Strangers throw surprise wedding party for Syrian refugee couple [PHOTOS]

oge okonkwo

December 7, 2015 12:10 PM

The surprise was revealed to the couple just a few minutes before they entered the room, about 50 guests including strangers and a few friends were present at the party

23-yr-old Mohammad Al-Noury and his wife, 21-yr-old Athar Farroukh wedded in Syria but fled barely ten days later after of series of bombings

Strangers and friends of a young Syrian couple teamed up to throw a surprise wedding party for them.

23-yr-old Mohammad Al-Noury and his wife, 21-yr-old Athar Farroukh wedded in Syria but fled barely ten days later after of series of bombings.

READ: Photos show wedding of two Syrians in Austria, Vienna camp for refugees

The newlyweds had spent time together in refugee camps in Lebanon before arriving to Saskatoon, Canada. The couple had lost touch with their family members.

A news reporter for CBC, Eman Bare had met them while doing a research story on refugees and mental health.

"I started taking pictures of them towards the end [of our interview] for my story and the woman, Athar, said that, 'I never got to have wedding pictures.' I just started thinking, and I said, 'Well I have a camera. If you want tomorrow, I can take a couple wedding-type pictures for you.'"

READ: Incredible photos show first wedding in Kobani, Syria after being destroyed by ISIS

Bare had put up the post and her plan on Facebook and soon afterwards, some strangers had offered to throw a surprise wedding party for the bride and groom, CBC reports.

A woman donated a wedding dress and suit. Another baked the wedding cake. The reception hall was donated by The Delta Bessborough.

The news reporter helped pull the event together with the help of the bride's friends, including Nadia Hamad.

"Having this party ... having people show up and clap and dance is something we can do to uplift their spirits [and] put a smile on their face, why not?" Hamad said.

The surprise was revealed to the couple just a few minutes before they entered the room. About 50 guests including strangers and a few friends were present at the party.

READ: Syrian refugee couple marry in the midst of war [PHOTOS]

"We're blessed that we're in Saskatoon and we've seen a lot of great things and met a lot of great people and it's a dream come true for us," Al-Noury spoke through an interpreter.

The groom also said this was the first time he wore a suit.

Al-Noury told reporters that they were highschool sweethearts.

"It's a very great feeling to share this with the people here, even though we don't know each other we were able to kind of pull together," the groom said adding he was was moved by the kindness of complete strangers.

oge okonkwo