Mashadi Jews

"I didn’t know anyone invited to my friend’s wedding, and wondered where they’d seat me,” recalls Linda Hakim. 

“It takes a village to raise a child,” says the African proverb, and in the tony village of Great Neck, New York, the family helps to match 'em up.  “For me and Ilan, it worked,” says Michelle Nabavian. “Our families knew when to get involved and when to stay out.”

Her uncle, Payam, was the first would-be matchmaker.  He started dropping hints about bringing together Michelle with his friend, Ilan Hakimian.  But it took a snowstorm in January 2011 to make things really happen.