What does love have to do with relationship? Everything, Say Saudi Couples on Valentine’s Day
Dhahran/Riyadh: Ahead of Valentines Day, Cupid’s bow and arrow have struck many happy couples and built lives based on shared love, appreciation and respect. But there is much more to it behind the scenes. Arab News asks the couples what is the secret to their happy union.
Since the time of Plato and Aristotle, philosophy has offered various theories of love, and long-term relationships can be wonderful—but require hard work. For many, it’s grand, extravagant gestures.
For others, it’s the little things that make a difference. To bravely face the question, “What is love after all?” Arab News asked married couples what love is all about and their hearts dance.
For many, friendship and attention to detail matter most, such as in the case of Mouat Aziz, 31, and Luluwah Alghamdi, 28, who have been together since 2017.
“For me, friendship and kindness are an important part of marriage,” Algamadi said. “To be able to be with someone that you can laugh and dance with and just be able to be yourself around. No masks of any kind. Life has ups and downs.” And doing it with a friend who is reliable and supportive is invaluable.
For Aziz, he believes marriage is easy, just a lifestyle change that requires adaptation, investment, and kindness. Still, the most essential and important is finding a partner to enjoy.
“Instead of making breakfast for one, you make it for two. And instead of buying one bowl of ice cream, you buy two, paying attention to what your partner likes. Yes, turn on the AC at night.” You may have differences of opinion over what temperature to set, or where to store the tea and sugar, but that can always be resolved. Of course, as long as both are transparent and listening to each other ,” he told Arab News.
Sharing the same sentiment is Vedad Alhamd, who has been married for 33 years. She told Arab News that a good marriage requires that you see it as a true friendship and partnership with communication as an important component. “It’s so important to understand your partner’s thoughts, motivations, and expectations. A good marriage is about respect, honesty, and making room for differences and building a strong relationship.”
Ghassan Abduladhim and Shadi Alabayt told Arab News that their successful marriage is mainly due to communication, and that having friends is always an added feature to the union.
Abduladhim told Arab News, “A marriage will be blissful and fulfilling if through married life love and attraction mature into a kind of friendship, where conditional tolerance and acceptance are commensurate with inclusiveness, mutual embracing and celebration of differences.” Turns into persuasion.” “Openness and communication skills of all kinds are key.”
Sharing her husband’s sentiments, the mother of four girls said that a happy marriage is a deep friendship that grows every day. Confidence and equality in their rights and responsibilities.”
For many couples, the anticipation and hustle and bustle before their wedding day fades away until the big day arrives, marking the beginning of a new partnership. With the flurry of wedding guests, last-minute flower arrangements, makeup and hair, and much more, photographers are a constant available, looking out for every quiet and calm moment, capturing the intimate connections and spontaneous moments of the day. have been
Tasneem Al-Sultan, a professional photographer in Saudi Arabia, has been a leading local wedding photographer in her hometown of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia for over a decade. Word quickly spread around the block that her bridal shoots were creative and beautiful, as she filled the frame with elegant and fun moments that captured the essence of couples walking side-by-side at weddings. Soon, her wedding photography repertoire expanded to the rest of the state – and overseas as well.
In many ways, she became an active witness to each couple’s first walk in love.
“‘Saudi Tales of Love’, which I titled ‘And Then There Were Women’, is about the intimate access of Saudi women and their stories about marriage, love, divorce. And I as a wedding photographer I follow, who is divorced,” she told Arab News.
Al-Sultan has the pleasure of being there when the two men – along with their families – resolve to unite. He is also meant to highlight what many call “the most important day of his life”. As a wedding photographer, she is constantly surrounded by different versions of love.
The ‘perfect wedding’ may be a myth, according to Alsultan, who continues to strive and encourage couples to look beyond the day and really dig into themselves to carve out the best version of love that they can. They understand. She stresses that the spotlight should be on building a healthy life together for the future and not on how the cake looks or how the playlist flows that night.
“Wedding is one big party just to show how happy you are and celebrate with everyone, but it’s not all about the little details – the flowers and the colors and the venue. We need to forget that it’s It’s all about the event and more about what the event means for the rest of your life,” Al-Sultan said.
After her experience documenting so many weddings, one thing is still clear: Her eyes never dim when she talks about love.
He never lost faith in the process. And even when her marriage doesn’t last, she strives to stabilize the loving tenderness she’s seen within its frame, be it between a romantic couple or a parent or friend. Each of their pictures speaks a thousand words and tells a million different aspects of the love story. To catch that magical spark in a moment transcends time and space.
Does she still believe in love?
“Yeah! Always,” she said laughing.