After their engagement photo session in DC, I had the honor of covering their unique wedding at Fairfax Station, Virginia.
I said unique because it’s a Persian wedding tradition, not the typical ceremony and reception that you see everywhere on most blogs from the United States.
Check out the decorations used for their wedding especially this table spread here. Each of the items on the table has purpose. They bring luck and prosperity, and also to guard the bride and groom from harm.
The bride wearing her unique shoes.
Lili’s shoe from up close. You can see the little flowers inside. 🙂
Here are the bride and groom’s wedding and engagement rings.
The bride’s beautiful dress.
Lili played the piano after she was ready and waiting for the others.
Few words from mother of the bride before the ceremony.
And last but not least, a moment with the bride’s uncle. Unfortunately, Lili’s father could not make it to the wedding.
The veil had to cover the bride’s face before the ceremony.
Finally the ceremony, Persian wedding style!
These are sugar cones that would be rubbed above the scarf over the bride and groom.
Usually lucky women (married, rich, happy and healthy) would grained sugar on top of the bride and groom. It is believed to bring happiness and sweetness to the couple’s life.
Lots of love from the mother of the groom…
and from friends and families as well… 🙂
After the ceremony, it’s time for the bride and groom to celebrate!
Check out this sequence where Nigel took a shot. 🙂
Then it’s time for bride and groom’s first dance as a husband and wife. 🙂
Party for everyone! 🙂
Some guests went overboard. 😀
But don’t worry, they were just playing. No one was harmed. 🙂
The foods were delicious!
Time to prepare the wedding cake.
Or cupcakes…
Before the cake cutting, the women did a dance. I was wondering what the dance was for. Lili explained to me that the knife dance was a tradition to make things hard for the groom to get. The groom had to pay the dancers before they gave him the knife to remind him that it was not easy and cheap to marry a wonderful girl. I laughed after she explained this to me. 😀
Well… usually women would be the dancers. However, this time Lili’s brother in law wanted to participate too. 😀
Then the groom finally got the knife and they both cut the wedding cake.
Then they danced the night away until the morning light. Well… almost. Since the party ended at about 3 a.m. 🙂
Congratulations Lili and Nigel! May you live happily ever after! 🙂
Leo Dj