Client Names: Kajal and Ali
Wedding Date: August 9, 2008
Ceremony and Reception Location: Holly Hills Country Club
Flowers: White Flint Florist
Catering: Johnny Kabob
DJ: Sahel
Videographer: Hamid Mansour
Wedding Cake: Classic Bakery
Photographer: Erin Antognoli | Halo Photographic

Wedding Description
Kajal and Ali were married in a traditional Persian ceremony. The spread, or Sofreh-ye Aghd, of various foods, spices, textiles, and other items each have a symbolic presence to play in the wedding. However, the arrangement of these items can vary quite a bit from wedding to wedding, and Kajal put a great deal of care into how her Sofreh would be laid out.

Persian weddings are all about the ladies! Among the great many traditions of the ceremony, the women, mostly close family and friends, ground up sugar cubes above the couple during the ceremony to symbolize a sweet life together. After the couple exchanged rings, they were showered with gifts from family and friends. The couple then dipped their pinky fingers in honey and fed it to each other, another wedding tradition that is meant to symbolize the sweetening of life.

When the newlyweds entered the reception, guests threw money at them, and dancing continued for hours. Dinner at Persian weddings is traditionally held very late, often around 10 or 11 PM, and the guests took full advantage of that time to let loose!

The women then performed the Knife Dance, in which several women who are close to the family will steal the cake cutting knife and perform a dance to entertain the crowd while the bridal couple tries to retrieve it. The women playfully passed the knife around to one another, keeping it from the couple. Eventually, they gave the knife to Kajal and Ali, and they proceeded to cut the cake.

Family and friends had flown in to Maryland from all around the world for Kajal and Ali’s wedding, so the celebration was an incredibly joyous occasion! The young, the old, and everyone in between were dancing non-stop and having a wonderful time. As their photographer, I was honored to be a part of this day!

Erin Antognoli, Washington DC / Maryland Wedding Photographer, ISPWP Member
website: Halo Photographic | email: photo@halophoto.com

Kajal and Ali prepare for the wedding.

Kajal with the Holy Book.

The couple on the grounds at Holly Hills Country Club’s golf course shortly before the ceremony began.

Female relatives and friends grind sugar cubes over the couple to signify a sweet life together.

Persian weddings are all about the ladies! The women look on as Kajal and Ali exchange rings.

Kajal and Ali receive gifts from their close family and friends before the wedding ceremony is completed.

Ali dips his pinky in honey. In the Persian wedding ceremony, this is meant to symbolize a sweet life together.

The couple is showered with money upon their entrance into the reception.

The dance floor was packed!

Kajal is lifted up onto a chair and paraded around the dance floor.

Ali forgoes the chair and is hoisted around the dance floor by his friends!

The Knife Dance is a traditional part of Persian wedding receptions.

Mmmm… cake by Classic Bakery.

The garter…

Yes, the dance floor really was this packed all night long!

Such joy!

Erin Antognoli, Washington DC / Maryland Wedding Photographer, ISPWP Member
website: Halo Photographic | email: photo@halophoto.com

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