Six couples share the intimate (and practical) details of the unforgettable big day.
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Tara Farhangi and Ali Ghassemi
“I love shoes—that’s my weakness,” says Tara. “I knew I wanted ivory satin peep-toes and found a picture of these Louboutins on-line, from Saks. So I e-mailed my mom a picture and said, ‘These are my wedding shoes,’ and she gave them to me as my bridal shower gift (All photographs by Michael Francis)
Ali Ghassemi staged a cinematic proposal scene when he asked Tara Farhangi, his girlfriend of five years, to marry him. Tara was in the bathroom of their condo at Bayview and Lawrence, getting ready to go out to dinner. When she emerged, still in her bathrobe, she saw a trail of candles leading to the living room. A bouquet of white roses, with the engagement ring tied to it, was hanging from the ceiling. As their song—Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”—played, Ali handed Tara a love letter, got down on one knee, and proposed. “I’m very private, and I hate being the centre of attention, so the proposal was perfect,” says Tara. “It was intimate.” They were married last August in a traditional 40‑person Zoroastrian-Persianceremony at Ali’s parents’ house in North York, with a reception at Copper Creek Golf Club in Kleinburg.
At Tara Farhangi and Ali Ghassemi’s Persian ceremony, the important women in their lives sprinkled sugar on the ghand draped above them, to symbolize the sweetening of their life together
THE DETAILS
Date: August 29, 2009
Dress: Custom-made by a family friend
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Hair: Mina Naseri, a friend with a home salon
Makeup: Anna Nenoiu
Groom’s clothing: Custom from Emporio Uomo, Woodbridge
Bridesmaid dresses: Enzoani
Venue:Ali’s parents’ house in North York (ceremony); Copper Creek Golf Club in Kleinburg (reception)
Caterer: Copper Creek Golf Club
Cake: Amadeus Fine Cakes
Flowers: Floris
Music: Emshab Entertainment, DJ Dynamite
Invitations: Stephita
Number of Guests: 200
Photography: Michael Francis
“We wanted a simple chocolate- hazelnut cake so that our florist, Judy Bayat, who’s a good family friend, could decorate it with real flowers. We chose white hydrangeas and and white roses”
“There’s so much dancing at Persian weddings, and the bride and groom are very central to it. You have to move around and try to dance with everyone”
Great photos and comments, only surpassed by the wonderful day we had, I loved the dancing, the food, the company and the total harmony of the day. Great job. Love, Auntie Carol
March 10, 2010 at 12:04 pm | by Carol GroundBeautiful picture of the two of you! What a lovely wedding that must have been, Erinn. Bev, – friend of your grandparents,Harvey and Helen, and actually related through your grandmother’s family.
March 26, 2010 at 7:31 pm | by Bev Sawyer