Ava & Nima contacted us with the idea of having an elegant Persian wedding in Italy. After research, we suggested the stunning villa Aurelia in the heart of Rome's eternal city, and this is how we planned a unique Persian Wedding in Rome.
Villa Aurelia, a fantastic baroque venue
Villa Aurelia is a historic villa on Janiculum Hill, one of the famous seven hills of Rome, offering stunning panoramic views of the city. The villa has a rich history and has undergone various transformations over the centuries.
It was initially built in the mid-17th century by Cardinal Girolamo Farnese and designed by the architect Alessandro Algardi. The villa takes the name after Cardinal Farnese’s mother, Aurelia.
Villa Aurelia is known for its Baroque architecture and beautiful gardens.
Luxurious gardens adorned with sculptures and fountains offer a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city and are perfect for elegant wedding cocktails and receptions.
Today, Villa Aurelia is the seat of the American Academy in Rome, a research and arts institution supporting innovative work in the arts and humanities.
The villa serves as a residence for scholars and artists, providing a tranquil and inspiring environment for their work, but it is also a famous event venue.
Wedding planning in Rome
Ava and Nima chose Villa Aurelia for a unique Persian wedding in Rome without even visiting it since they could admire the beauty of the place already from the pictures we sent them.
Once they chose the venue, we started planning this unique Persian wedding in Rome.
What is a Persian Wedding Ceremony about?
A Persian wedding is a rich and culturally significant celebration that involves various traditions and rituals.
What does a Persian wedding look like?
The main difference is the wedding ceremony (Aghd) with the famous Sofreh.
The Aghd is the leading wedding ceremony and typically occurs on the wedding day.
It is a profoundly symbolic and elaborate ritual. The ceremony involves the following components:
Sofreh Aghd: A spread of symbolic items is on a beautifully decorated table. Items on the table may include a mirror, candles, a Quran or poetry book, honey, sugar, coins, a bowl of goldfish, and more. Each item represents a blessing or aspect of the couple’s new life together.
The ceremony Officiant (Sofrehchi) conducts the ceremony. Sofrehchi is a knowledgeable and respected member of the community.
Let’s talk about the bride and groom. The bride and groom wear traditional Persian wedding attire. The bride often wears a white or ivory gown and a headpiece, and the groom wears a suit or traditional Persian clothing (not always).
The Sofreh
Let’s return to the sofreh, where each element has a specific meaning.
For example:
- The mirror symbolizes brightness and light.
- The candles represent energy and clarity.
- The Quran or poetry book signifies spirituality.
- Honey and sugar symbolize sweetness in the couple’s life.
- Espand (Wild Rue): Espand is a traditional element used during the Aghd ceremony. Celebrant burns it to ward off the evil eye and negative energy.
During the ceremony, the couple exchanges vows and receives blessings from their families and guests. Elders often play a significant role in offering wisdom and good wishes to the newlyweds.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds feed each other honey and sugar to sweeten their life together.
The eternal city framed this wonderful moment, and our bride and groom could have their unique Persian wedding in Rome!
A Persian wedding reception in Rome
After the wedding ceremony in the triangle garden under a giant tree, the whole party moved to the Italian garden for the cocktail moment, with some background music from the DJ.
The real party started once they moved to the lemon garden for the seated dinner.
A Persian wedding is also famous for music and dances since they start dancing from the beginning of the seated dinner till the end of the event. They for sure like to party hard.
These dances involve friends and family, creating a joyous atmosphere.
Since the music is an essential element of the event, they chose to bring a Persian DJ from the US who knew better the traditions of such a particular wedding party.
Persian weddings are known for their elegance, symbolism and emphasis on family and community involvement. While many couples incorporate modern elements into their weddings, the core traditions and rituals remain integral to Persian wedding ceremonies.
Thanks to David Bastianoni studio for the beautiful pictures.
Italian gardenPersian ceremonypersian weddingSofrehVilla Aureliawedding at Villa Aureliawedding planner in RomeThis mixture of details makes this kind of wedding beautiful and exciting to organize, and the final result is this fantastic and unique Persian Wedding in Rome!
What do you think?