Two cultures, two faiths

…two hearts into one heart

I was recently contacted by a couple whose wedding is planned in 2009. They want a ceremony with some traditional Persian elements included. Their request brought to mind a ceremony I officiated in 2007 in Fort Worth. Leigh and Afshin chose to integrate traditional American elements and traditional Persian elements into their ceremony.

Brief history and geography lesson: Persia is the ancient name of what is now Iran.

Among the interesting features of a Persian wedding is that the bride and groom sit at a low table covered with a ceremonial cloth called a “sofreh aghd”, which contains various sweets, pastries, nuts and ornamental items symbolizing reality, honesty, prosperity, fertility, sweetness and good wishes. The bride sits first, on the groom’s left, closest to his heart. The Khallehghand is a special Persian tradition that takes place during the ceremony in which the couple’s close married female family members and friends rub two sugar cones together above the couple’s heads as the couple is covered by a cloth or fabric. This act symbolizes the sweetness of the couple’s new life.

Readings follow, in this case some in English from the Christian Bible, some from the “Odes of Hafiz”, a 14th century Persian poet. There were some phrases and questions I addressed to the bride and groom in the Farsi language. (note: don’t try this at home—if you aren’t accustomed to speaking Farsi, you may damage your throat and tongue :)

There were other customs celebrated but I won’t go into all of them. The point is that the end result was a breathtakingly beautiful and romantic ceremony, celebrating the joining of two faiths, two cultures, two families and two hearts into one. Leigh and Afshin chose to take the best of what each culture has to offer and combine them in their wedding. If I were to go into detail about the food, music and dancing at the reception, it would take another few pages. Suffice it to say that the Ashton Depot in Fort Worth was a happy place that evening. The staff at Ashton Depot truly knows how to throw a party and they could probably teach a course in "hospitality".

I recently spoke to Leigh by phone and she graciously volunteered to give advice to my couple scheduled next year. She and Afshin currently live and work in New Jersey. When they’re in Texas next time, maybe we’ll get to visit and I can check the knot that I tied for them.

Blessings,
Ken