Two Ceremonies, One Wedding | Taylor & Payam
Have you ever heard of a couple having two ceremonies on their wedding day? Although it is not common, it does happen and that is exactly what Taylor and Payam did at Keswick Vineyards on Friday, September 27th, 2019.
Keswick Vineyards is the perfect venue when you just need more time during the day to accomplish your dream wedding or weddings. Most vineyards/wineries that have a tasting room require you to wait until their tasting room has closed before you can start your ceremony which usually means around 6:00pm. That is not the case at Keswick Vineyards. Because our tasting room and parking are totally separated and not near one another, our couples can start their ceremony at any time which allows them to spend more time with their guests. So, with that, Taylor & Payam did two ceremonies: A traditional American wedding and a traditional Persian wedding.
For the American wedding, Taylor wore such a simple wedding dress that not too many brides could pull off. Perhaps it was her similar looks to Taylor Swift or her natural beauty, but Taylor with that bright red lipstick left everyone speechless. Along with Taylor and Payam were 9 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen making this wedding party of 18 one of our largest.
Once the American wedding was over, guest were told to turn their chairs around to enjoy the traditions of a Persian ceremony. Taylor & Payam took their seats at the top of a table covered with items that each represent something. An example would be the decorative eggs which represent fertility and healthy children. The table is symmetrical with each side a mirror of the other side. It takes hours for this table to be precisely set. One of the first traditions that the couple does once they are married is to dip their pinky in the honey and share with their spouse. This means that the couple has started their life together with sweetness. It is always such a pleasure to witness other cultures and how they perform their wedding ceremonies.
As entertaining as these ceremonies were, guest continued to be awed by the delicious food and wines being served during cocktail hour and dinner. And as many of our weddings have done this year, the family brought Persian cookies to be displayed on a table along with a cake. There was definitely no shortage of sweets!
Lastly, guest danced (a lot!) and enjoyed taking photos inside a photobooth to forever capture the amazing wedding of Taylor and Payam. Congratulations to you both!
None of this would be possible without the help of the following vendors:
Wedding Planner: Barb Wired
Caterer: Harvest Moon
DJ: Primetime Sound & DJ
Photographer: Amy Jackson (the photos in this blog were captured by owner of Keswick Vineyards, Cindy Schornberg)
Videographer: Amanda FInn
Pastry Chef/Desserts: Albemarle Baking Co.
Florist: Gregory Britt Design
Officiant: Taylor’s Uncle, Andrew Merrow
Sofreh Aghd Officiant: Payam’s Aunt, Niloufar Pourtaheri
Sofreh Aghd Table: Platinum Sofreh
Hair/Make-up: Anne Kibler
Transportation: A&A Limousine
Rentals: Harvest Moon
Additional Lighting: Bistro, Skyline Tent Company
Photobooth: Photobooth of Charlottesville