Nargiz Ryan Archives - Smashing the Glass

Thank you, Mom!

Being engaged is overwhelming as it is, but being engaged and not having your mom by your side adds a whole other layer of emotions to the overall experience. It has only been a year and a half since my mom passed away, and sometimes my siblings and I still forget that she’s not here with us anymore.

I am thankful I had 28 years with my mom and I know there are others who’ve had less time or no time with their mother. Still, I can’t help but wish I had more time with mine, and the time we had together wasn’t enough.

She was looking forward to the day I got engaged. She loved Ryan and she was excited to watch us take the next steps in our relationship. Even on her last day on this earth, she thought about our engagement and our wedding. I know this because the morning of the day that she passed away, she gave me money for my wedding dress.

Despite the pain and the suffering, she was thinking about me and about my wedding dress. I didn’t think it would be her last day but I guess she felt it. We weren’t even engaged but she wanted to make sure that she would be part of the process even if she couldn’t physically be there for it.

Today on the blog we’re introducing our 6th gorgeous bride from our crop of 2019 Real Jewish Brides! Please give a warm welcome to Nargiz, who will be marrying Ryan on 9th November 2019 at Farmington Hills Manor, in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA.

THREE FACTS: (1) Nargiz and Ryan were introduced by mutual friends – and their first date was at a Hookah lounge! (2) Nargiz’s mother tragically passed away last summer, so she has been facing wedding planning without her mom by her side. (3) Nargiz was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the wedding will combine her family’s traditions – they are Mountain Jews, or Gorski, and their culture is a mix of Persian and Middle Eastern influences – and Ryan’s American Ashkenazi background.

Our love story

Ryan and I met over 5 years ago at a hookah lounge. We were introduced by our mutual friends, who sort of set up our meeting. He was Jewish, I was Jewish, he was single, I was single, etc. I wish I could say “and the rest was history” but it was not.

We started seeing each other but we didn’t fully commit to our relationship until a few months later. Then, the rest was history. We have been officially together for almost 5 years. By “officially,” I mean I made him ask me to be his girlfriend or I told him I will tell people I am still single. So, he asked. We have been together ever since.

Last year, I lost my mother to cancer and it has been tough, to say the least. It has not been easy dealing with grief and going through the emotions. I am lucky to have Ryan by my side. We have been through more than an average couple our age but it has only made us stronger.

I am more outspoken, assertive, and type A personality, while Ryan is more laid back, calm, and most of the time reserved. We love to cook together or for each other, travel, eat delicious different types of food, binge watch shows and movies, and enjoy a good bottle of wine (or two).