in youth group. In high school and college, they led many funny skits at their annual church events and conferences. Much of their creativity has translated onto film on YouTube and they have collaborated on several short films together including the well-known annual New Years Eve church newscast. Currently, Danny is an Internal Medicine Resident at Genesys Regional Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. 

      David Samaan
    • Nady and David met several years ago at a church youth conference in DC. They currently play together in a worship band with several Christian, Arabic worship artists around the country (David plays the Arabic drum - darbake). Currently, David lives in Staten Island, New York and works as a Financial Services Professional at New York Life Insurance Company.  

      • Feras Gharfeh
    • Feras and Nady met at Nady's church a couple of years ago when Feras moved to Detroit for his job. Feras was instrumental in helping Nady with youth leadership at church and they have journeyed together in life since. Feras has an awesome sense of humor and shares Nady's love for youth ministry. Currently, Feras lives with his wife, Maya, in Columbus, Ohio as the Assistant Executive Director at Nationwide Children's Hospital. 

      • Marcus Ibrahim
      Marcus (aka "Egyptian Heat) and Nady met several years ago at the Maranatha Conference in Michigan. Marcus is Nady's "brozer from anozer mozer." Also a part of KTC, Marcus has collaborated with Nady on several humorous video conference promotional materials and they have served together leading worship for Arabic church conferences around the country. Marcus currently lives in Chicago with his wife, Helen and is the Institutional Fixed Income Sales Representative at Balance Sheet Solutions, LLC. 





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