Maria Oveysi and Muhaymin Ahmed Kamal’s love story is truly a full-circle moment. Their paths first crossed in the spring of 2015 at Amoos, an Iranian restaurant in McLean, Virginia, owned by Maria’s family. It was at Amoos that the homemade ice cream, which would later inspire their own brand, captured their hearts.
Moe Kamal, as he’s known, visited the restaurant with friends that spring evening. He recalls seeing Maria and instantly being captivated. Maria, in turn, found Moe’s group impressive – smart, well put together, and handsome.
While they didn’t exchange numbers initially, fate kept bringing them together. They frequently ran into each other while studying at Barnes & Noble and the local library in McLean, and their encounters continued at Amoos. They soon discovered they were both pursuing MBA degrees and shared several mutual friends.
Maria describes their connection as wonderfully old-school. After a few chance meetings, they finally exchanged phone numbers, leading to study sessions that often turned into dinner dates. Their first official date took place in the spring of 2017 at Barcelona Wine Bar in Washington. Moe remembers it as incredibly natural, a night where they realized how many interests they shared. Maria notes that their initial friendship made the progression to romance effortless, leading to many more comfortable evenings out.
After Maria completed her business degree in 2017, their relationship became official during a memorable vacation in Lisbon. Moe’s proposal was lighthearted: ‘What do you say?’ Maria, of course, said yes.
In September 2019, they settled into a loft in Tysons Corner, Virginia. When the pandemic necessitated remote work—Moe as a bioengineer, and Maria in finance and business development—they began contemplating a change of scenery. Maria had always dreamed of living in Los Angeles, so in July 2020, they took a trial trip for a few weeks before making their permanent move that September to an apartment in West Hollywood, California, where they still reside.
Then came another significant life shift. Moe humorously describes being ‘bitten by the Covid entrepreneurial bug.’ He had always adored the saffron ice cream from Maria’s family restaurant, and Maria had always envisioned packaging it. Seizing the opportunity, they launched Kinrose Creamery in 2021. Moe explains it was ‘inspired by our Middle Eastern roots, with flavors that are derived from the recipes that we grew up on.’
Moe, 41, was born in Chicago to Egyptian parents who pursued their Ph.D.s in the United States. He was raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, often returning to the U.S. during summers with his professor parents. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from SUNY Buffalo and both an MBA and master’s degree in biotechnology/bioengineering from Johns Hopkins University.
Maria, 35, was born in Bukan, Iran, and moved to the United States at age one. She grew up in Falls Church, Virginia, earning both a bachelor’s degree in business law and an MBA from Marymount University.
Their business journey with Kinrose Creamery flourished, moving from selling pints in 2021 to catering in 2022, and eventually opening a brick-and-mortar store in Pasadena, California, in 2024. Their catering events have attracted high-profile clients, including a baby shower for Lilly Ghalichi, a birthday party for Selena Gomez, and a shoe launch for rapper Tyga.
The couple’s proposal was as relaxed as the start of their relationship. In March 2021, over dinner at Jar, a chophouse in Los Angeles’s Beverly Grove neighborhood, they discussed their future. With his characteristic laid-back style, Muhaymin suggested they proceed with their cultural proposal, which involved speaking to their respective families.
Maria and Moe were married on September 13 at the Drift Hotel in Palm Springs, California, in front of 100 guests. Moe’s older brother, Mohamed Kamal, who was ordained for the occasion by American Marriage Ministries, officiated the ceremony, emphasizing the couple’s desire for a deeply personal wedding.
Their wedding incorporated elements from both of their rich cultural backgrounds. Maria, who is Kurdish Iranian, and Moe, who is Egyptian, ensured their special weekend honored both heritages. The festivities included Maria’s bridal party rubbing sugar blocks over them to invite sweetness into their big day, as well as a Sofreh Aghd, a traditional ceremonial marriage spread of symbolic items.
And, naturally, their Kinrose Creamery ice cream was a highlight of the celebration.