When Asmaneth and Brian first met, marriage was the farthest thing from their minds. After all, they were just freshmen in high school, with their whole lives ahead of them. Who could have foretold that their young love would blossom into something much deeper and more beautiful?
It all began as a classic case of opposites attract. She was focused on academics and he was a popular athlete, but despite their differences, they were drawn to one another instantly. “I remember thinking how strong and feisty Asmaneth was,” recalls Brian. “The little things about her fascinated me…She used to wear this outfit that was all red – I just thought she was so cool and exotic.”
Asmaneth remembers being struck by Brian’s wide social circle and his success on the athletic fields. “I was, and still am, a huge dork,” she jokes. “Brian was the captain of the baseball team and the golf team…He had all these friends and I didn’t.”
At first, Asmaneth wasn’t sure about beginning a relationship with Brian. Her parents placed a high priority on education and she doubted they would give their permission to date Brian. So, the two began to get to know one another as friends – studying, visiting each other to prepare for tests, and hanging out after school.
Eventually, Asmaneth asked her parents for permission to begin casually dating Brian. While they weren’t thrilled and wanted their daughter to focus on her grades, they figured the fling would fizzle out quickly. But soon Brian and Asmaneth were going steady. “We were sixteen and we fell hard; it was total young love and infatuation,” recalls Asmaneth.
They dated throughout high school, and even after college sent them to different states, they stayed together. Little by little, their relationship began to grow deeper. But being apart wasn’t easy and the young couple eventually took a three-month break. “I think we needed that break to assure us that this was real,” Brian says. “We got back together and things worked out perfectly.”
Brian and Asmaneth’s relationship quickly grew in maturity and depth. Theirs was a love anchored by time, respect, and shared passions and goals. “That was a special time in our relationship,” remembers Asmaneth. “That’s when it really blossomed…We began respecting each other intellectually.”
Brian recalls being inspired by Asmaneth’s professional drive and her commitment to becoming a doctor. Asmaneth was equally impressed by the wonderful support that Brian gave her and by his own talent. So, when it came time to take the next step in their careers, Asmaneth and Brian decided to take the next step as a couple, too. Brian applied to graduate school to study architecture and was accepted to the University of Michigan, just 45 minutes from where Asmaneth was studying medicine at the University of Toledo in Ohio. The couple moved in together and began building a life. While they discussed marriage, they agreed to put it off because of their busy academic and career schedules.
Then, one day, Brian decided he couldn’t wait any longer. “I remember I was in the studio and I was talking to my advisor about my future. This feeling just came over me and I knew it was time,” says Brian.
For the big moment, Brian chose a set up that was simple and sentimental. “I have this pendant that’s like a ring that Asmaneth gave me when we were first dating,” explains Brian. “It was the first jewelry she ever spent her own money on and I’ve never taken it off – it’s been with me our whole relationship…I decided to place the ring on the pendant so that she would see it and be surprised; I liked the symbolism that this little pendant had stuck with us for so long and grown up with us.”
When Asmaneth came home from work, she found Brian wearing the pendant with two rings. “Brian didn’t even say anything; he just had this nervous smile on his face,” recalls Asmaneth. “I started to cry hysterically – it was so totally unexpected.”
So Brian popped the question and Asmaneth enthusiastically said “yes” and immediately, the couple called their family and friends to share the exciting news.
With two large families from different cultures, Asmaneth and Brian knew planning their wedding could be a challenge. At first, Brian was overwhelmed by the thought of a large Persian wedding and the couple considered a destination wedding. But, Asmaneth’s parents wanted to celebrate in traditional style in their hometown. The couple realized what the day meant to their families, and how important reflecting Asmaneth’s culture would be, and they opted to plan a Sacramento soiree for their nuptials.
With her medical residency keeping her busy, the bride had little time to plan. So, she turned to her mother for help. “My Mom planned most of it,” says Asmaneth. “My Mom knows me better than I know myself, so she was perfect to do it. She knew what we wanted and ran with it.”
What Brian and Asmaneth wanted was an elegant, intimate affair that celebrated their heritage and included their family and friends. Allowing their guests to feel comfortable and share in their joy was a priority. They also wanted the reception to be a lively party full of dancing, indulgence, and fun.
Brian and Asmaneth decided upon the Firehouse in Old Sacramento for their ceremony and reception. They opted for the beautiful restaurant not only for its exquisite food and wine, but also for the old world romance and elegance that the onsite garden and courtyard provided. “Once my Mom saw the Firehouse with the gardens and the lighted trees in the courtyard, she really had a vision for what we wanted,” the bride explains.
