Pakistani/Persian Nikaah | Los Gatos, CA
We have been shooting events for the jamal family for a few years now, we were super excited to shoot Mahum their only daughter’s Nikaah an intimate ceremony at their mansion in Los Gatos, CA. Mahum is pakistani and Neema is persian. This was a beautiful fusion of both cultures. We got some quick getting ready shots of the bride and she walked down the stairs to the formal living room where the There is a very elaborate floor spread set up for Aghd, including several kinds of food and decorations, this is called Sofreh Aghd Items in the table include:
Khashkhash (poppy seeds), Berenj (rice), Sabzi Khoshk (Angelica), salt, Raziyane (Nigella seeds), Cha'i (black tea leaves) and Kondor (Frankincense).
The Pastries:
Mirror of Fate and two candelabras, symbols of light and fire. 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.
Symbols of Fertility: decorated eggs, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts.
Coins: A bowl of gold or silver coins representing wealth and prosperity.
The Sacred Text: The Avesta, Qur'an, Bible, or Torah is placed in front of the couple on the spread. Some families also add a poetry book such as Rumi's Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, Hafez's Divan, or the Shahnameh by Ferdowsi.
Prayer Rug: A prayer rug (Jaa-ye Namaaz) or a traditional Iranian Termeh is placed in the center of the wedding spread. The spreadprayer rug, open in the Aghd-cloth is to remind the couple of the importance of prayer to God. The prayer carpet also includes a small cube of clay with prayers written on it (Mohr) and a rosary (Tasbih). Non-Muslim families may or may not omit the prayer kit.
A scarf or shawl made out of silk or any other fine fabric is held over the bride and bridegroom's heads (who are sitting by the Sofreh) by a few unmarried female relatives (bridesmaids). Two sugar cones made out of hardened sugar are used during the ceremony. These sugar cones are softly ground together above the bride and bridegroom's heads by a happily married female relative (and/or maid of honor) throughout the ceremony to shower them in sweetness. The sugar drops in the held fabric, not on their heads.
We got some portraits outside with their vintage car and then proceeded inside for cake cutting and jhoota chupai pakistani tradition. Dinner spread was lavish and spectacular presentation. After dinner there was open dancing, we got plenty of fun photos and slow shutter photos which is the current trend for open dancing photos, followed by family portraits and rukhsati in the just married decorated vintage chevrolet.
Sit back and enjoy the slideshow of this beautiful intimate Nikaah.
