Persian Jewish Wedding Customs: After the Ceremony

Welcome to our third and final installment of the Persian Jewish Wedding Customs blog series! If you missed out on our past entries, then make your way over to Before the Wedding, and The Ceremony.

So after the initial vows are done, here are some options for you and your groom to embrace.

The “yichud” is a pretty cool tradition where the groom and bride are given 8 minutes of alone time together! Yichud in Hebrew means “togetherness” or “seclusion” and it is during this time that the couple spends some time enjoying being married. It’s almost like a “first look” where the bride and groom can take a breather away from the excitement and guests. After yichud, the couple enters the reception as Mr. and Mrs.!

The Hora! Probably one of the most recognized wedding traditions, the Hora is a chair dance where the bride and groom sit on chairs that are hoisted up by their guests. Friends and family dance around the couple in a joyous celebration. As seen in the picture above, you don’t always need to sit in a chair to do the Hora. The cardinal rule when it comes to planning your fusion Persian Jewish wedding: do what feels right for the both of you! Your wedding is a reflection of who you are, and the love you and your groom have cultivated!

We are an Event Solutions Spotlight Awards Finalist!

We are so excited to announce that we are one of the five finalists for the Event Solutions Spotlight Awards in the category of  Event Planner of the Year!

Event Solutions Spotlight Awards are an annual awards presentation dedicated to recognizing the best and the brightest event professionals in the industry. The awards are presented in a variety of categories and honor both individuals and companies for their work. This specific Spotlight Award will be presented to an event planner that has set exemplary standards for the industry by demonstrating the highest degree of creativity, organization and management in planning events, and it is such an honor to be a finalist!

If you haven’t already, please vote for us HERE! Voting will remain open until February 28, 2014 and results will be  announced at the Spotlight Awards Presentation at the Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow in Las Vegas on March 26, 2014.

We were nominated based off of the following three showcases:

Event Showcase 1 | Lorena and Ricard’s Mexico Wedding
A fairy tale wedding full of Mexican and Nicaraguan traditions and old world romance. It was the perfect old world setting, where indigenous, pre-Colombian and colonial influences converge. The wedding emphasized both of their cultures with folkloric dancers and musicians, traditional rituals, famous Oaxacan cuisine, favors made by local craftsmen and artisans, fireworks, and grand wishing tree.

Event Showcase 2 | Sheena and Edgar’s Wedding
A beautiful wedding at Teranea Resort, Palos Verdes, CA.  We incorporated the Persian culture in the ceremony with the full on sofreh aghd overlooking the beautiful California beaches and the Nicaraguan culture in the reception with the dancers and also the music.

Event Showcase 3 | Nouran and Adam’s Garden Wedding
A Vintage Persian wedding at  the Woman’s Scrips College in Upland, California.  The intimate ceremony took place in the closed garden with the very vintage sofreh, bamboo chair, vintage lemonade station, lace parasols, vintage looking arch that adored the sofreh. The same look was incorporated in the reception of 350 guests under a canopy of string lights, farm wood tables and same color scheme.

Florals for January Weddings

Thinking about getting hitched in January, and not sure what flowers to pick from? Wedding Elegance has got you covered! We encourage brides to think about the season they’re getting married in and if the types of flowers they love will be in bloom at that time. You can save some money by opting for a flower that’s in bloom as opposed to a flower not in season.

Here are our top floral picks for January weddings!

Ranunculus

A long-lasting cut flower, rununculus’ have thin leaves and come in various colors. We think it’s a great substitute for peonies which aren’t in season until April-June.

Phlox

Thriving in the winter sun, the phlox perennials are a sweet addition to a bouquet. We can imagine this flower at a garden themed wedding or lining the aisle as you walk towards your groom!

Hellebore

In shades of pink, rose, white, green and burgundy, the Hellebore flower is only in bloom from November-April.

Paper Whites

Growing in bunches, paper whites offer a fresh look to any winter wedding. They are very fragrant and would be a lovely addition to an indoor winter wedding.

 Lilium Casablanca

Also known as the “Casablanca Lily”, this gorgeous flower is popular at weddings because of its pure white petals. You may recognize its shape from its cousin the stargazer lily! We envision the lilium casablanca gracing us with its presence at destination weddings and at beach-side venues here in San Diego.

Image sources: Ranunculus, Phlox, Hellebore, Paper Whites, Lilium Casablanca

Persian Jewish Wedding Customs: The Ceremony

Welcome to the second installation of our Persian Jewish wedding customs blog-series! We’ll be continuing from where we last left off which was about “Before the Wedding” and will discuss the ceremony for a Persian Jewish wedding.

On the Jewish side of traditions:

The Khuppah (also spelled as chuppah)
Much like the western tradition where the wedding party begins the procession followed by the bride, after the Ketubah signing ceremony, the Jewish wedding ceremony begins with the procession of friends and family, followed by the bride and groom. The Khuppah is a canopy symbolizing the home the couple will build together. It is under the Khuppah where the couple along with their parents will stand for the duration of the ceremony. Couples can decide to decorate their Khuppah to match their wedding theme and can be as elaborate as they want.

During the ceremony: Kiddushin and Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings)
The Kiddushin is where the groom will place a ring on the bride’s right index finger thus marking them as husband and wife. You can opt to do a double ring ceremony where you can also place a ring on the groom’s right index finger. The Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings) are good wishes for the couple that are recited by the rabbi or shared among honored guests. The entire ceremony is spoken in English, Hebrew and Farsi.

Breaking of the Glass
Probably one of the most popular features of a Persian Jewish hybrid wedding is when the groom shatters cloth-wrapped glass with his right foot. At the sound of broken glass, guests yell, “Mazal Tov!” and this concludes the ceremony. Although there are many meanings behind the breaking of glass, it is thought to commemorate the destruction of the Holy Temple in Israel.

On the Persian side of traditions:

Persian wedding ceremonies have two parts: the first is the “aghd,” where we witness the bride and groom sign a legal contract. The second part is the wedding reception known as “Jashn-e-Aroosi” which traditionally lasts from 3 to 7 days, but many couples are opting to have both parts take place the same day.

The aghd ceremony takes place on a a beautiful and elaborate spread on the floor or on a raised platform/stage called the “sofreh aghd.” Since there are many components to the sofreh aghd, we have it all mapped out in a separate blog, “Persian Weddings: Sofreh Aghd“

Color of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchid

{Source: Chandelier, Wedding Dress, Sweetheart Table, Sequin Cake Table, Pantone Radiant Orchid}

Although we personally feel that purple has always been “in style,” we’re still excited to see it recognized as the Pantone Color of the Year 2014! Formally known as “Radiant Orchid,” Pantone describes it as reaching:

“across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.”

“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.” (Source: Pantone Press Release)

We would have to agree that with those types of traits, radiant orchid would make a stunning color theme for your wedding. From spring whimsy to a dramatic statement, our radiant orchid inspiration board will inspire you to use the purple and pink shade in unique ways. Incorporating the vibrant shade in your floral centerpieces is an eyecatching detail. But if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to use the purple color, then maybe use it in your lighting. Tons of drama without the cost! Recognize the sweetheart table? It’s from our 2012 wedding at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel! Contact Wedding Elegance today to start planning your radiant orchid themed wedding!