Abdalsalam, son of Ali Karim Isa and Zahrah Ahmed Isa, is from Santa Ana, California.

Anesia, daughter of Abdul Rashid Hasan, Maria Pardo Rodelo, and Hazra Muhammad Hasan, is from Tukwila, Washington. Their story brings together two families, two backgrounds, and two cultures that may be different in many ways, but share more similarities than they first imagined.

Indonesia holds a special place in both of their hearts. For Anesia, Jambi is a home away from home, where much of her family lives and where deep family roots remain. For Abdalsalam, Indonesia was his first international trip, where he fell in love with the food—especially Soto Ayam—and discovered snake fruit for the first time.

They chose to celebrate their marriage in Jambi because it is where Anesia’s Indonesian family is from, and because they wanted to honor both of her grandmothers who are still with them. More than a destination wedding, this celebration is a coming together: of family, heritage, food, traditions, and two cultures—similar in some ways, beautifully different in others—all gathered to celebrate the beginning of their life together.