Traditions of a Persian Wedding
Ahh Persian Weddings! Few other combinations of words do bring to mind a day full of symbolism, dancing and delicious food! So, what is it all about?
Similar to Western weddings, Persian weddings have two parts: ‘Aghd’ which is the ceremony, and ‘Aroosi’ which is the reception.
The Aghd is the legal process of getting married, and Aroosi is the celebration. It’s possible to have these on two different dates, however, most couples choose to have both parts on the same day.
Room Setup
Persian culture is full of traditions and symbolism. A huge component of the wedding ceremony is “Sofreh Aghd” or the wedding spread. During a Persian wedding ceremony, this spread is the focal point of the room. It is usually set up on the floor or a low table and the couple sits at the head of this spread during the ceremony. At the same time, two happily married women hold a silk cloth over the couple’s heads and rub two beautifully decorated sugar loaves shaped like a cone on one side. This will ensure that the life of the couple has a sweet start and may it stay sweet for years to come!
Nowadays, the bridesmaids are responsible for this part of the ceremony and the cloth can be made of lace, organza or some other white and beautiful piece.
Traditionally, guests just gather around the spread in a combination of seated and standing to witness the ceremony. It’s become quite common however for guests to be seated in aisles, just like a Western ceremony.
Decorated Sugar Loaves
Sofreh Aghd (Wedding Spread)
The Sofreh Aghd is meticulously designed and set up. It includes a plethora of items and each of them is a symbol of what the newly weds will face in the future (hopefully!) like prosperity, wealth, fertility and so on. There are a lot of intricate details that go into designing the Sofreh, and we can enlist only a few with the help of a professional Sofreh Aghd designer. We will go through each item’s significance. Mary from Scenic Sofreh (scenicsofreh.com) is an expert in Sofreh design and she kindly provided us with more details about this lavish spread.
A mirror occupies the central position of the spread to symbolize light and brightness of the future. The couple sits in front of this mirror and see each other in it during the ceremony. Two candelabras are on each side of the mirror to symbolize fire and energy. The couple usually takes these items home to display them and use as decoration.
Gold and silver decorated eggs, as well as almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts are present to symbolize fertility and a fruitful union.
Sofreh Aghd (wedding spread) featuring a heap of symbolic items including mirror, candles, fruit, nuts, bread and sweets
To guard against evil eye, a spice tray featuring a mix of seven spices is beautifully designed and placed on the spread. Wild rue is also used for the same purpose.
To symbolize prosperity, flatbread is placed on the Sofreh. The bread is also skillfully cut up and presented to look like flowers. In addition to the bread, gold coins are also present for prosperity.
Fruits, spices and flatbread
While rose water perfumes the air, honey and rock candy sit on the spread to add sweetness to the couple’s life. After the ceremony the newly weds feed each other either of these items and wish for a sweet life ahead. Another symbol for a joyous future is the presence of fruits like apples, grapes and pomegranate. To cap it all off, a religious book like the Quran (or a book from the couple’s religion) or a book of poetry (often Hafez) is placed on the spread. The books represent blessing and/or love.
While each of these items are beautifully decorated and placed on the table, to make the spread more beautiful, a heap of flowers and candles is also used around the Sofreh to elevate its significance even further. There are also pastries on the table that are to be shared with the guests after the ceremony.
Honey, candy and spices
Ceremony Schedule
After all the guests are seated, the couple enters and sits at the head of the Sofreh. The officiant then asks the groom if he wishes to enter into the marriage contract. Once he confirms, the same question is asked of the bride, but in Persian weddings, there are traditions to follow. This is where the guests or the bridesmaids play a part. When the bride is asked for the first time if she wishes to enter the marriage, she should not reply and she stays silent; instead, someone says: “The bride’s gone to pick flowers”. She is then asked a second time, and this time someone says “She’s gone to bring rosewater”. The bride is then asked a third time and that’s when she says “With the permission of my parents and elders, yes”. The guests then cheer and the bride and groom feed each other honey with their pinky fingers to have the first sweet taste of their marriage. The couple then signs the marriage contract.
After the ceremony the bride is showered with expensive jewelry and other lavish gifts. The groom receives a gift from the bride’s family.
Reception
After the ceremony, the reception takes place. Persian parties are known for a whole lot of dancing, great food and very well dressed attendees; Persian wedding reception is no exception. Guests are served a great variety of food and usually dance well into the night. It is a celebration full of love and laughter.
Mary and I would love to help you plan and celebrate your unique Persian wedding in greater Vancouver. Contact us to get started on your personalized celebration.
Contact Mary at Scenic Sofreh for your Sofreh Aghd needs - mary@scenicsofreh.com - 778-986-4878 - scenicsofreh.com
Contact me, Bahar at Bouvardia Events for your planning needs - hello@bouvardiaevents.com - 604-833-2330 - bouvardiaevents.com
