WOW Wedding LIFESTYLE
Sarah & Mirza
Some love stories are written in the stars... B Y L AU R E N H E N RY • P H OTO S B Y C A R L S . M I L L E R P H OTO G R A P H Y
Some love stories are written in the stars long before they are formed in the heart. Sarah and Mirza Salkovic are a testimony of one such narrative. Sarah, a Lexington native and Mirza, who moved here as a sophomore in high school, first met when introduced by mutual friends. It was soon evident that theirs was a neverending love, and plans for a summer wedding on August 24th of 2019 quickly commenced. For their traditional Persian themed wedding, the bride and groom desired an elegant venue in Lexington with the ability to provide a large open space where everyone was able to see them easily throughout the ceremony. The Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa on Newtown Pike was the perfect fit! As is custom, Sarah and Mirza partook in the Aghd ritual, which is the quintessential centerpiece of the Persian wedding celebration. Sarah explains, “The traditional Persian wedding ceremony spread, also known as the Sofreh Aghd, includes many symbolic items, all in which represent an element of the couple’s new life and marriage together.” Seated in front of the Sofreh Aghd, Sarah was a princess in her stunning gown from the White Dress of Lexington while Mirza was princely in his tux by Macy’s. The bride and groom sat at the head of their wedding table
where 23 symbolic Sofreh Aghd items containing custom and profound meaning to the couple were present. Some of the sacred items present on Sarah and Mirza’s table included: a mirror representing light and brightness for the newly married couple’s future; a needle and thread symbolizing the ritual of two people becoming one and two families becoming one; coins to symbolize wealth and prosperity for the couple; rose water for good luck; candles and candelabras to symbolize energy and clarity in the couple’s life together; flowers symbolizing love; honey consumed at the conclusion of the ceremony to represent sweetness for the couple’s life; and the Quran symbolizing God’s blessing over the couple. Another special feature of their wedding was their first dance. Sarah shares, “We coordinated our first dance with three songs, each of which was a different language to incorporate both of our origins.” Other memorable moments occurred during the reception when one of Mirza’s friends lifted Mirza, who is 6’6, onto his shoulders, taking him for a literal spin and when one of their guests pulled the entire camera crew onto the dancefloor. The couple laughs remembering, “The camera crew were all shocked because they had never experienced this at other weddings!”
April 2020 | TOPSinLex.com
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