Persian weddings are known for their beauty and their warmth: a candlelit spread full of symbols, a ceremony with family gathered close, and a reception that dances well past midnight. Canada has large Iranian communities, especially in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, and many couples blend Persian traditions with a civil or religious ceremony and a Canadian venue.
Every family does things a little differently, so treat this as a starting point to talk through together.
The sofreh aghd
The sofreh aghd is the decorated spread the couple sits in front of during the ceremony. It is often laid on the floor or a low table and is full of meaning. Common items include:
- ✦A mirror and two candelabras, for light and a bright future. The mirror is often the first place the couple see each other during the ceremony.
- ✦Flatbread, feta and herbs, for a life with plenty to share.
- ✦Honey, which the couple feed each other for a sweet life.
- ✦Decorated eggs, nuts and sweets, for fertility and abundance.
- ✦A holy book, often the Quran or the Divan of Hafez, depending on the family.
- ✦Gold coins, rosewater and incense (esfand), for prosperity and to keep bad luck away.
Some couples rent a full sofreh from a stylist, and some families set up a cherished one passed down through relatives.
The aghd ceremony
During the aghd, women in the family often hold a silk cloth above the couple and rub two sugar cones together, sprinkling sweetness over the marriage. The officiant asks for consent, and by tradition one partner waits to be asked more than once before saying yes, while guests call out playful reasons for the delay. The couple then share the honey and are showered with good wishes.
In Canada, many couples hold the aghd with close family and also complete the legal paperwork with a licensed officiant. Check the rules for who can marry you in Canada early.
The aroosi
The aroosi is the celebration: dinner, music, dancing and plenty of sweets. Expect a long party, a knife dance before the cake is cut, and guests who will be on the dance floor all night. Ask your venue about how late music can play and whether they can serve a late-night tea and sweets table.
What to ask venues and vendors
- ✦Is there space for a sofreh setup near the ceremony area, and can it go up early?
- ✦Are open candles allowed?
- ✦Can your caterer serve Persian dishes, or may you bring a Persian caterer?
- ✦Does your DJ know Persian music as well as the songs your other guests love?
- ✦Has your photographer photographed an aghd before, so they know to capture the sugar cones and the mirror?
On OpenDates, businesses can tick the traditions they know well. Browse Persian wedding businesses across Canada and ask them about your date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the aghd and the aroosi?
The aghd is the marriage ceremony around the sofreh. The aroosi is the celebration that follows, sometimes on the same day and sometimes later.
Can we rent a sofreh aghd in Canada?
Yes. Stylists in cities with large Persian communities rent full setups, and many decorators can build one with you.
Do we need a separate civil ceremony?
To be legally married in Canada, a licensed officiant must perform the ceremony and you need a provincial marriage licence. Many couples arrange this with the same officiant or on a separate day.
Plan it in one place
Find venues and vendors who are free on your date with OpenDates, and keep the guest list, budget, wedding website and seating chart together in OpenDates Ever After, free for couples.
Mobarak bad! Kristina
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