KUALA LUMPUR: For months, Haziq Abdullah and Siti Faathinah Zoklifli meticulously planned their wedding reception, which was set to be held in grand fashion on July 2 at the Seri Pacific Hotel in the city.
From their outfits to the guest list and the menu, nothing was left to chance as the couple ticked off the to-do list as time inched closer to the momentous day.
Nothing, however, could have prepared them for what was about to come.
A few days before the reception, Haziq began feeling ill.
The 26-year-old, who works as a visual designer, then did an RTK Covid-19 test.
To his horror, he tested positive for the virus.
"My wife also did an RTK test, which came out negative. However, just to be on the safe side, we did a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test.
"The results came back the next day, showing that both of us were Covid-19 positive," he told the New Straits Times.
The couple had already held their akad nikah (solemnisation) ceremony on June 25, with the wedding reception on the bride's side done the same day.
The only event left was the groom's wedding reception, with the prospect of the newlyweds attending the event looking grim.
Haziq said he and Siti Faathinah were left in a quandary as to how they should proceed.
"We were discussing the pros and cons of postponing or pressing ahead with the event. We talked about reorganising the guests' list, which would be difficult as we had about 180 guests," he said.
Haziq added that aside from some family members making time to attend the wedding, other guests and friends had also taken the trouble to travel from far for the wedding.
"After much deliberation, we decided that it would be better if the reception went ahead, minus the bride and groom," he said.
As such, the unusual wedding reception proceeded as planned. Guests turned up in their finery to enjoy their meal and mingled to celebrate the couple's union.
The couple exchanged pleasantries with some of the guests via video call, thanks to Haziq's father, who walked around the hall with his mobile phone.
To make up for the disappointment of missing out on the wedding reception, Haziq said he and Siti Faathinah would organise a small celebration with their family and close friends when they recover from the virus.