Persian Wedding Details and Traditions …. [Susan + Adam] :)

When Susan contacted me to photograph her Persian/American wedding, I was SO excited. If you know me…then you know I love the opportunity to do something that I’ve never done before. In fact, one of the reasons that I love photographing weddings so much is because no matter what…every wedding is unique. 😉

For Susan and Adam they chose to represent both of their cultures in the ceremony, held this past Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans. When Susan and I first talked about her wedding, we spent the first portion of the conversation simply going over what exactly the ceremony would look like and what her expectations were for the photography. She told me that the preparation of the day is extensive and the details were important to her. Her father would be officiating the Persian portion of the ceremony, and Adam’s father the American portion of the ceremony.

I thought it would be interesting today to blog the Persian portion of the day. It’s something, as I said, we’ve never done before and I was just amazed at the beauty of it all. Please forgive me if I make an error, I am basing this blog off of Susan and I’s conversation, my experience and photography the day of…and well, the internet. 😉

When we arrived to the courtyard at the Ritz, I was immediately overwhelmed with the energy. Everyone was so excited and anticipating the ceremony. Susan’s uncle emphasized to me how important those moments were and how excited he was for the ceremony. The arrival of the guests, who are to be witnesses to the marriage of the couple, initiates the wedding ceremony. Traditionally the couples’ guardians and other elder close family members are present to greet the guests and guide them to their seats. Susan + Adam also hired wonderful Persian musicians to play.

Typically, in a Persian wedding, the ceremony takes place in a specially decorated place with flowers in front of a beautiful and elaborately decorated spread on the floor called “Sofreh-ye Aghd”. Traditionally Sofreh-ye Aghd is set on the floor facing east, the direction of sunrise (light). Consequently when the bride and groom are seated at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd they will be facing “The Light”.

There is a very elaborate floor spread set up for Aghd, including several kinds of food and decorations, this is called Sofre-ye-Aghd. Items in the Sofreh include:

• The Seven Herbs: Khashkhash (poppy seeds), Berenj (rice), Sabzi Khoshk (angelica), salt, Raziyane (nigella seeds), Cha’i (black tea leaves) and Kondor (frankincese).
• The Seven Pastries: Noghl, Baklava, Toot (Persian marzipan), Naan-e Bereneji (rice cookies), Naan-e Badami (almond cookies) and Naan-Nokhodchi (chickpea cookie) are placed on the spread and traditionally served to the guests after the ceremony.
• Mirror of Fate and two candelabras, symbols of light and fire. When the bride enters the room she has her veil covering her face. Once the bride sits beside the bridegroom she removes her veil and the first thing that the bridegroom sees in the mirror should be the reflection of his wife-to-be.
• The Blessed Bread: A specially baked bread with calligraphy written on it. Noon-e Sangak” with blessing “Mobaarak-Baad” written in calligraphy on it. The writing is usually with either saffron “Zaffaron”, cinnamon, Nigella seeds, or glitters. This symbolizes prosperity for the feasts and for the couple’s life thereafter. A separate platter of this flat bread, feta cheese and fresh herbs are also present to be shared with the guests after the ceremony, to bring the new couple happiness and prosperity.
• “Naan-o Paneer-o Sabzi”: Bread, feta cheese, and greens are also placed on the spread to symbolize the basic food that is needed to sustain life. They are traditionally served to guests after the ceremony.
• Decorated eggs, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts  to symbolize fertility.
• The Heavenly Fruits: pomegranates, grapes, apples for a joyous future and the divine creation of mankind.
• Persian Rose: A cup of rose-water and a rose extracted from the Gol-e Mohammadi. This is to perfume the air.
• Shakh-e-Nabat: A bowl made out of rock candy to sweeten life for the newlyweds.
• Coins:  A bowl of gold or silver coins representing wealth and prosperity.
• The Sacred Text: A copy of the couple’s Holy Book is placed on the spread.
• Prayer Rug: A prayer rug (Jaa-ye Namaaz) or a traditional Iranian Termeh is placed in the center of the wedding spread. The prayer rug, open in the Aghd-cloth is to remind the couple of the importance of prayer to god.

A scarf or shawl made out of silk or any other fine fabric is held over the bride and groom’s head (who are sitting by the Sofreh) by female relatives (bridesmaids). Two sugar cones made out of hardened sugar are used during the ceremony. These sugar cones are softly ground together above the bride and groom’s head throughout the ceremony to shower them in sweetness. The sugar drops in the held fabric, not on their heads.

 

Then the ceremony administer (or marriage officiant)….in this case, Susan’s dad asks the mutual consent of the couple. First the groom is asked if he wishes to enter into the marriage. Then the bride is asked the same question. Sometimes, the bride makes the groom wait for her hand in marriage by not answering the question right away. This is usually accompanied by a relative yelling out something (funny) that the bride could have gone to do. Although I couldn’t really understand everything that was going on…it was really fun to see Adam speak Persian. I think both families enjoyed it as well. 🙂

The couple was also then showered with gifts from their family.

A cup of honey to sweeten life is also a part of the ceremony. Immediately after Susan + Adam were  married they each dipped one pinky finger in the cup of honey and fed it to each other.

For Susan + Adam, when the Persian ceremony came to an end, they proceeded into the American portion of their wedding…..which…..you’ll have to wait for until Monday!!! 🙂 I hope you enjoyed the sneak preview of their wedding and learning about Susan’s Persian culture. 🙂

 Have a wonderful weekend!