Mujtaba Ziauddin and Sana Muttalib

Sana Muttalib’s parents grew up in India, where they had a traditional arranged marriage. So as a gesture of respect, she let them introduce her to a few eligible bachelors.

Unfortunately, not one of the men quite grasped the concept of a career woman — a total deal breaker for Muttalib, a lawyer with international law firm O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles. After that, she swore off blind dates. Even when two friends kept insisting that a man they knew in Chicago was perfect for her, she had no interest.

But the man, Mujtaba Ziauddin, was intrigued — and persistent. And from the first time they spoke, said Muttalib, “I realized he was different.”

That was in 2009. Ever since, said Ziauddin, “Our relationship has been defined by airports and cabs.” But he’ll soon move to L.A., where he’ll be a pharmacy resident at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Their June 12 wedding, created with the help of Planning Elegance in Orange County, was a graceful fusion of modern and traditional. Muttalib, 27, and Ziauddin, 29, tied the knot in a Muslim ceremony before 450 guests at Vibiana, a 19th century landmark in downtown L.A.

“It was very emotional,” Muttalib said. “Everyone I love in the world was there.”

—Maxine Nunes, Custom Publishing Writer