The notepad: Saba Qureshi

Saba Qureshi, event designer and planner jots down her favourite events and set-ups on our notepad. From traditional Nikah’s to cosmopolitan NYC nights, find inspiration from her list of favourites

Egyptian party

The Egyptian party that I did has been one of my favourites. It has a close connection to my heart. It was my first themed party. The invitation cards were scrolls along with a burnt stamp, which gave a historic feel. The décor at the actual event included Pharaohs made out of fibreglass as well as a representation of Queen Sheeba. There were eight floral pyramids scattered throughout.

Irani-style Nikah



I did an Irani Nikah, which is very different from regular Nikahs. For instance, on the sufra, there are seven items and each item represents something about marriage. The goldfish swimming in the glass bowl represents life and the coloured boiled eggs represent fertility. Similar to a Pakistani Nikah, the sweets that the couple feed each other represent the sweetness in their future married life. The décor was very simple and elegant. There were floral decorations everywhere, and I even placed a large mirror on the sufra for them to see each other through, the first time after the Nikah.

Customised birthday at Café Flo



When a restaurant is changed for a party, I feel it always has a diverse and fun look. In the summer, due to the heat, many Karachiites opt to throw their bash at restaurants. I did one such event at Café Flo. It was a black and white themed party. The ostrich feathers were flown in from Dubai for an exotic feel and I used them in a versatile manner as table décor. The birthday cake was customised for this party and each layer had a different flavour. I especially made black linens, tablecloths, and napkin rings for this occasion.

Milad and Bori thaal dinner




Having Milads in our country is a tradition and I love doing them up so that each is unique and different. For one such event, I spelled ‘Allah Muhammad’ out with daisies in the middle of the entrance. The event had a secret-garden effect because of the plant panelling and abundance of flowers. Following the ceremony, I organised a Bori thaal dinner, which gave the event a unique touch.

New York skyline tea party



At the restaurant Rosati in Karachi, I organised a New York skyline themed tea party. We prepared a NYC skyline backdrop behind the main table decorated with pearls. I also had candles custom printed with the magnificent skyline. The napkin rings were made of feathers and the colour scheme was black and pink. It’s always a fun idea to be in a restaurant ambience while feeling like you’re in another city.