Kat Mehajer opens up about her wedding and life behind the Instagram filter

No one throws a wedding like a Mehajer. A family from Sydney's west emerging as Australia's answer to the Kardashians.

On the back of her brother Salim's show – and traffic – stopping nuptials last year, Khadijeh "Kat" Mehajer has also followed in his footsteps as the Van Wilder of weddings.

Previous slide Next slide

Mehajer wedding closes (another) street

Lindt siege police response in question

Mark Tromp found after 'bizarre' trip

Turning a passion into a pay cheque

Airbnb owner returns to find 'junkie den'

Skinner: 'I have a soft spot for families'

Rogerson, McNamara 'overwhelmed by greed'

Mehajer wedding closes (another) street

Kat Mehajer's wedding might have even out-done her brother's, but you wouldn't know it to look at the only photos he posted to Instagram - selfies.

But it was her bridegroom, Ibraham Sakalaki, who took creative control of the proceedings that were held over two weekends, culminating in a reception staged at two venues last week.

"Ibraham was a huge influence in the way the wedding came together, he was a groomzilla at some stages. We had sleepless nights and stressful days but it was all worth it in the end," Mehajer said.

The pair, speaking to Fairfax Media while on an overseas honeymoon, were inspired by Salim's wedding to former Wollongong beautician April "Aysha" Learmonth and admitted to feeling pressure to stage something as similarly "large scale".

"Since Ibraham is the eldest in his family and I'm the favourite in my family, we were expected to have a bigger than average wedding," she said. "We both come from a Lebanese background, we are renowned to have large weddings. Salim did set the bar quite high only 12 months prior, so there was a bit of pressure."

The official Islamic wedding ceremony, the Katb El Kitab – the entree to last week's affair which was rumoured to cost more than $1 million – was officiated by "the sheikh" and witnessed by a handful of immediate family and close friends.

Mehajer wore a black sequinned Alex Perry gown where she and Sakalaki – in Gucci – reportedly signed a nikah – a non-binding, Islamic social contract that usually involves the husband gifting his wife money as a token of his commitment.

Khadijeh "Kat" Mehajer and Ibraham Sakalaki on their second wedding day. Photo: Emilio B Photography/Mehajer Pty Ltd

For the reception held on the five-acre Longuevue estate in Kenthurst before the cavalry of Lamborghinis, Bentleys and Rolls Royces headed to Dolton House Hyde Park, Mehajer donned a one-of-a-kind French beaded gown that boasted an Italian tulle and silk overskirt designed by Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez's favourite Australian designer, Steven Khalil. According to Khalil, who spoke to Fairfax Media earlier this year, a bridal creation like Mehajer's usually costs more than $20,000 and takes 10 months to make.

While they will continue in the Mehajer tradition of the "more is more" theme via their social media channels, the couple are devoutly committed to their Muslim faith and are only now spending time alone together.

Khadijeh "Kat" Mehajer and her bridesmaids. Photo: Emilio B Photography/Mehajer Pty Ltd

Mehajer, 24, grew up in Lidcombe and went on to study criminology, business and law before joining the family firm, Mehajer Law Group, as a paralegal. In her downtime she enjoys "reading new journals in topics of the law" and "keeping fit and healthy".

"Don't get me wrong I still have the occasional McDonald's drive thru day. Love a Filet-O-Fish," she said.

Ibraham is the eldest in his family and I'm the favourite in my family, we were expected to have a bigger than average wedding.

Khadijeh "Kat" Mehajer.

She plans to branch out into her other areas of interest – fashion and beauty – as well as supporting Salim and his 100 per cent halal toiletries line due to be released in April 2017. She will also "begin a new business venture" with her new husband.

IT specialist Sakalaki, 33, was raised in Parramatta and, like Mehajer, attended Arthur Phillip High School, however they only met through his younger brother Adam, who served as one of his six, Tom Ford-clad groomsmen.

Photo gallery

Kat Mehajer's official wedding album

The couple first met and were introduced, according to Sakalaki, at Italian restaurant chain Criniti's in Parramatta about five years ago.

They would not be drawn on whether the eatery's famous one-metre pizza challenge was involved in their first date, which was also attended by a group of family and friends.

In order to make their relationship official, Sakalaki first had to meet and gain Salim's approval before meeting Mehajer's father and seeking his blessing of the union.

Sakalaki then moved to Canberra for the duration of their courtship. Distance was a challenge for the reticent couple who referred to themselves as "friends" until their recent wedding extravaganza.

"During our friendship Ibraham lived in Canberra for work and he would travel to Sydney every Friday night and return every Monday morning just to see me for a couple of hours with my sisters chaperoning," Mehajer said before laughing: "That was a heavy 600-kilometre round trip every weekend, but it was well worth it."

Source: Kat Mehajer opens up about her wedding and life behind the Instagram filter