A super intimate Iranian Ceremony at Didsbury House, Manchester
Last summer I was chuffed when Elham asked me to photograph her Iranian Engagement Ceremony on the patio of the super cute boutique Hotel, Number Eleven Didsbury Park.
I might refer to this as an Engagement, or a ceremony, Sounds a bit confusing? is it an engagement party? Or is it a wedding? So with many Arab and Persian cultures, the Engagement ceremony actually means the religious ceremony, when they’re officially married. Most couples then plan the big wedding scheduled a few months later, with a white dress and the works.
With lockdown though I can see a lot of couples being happy with just a small intimate ceremony, even after Elham and Ehsan’s engagement, I actually said to Elham, why are you even planning a wedding, when today was just so perfect? And it really was, with Elham and Ehsan’s nearest and dearest with them to celebrate, with around twenty guests.
Elham and her mum decorated the super cute Garden Lounge with shades of peach and ivory. The whole look gave the event a very Mediterranean feel. Despite the August showers (yes, it often rains a lot in August), we managed to get some gorgeous portraits in the private garden.
Elham is super stylish, the kindest heart and a genuinely amazing person. However, she also has a super cheeky streak, and walking in with her dad in a gorgeous Needles and Thread Dress, took her seat next to Ehsan, and said ‘Baba’, look- she lifted her dress to reveal a pair of converse trainers to match Ehsan’s. Her dad just laughed and said ‘You crazy girl Elham’.
Just like with traditional Persian ceremonies, Elham had a gorgeous Sofreh Aghd laid out (to read more about Sofrehs, click here. Elham hates honey so when it came to getting Ehsan to taste the honey, she hadn’t told him she switched honey out for Golden Syrup lol!
One of the highlights from the day was Ehsan’s ring falling into the decking right at the time the couple were exchanging rings (awks!!). Luckily Ehsan’s best friend Dave came to the rescue with his wedding band and not long after, came the hotel handyman to the rescue with his tools, and actually lifted half the decking up to retrieve Ehsan’s new ring from amongst the debris lying beneath!
Although I love photographing big weddings, I equally love photographing intimate events as they have a very different vibe. I almost always need tissues in my bag because I’m crying at all the emotions flowing through.
A special mention to Elham, and brides like her, she got her white converse and her dress dirty from walking in the rain, it rained, and then some but despite elements not being ‘perfect’, everything actually was perfect, because she held her head up high and enjoyed every single moment. It’s a bride’s positive attitude that makes her wedding the perfect dream one. A girl might have the most perfect Pinterest wedding but if she’s nitpicking on stuff that really isn’t that important, that is actually what she’ll remember of her wedding.
Here are some of my faves from the day.
Elham and Ehsan
Dress Needles and Thread, London
Makeup Make up by YSR
Florals, Elham and family
Venue and food Number Eleven Didsbury Park
Violin Keyvan Moasser
