About the Persian Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony begins with the groom seated on a bench in front of the guests. In front of them is the
sofreh aghd, a table which contains several highly symbolic items. Above his head is a canopy held by
female family members or female members of the bridal party. The bride walks into the ceremony
wearing a veil. The bride takes a seat to the left of the groom with the groom seated on her right handthis designates a place of respect.
Now that we have set the general stage of the ceremony, let’s look at each element in detail.
In Farsi the word "sofreh" means 'spread' and "aghd" means 'ceremony'. This ceremonial tradition has
been practiced for thousands of years by Iranian families around the world to celebrate their culture and
heritage.
There are many symbolic items which make up the Sofreh Aghd spread:
Mirror (of fate) "Aayeneh-ye Bakht" and two Candelabras (representing the bride and groom and
brightness in their future) one on either side of the mirror. The mirror and two candelabras are symbols
of light and fire, two very important elements in the Zoroastrian culture. When the bride enters the
room she has her veil covering her face. Once the bride sits beside the bridegroom she removes her veil
and the first thing that the bridegroom sees in the mirror should be the reflection of his wife-to-be.
A tray of seven multi-colored herbs and spices "Sini-ye Aatel-O-Baatel" to guard the couple and their
lives together against the evil eye, witchcraft and to drive away evil spirits. This tray consists of seven
elements in seven colors:
1.Poppy Seeds "Khash-Khaash" (to break spells and witchcraft)
2.Wild Rice "Berenj"
3.Angelica "Sabzi Khoshk"
4.Salt "Namak" (to blind the evil eye)
5.Fennel/Nigella Seeds "Raziyaneh"
6.Black Tea "Chaay"
7.Frankincense "Kondor" (to burn the evil spirits)
A basket of decorated eggs and a basket of decorated almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts in the shell to
symbolize fertility. It is the hope to have a marriage as strong as the shells of these nuts.
A basket of pomegranates and/or apples for a joyous future. Pomegranates are considered heavenly
fruits and apples symbolize the divine creation of mankind.
A cup of rose water "Gol-e Mohammadi" to perfume the air.
A bowl of rock candy "Kaas-e Nabaat/Shaakh-e Nabaat" to sweeten life for the newly wed.
A bowl of gold coins representing wealth and prosperity.
A scarf or shawl made out of silk or any other fine fabric to be held over the bride and bridegroom's
head throughout the ceremony by various happily married female relatives.
Two sugar cones "Kalleh Ghand" made out of hardened sugar to be used during the ceremony. These
sugar cones are grinded together above the bride and bridegroom's head (over the scarf held above their
heads) throughout the ceremony to shower them in sugar (symbolizing sweetness and happiness).
A cup of honey to sweeten life. Immediately after the couple is married they each should dip one pinky
finger in the cup of honey and feed it to the other one which represents the continual sweetness and
love they will give each other throughout their marriage
A needle and seven strands of colored thread to figuratively sew up the mother-in-law's lips from
speaking unpleasant words to the bride!
An assortment of sweets and pastries to be shared with the guests after the ceremony. We have sugar
coated almond strips "Noghl"