In yesterday’s blog post, we discussed some ways to make your wedding ceremony unique and special for both you and your guests.
Today’s bride and groom show us why it is important to do so.
Amy and Farris were married in the beautiful Kew Gardens, London. They had a beautiful Baha’i wedding ceremony. ).
We’re thrilled to be able to share not only their beautiful photos by Ronnie & Rose Photography but also their film by Dan from Captured Pictures Company.
Amy & Farris’ wedding was a simple affair, with the beautiful botanical gardens and buildings in their background.
The table decorations included pretty posies, sweet favors, flashes of the past for the table numbers, and lots of great music to fill the dancefloor.
Amy looked stunning in her custom gown with baby’s breath in her hair. Farris, on the other hand, was dapper in his Gucci suit.
This wedding is special because of the way the couple, their family and friends from all over the world, came together in song and words to create something meaningful.
Our Wedding
We wanted to be in nature from the beginning before we booked a venue or wrote a guest list.
London’s unpredictable summer weather makes it difficult to do this.
We visited Kew Gardens in London and could not have imagined a more beautiful garden.
We were fortunate enough to have such a beautiful setting, so we kept the color scheme and wedding theme very simple. The decoration was kept simple with a few white bouquets.
Dresses
Although I bought a dress from Rembo Styling, I had to have it a great deal tailored so that I could wear it the way I wanted.
I chose a dress that was slim-lined, light-weight, and had delicate lace details and sheer lace on my back. This allowed me to feel comfortable throughout the day and not worry about it.
Before the dancing started, I changed into a short dress with sparkles!
On the big day, I asked close family and friends to pick a dress in pink/peach/coral so that there would be a range of colors that went well together. I wouldn’t say I liked the idea that the girls had to worry about being measured for a gown or wearing a dress they might not have wanted.
Advice to other couples
Lizzy’s great blog! (Bridal Musings! )
Bridal Rogue Gallery – Marylebone
It’s possible to cut costs in many areas – it just depends on how much time and effort you have. If you’re looking to reduce your food costs, ask friends and family members to prepare meals.
Relax and enjoy the day – everyone you care about is together and happy.
The Ceremony
We spent the majority of our time on preparations for the ceremony, which was by far our most important part. We received a lot of support and help with the wedding as a whole, but the ceremony was something we prepared for ourselves.
We attended a Bahai wedding ceremony and wanted to share with our friends and family some beautiful writings.
We asked our closest friends to read at the ceremony. Parents, cousins, and old friends from around the world who traveled to be with us were all there. It was incredible to hear people who were so dear to us read such beautiful words during our wedding.
Three Baha’i Readings were put to music by some of our friends who have great voices. Both of us have Middle Eastern roots, so we had the prayer recited using Arabic chanting.
The majority of the readings we did spoke of the importance of marriage in creating happiness and unity within a person’s own life, as well as with extended family members and communities. We wanted to remember the importance of marriage and the beauty of it, as well as its responsibility on that special day.
The readings that we selected reflected our understanding of marriage and the kind of marriage we hope to have.
Overall, it was an elegant ceremony with music, writings that touched the heart, and a summer breeze blowing through the conservatory.
We signed our marriage certificates after reciting the vows. This is a simple phrase in the Baha’i Faith.
Below is an example of a reading…
The Lord, who is unsurpassed, has made man and woman to live in close companionship and be as one soul. It is two friends who are intimately connected and should care about each other’s welfare.
They will live in this world with complete contentment, bliss, and peace of mind, and they will be the objects of divine grace and favor in the Kingdom.
The Music
We played classical violin/piano music for our ceremony as guests entered, mingled, and walked down the aisle.
Sandy sang a fun Persian wedding song as we entered The Orangery, the venue for our breakfast lunch. We had our Middle Eastern friends and family dance ahead of us, and we followed.
We chose ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ by Bobby McFerrin for our first dance. It was a casual and non-rehearsed first dance. We chose a song on the night before our wedding! )
The rest of the evening was spent with a mixture of Arabic, Persian, and current hits.
