BEAUTY BOWLED OVER
WHAT A CATCH!
WAYNE Parnell and his bride, who tied the knot yesterday, will have just three days together before the cricketer heads for the West Indies to play for the Proteas. The 26-year-old fast bowler, who converted to Islam in 2011, and fashion blogger Aisha Baker were married at the Zeenatul Islam Mosque in District Six, Cape Town, in front of about 400 guests. Baker’s emotional father told the congregation: “I, Waleed Baker, father and guardian of Aisha Baker, hereby give permission to Waleed [also Parnell’s Muslim name] to marry my daughter.” The wedding was followed by a reception at the Mount Nelson Hotel attended by about 150 family members and friends.
The menu was prepared by the hotel chef, Rudi Liebenberg, and featured a crayfish bisque starter followed by roast leg of lamb and crème brûlée, fruit sorbet and shortbread.
Baker told the Sunday Times before the ceremony that she and Parnell designed each other’s rings. “My ring is made of rose gold and champagne diamond and his is silver and white diamond.
“My dress is a cross between modern and traditional. I am wearing an all-white Hartley Duchess satin lace dress designed locally by Abieda Samsodien.”
The petite 25-year-old from Vredehoek recalled how she and the cricketer went on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend at the beginning of 2014.
“I was so excited when he finally proposed to my father in March.”
Parnell said he was “very nervous” ahead of the wedding. “I have kept myself busy as I am preparing for the West Indies series. It has been a little bit stressful trying to get things done at the last minute and making sure that the outfits fit.
“They have come together nicely, and we are just looking forward to the big day.”
About finding his soulmate, the Port Elizabeth-born cricketer said: “We texted and phoned each other for a few weeks before I moved to Cape Town.
“It was an instant attraction . . . Besides her natural beauty, I think her intelligence really captivated me.”
Parnell leaves on Wednesday for the West Indies, where the Proteas will play in a triangular one-day international series against the hosts and Australia.
He said his first big challenge would be to balance his private life and the demands of his career.
Baker said: “Of course I am very proud of him and he is achieving his personal goals and I am there to support him. We are both supportive of each other’s careers.”
Parnell said his new wife was expected to join him in the West Indies after the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations marking the end of Ramadan, in the first week of July.
Among guests at the wedding were former Proteas bowlers Beuran Hendricks and Paul Adams.