To complement the beautiful colors of the garden and the architecture, the bride and her mother selected a subtle but stunning neutral color scheme. A muted gold, bronze, and cream were accented by the palest of pinks.
Rather than compete with the rich, lush greenery in the courtyard, Asmaneth’s mother worked with the staff at the Firehouse to set an elegant and sophisticated table. Long, rectangular tables were arranged with cream linens. Table settings with bronze and gold accents played upon the bride’s color scheme. A muted bronze runner was topped with lush, white floral arrangements with accents of pink peonies. To finalize the table, crystal votive holders and candles were added for a romantic glow, while delicate wrought-iron chairs grounded the look.
On the wedding day, the groom relaxed with family and friends while Asmaneth and her sisters went to be pampered at a local beauty salon. Then Asmaneth took a series of funky bridal portraits in her gorgeous wedding gown.
At half past five, Asmaneth and Brian’s wedding ceremony began. The traditional Persian wedding ceremony began with the bride and groom seated in front of a platform table covered by a beautiful woven tablecloth. “The linen is passed down from mother to mother; it’s the Persian version of ‘Something Borrowed, Something Blue’,” the bride explains.
The ceremony, which lasted half an hour, included traditional readings from the Koran. Asmaneth and Brian also selected poetry readings by a famous Persian poet and love poetry by their favorite author.
At the end, Asmaneth and Brian took their vows underneath a canopy of lace, which was held up by her sisters and her sister-in-law. “In Persian weddings, there is no bridal party, so this is where your friends and family come in,” she says. “Your sisters hold up the lace and all the happily married women come up and grind sugar over your heads.”
After exchanging rings, Asmaneth and Brian were pronounced husband and wife. The happy couple kissed and were greeted by their families, who presented them with gifts.
With the ceremony complete, the wedding soon shifted into party mode. During the cocktail hour, the newlyweds took photographs while guests came up to get a closer look at the ceremony table. To help guests understand the symbolism of each item, Asmaneth’s mom had created a ribbon-wrapped to tell the story. On the inside, was a poem that she had written for the couple and an explanation of the ceremony.
As drinks and appetizers began flowing, the newlyweds and their guests began the dancing and celebration, followed by a mouthwatering meal created by the catering staff at the Firehouse: a duet of salmon and steak, asparagus, mashed potatoes, and salad. “The Firehouse did such an amazing job!” recalls the bride.
After completing their meal under the stars, the guests took to the dance floor again. Asmaneth and Brian shared a traditional first dance, with the glow of the lighted trees shining down on the wooden dance floor. Family and friends surrounded them and celebrated the whole night. “It was incredible,” says the groom. “My Dad never dances, and he danced the whole night. Everyone had so much fun.”
As the night dazzled on, Brian and Asmaneth gathered their guests to cut their stunning cake. The tiered creation featured white fondant, which wrapped around the cake in an elegant drape that was reminiscent of the bride’s romantic gown. Bronze and pink sugar flowers cascaded down the side. After enjoying slices in flavors of chocolate, Kahlua, and fruitcake, the guests hit the dance floor once again.
“For a Persian wedding – there has to be a lot of drinks and the dance floor cannot be empty. That’s a successful wedding,” Asmaneth explains. By that definition, there was no doubt the couple’s starlit reception was a roaring success. The dance floor was packed and guests partied until the wee hours of the morning.
The party was so amazing, no one wanted it to end. In fact, the guests stayed overtime – partying and dancing well beyond the original set ending time for the wedding until the venue had to resort to turning off the power so the guests knew they’d have to say goodnight. The newlyweds bid their guests farewell and headed off to their honeymoon suite.
For the happy couple, their wedding was a perfect celebration of their longtime love and Asmaneth and Brian agree their wedding couldn’t have been better. Embracing their families’ hopes and their cultural traditions made the day much richer and more meaningful than they’d ever imagined.
“I’ll admit I was nervous at first about how it would go,” says the groom. “How would the cultures meld…but it was a party right off the bat. I couldn’t be happier – it was 150% perfect!”
It’s a sentiment the bride happily shares. Asmaneth credits her mother with planning a beautiful day, and her vendors with helping her relax and enjoy it. “I’m normally a Type A person, but I was so relaxed that day,” she says. “The wedding was so natural, how could we not enjoy it?”
Photos by Rachelle Photography
