A Simple Wedding 2020

Nousha Hassani, a determined Iranian-American housing attorney in her early thirties, is making her mark in Los Angeles while steadfastly resisting the idea of marriage. Her parents, Ziba Husseini and Reza Husseini, are relentless in their attempts to match her with traditional suitors, hoping she will find her ideal Persian husband. However, everything changes when Nousha meets Alex Talbot, a delightful bisexual artist and DJ, at a rally protesting against sexism and misogyny.

As their relationship blooms, Nousha grows increasingly anxious about how her conservative parents will react to her unconventional partner. The tension escalates when she decides to introduce Alex to her family, only to have her traditional Muslim parents taken aback by the revelation that Alex does not share their faith and comes from a different background. Alex’s upbringing has its own challenges; his parents divorced when he was just 16, leading to an unorthodox family dynamic, including his father’s new life with his partner, Stephen.

The plot thickens during the wedding preparations, particularly as Nousha’s Uncle Saman, a veteran from Tehran, unexpectedly becomes involved in the celebration. Initially, he is there to assist Maggie Baker, Alex’s mother, during the procession, but an unexpected connection forms between them.

As the wedding day looms, Nousha finds herself locked in a battle between her doubts and her emotions. On the night before the ceremony, she confides in Alex about her hesitations, but he dismisses her concerns, leaving her feeling uneasy. The following day brings chaos when a fire breaks out, igniting Nousha’s wedding dress during the last-minute preparations, prompting her to jump into the pool to put out the flames.

In the wake of the disrupted celebration, Nousha’s friends Lynne, Tessa, and their daughter Lulu rally around her, lifting her spirits and providing much-needed support. It takes time, but eventually, Nousha finds the courage to reach out to Alex again, using the excuse of returning his toothbrush to visit him at one of his performances.

Outside the venue, a touching moment unfolds as Maggie and Saman reveal they have developed a bond since the failed wedding and are now planning their own ceremony. Amidst the emotional turbulence leading up to this new wedding, Nousha begins to embrace solitude and self-discovery. At the Husseini backyard wedding, Saman shares empowering words, encouraging Nousha to be true to herself. With newfound confidence, she takes a leap of faith by serenading Alex with a heartfelt rendition in the style of Celine Dion, ultimately paving the way for their reconciliation.