Real Wedding
Check out some examples of real wedding flowers. We were so pleased to provide the flowers for a recent wedding at a favorite local historical venue, The Palos Verdes Golf Club. The bride was of Persian descent, so in addition to the centerpieces, arch décor, bouquets, and bountonières, we also provided sofreh wedding flowers.
What is a Sofreh?
A sofreh is a Persian wedding tradition where a specialist designs the ceremony area with a table or stage filled with decorative items and food. The items have symbolic meanings related to the marriage. The word sofreh is Farsi for “spread”. The “Sofreh Aghd” is a specific type of sofreh that includes a ceremonial table covered with symbolic items.
The Sofreh for the wedding. Photo by Figlewicz Photography
The couple hired a professional to handle the stage and setting for the sofreh, but we made all the florals.
What’s included in a Sofreh?
Many couples decorate their Sofreh displays with several kinds of food and decorations. They will be sure to inlude include herbs, pastries and flowers. Here are some more examples of what is included in a display:- The Herbs: Khashkhash (poppy seeds), Berenj (rice), Sabzi Khoshk (Angelica), salt, Raziyane (Nigella seeds), Cha’i (black tea leaves) and Kondor (Frankincense).
- The Pastries: Noghl, Baklava, Toot (Iranian marzipan), Naan‑e Bereneji (rice cookies), Naan‑e Badami (almond cookies) and Naan-Nokhodchi (chickpea cookie) are placed on the spread and traditionally served to the guests after the ceremony.
- Mirror of Fate and two candelabras, symbols of light and fire.
- The Blessed Bread: A specially baked bread with calligraphy written on it.
- •Naan‑o Paneer‑o Sabzi”: Bread, feta cheese, and greens are also placed on the spread to symbolize the basic food that is needed to sustain life.
- Symbols of Fertility: decorated eggs, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts.
- The Heavenly Fruits: pomegranates, grapes, apples.
- 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.
- Prayer Rug: A prayer rug (Jaa-ye Namaaz) or a traditional Iranian Termeh is placed in the center of the wedding spread.
Fabric is a Star, Too!
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.
Here is the Instagram post from the photographers (who we love to work with always!) Figlewicz Photography.
More Real Weddings
This isn’t the first wedding where we designed for a Persian wedding. Here is another example of sofreh wedding flowers by Flower Duet.
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