Anil and Mary's Armenian Indian Wedding Part 2
We recently shared part one of Anil and Mary's Armenian Indian wedding featuring all the details of their Indian celebration. Followed by their Indian wedding, the couple held an Armenian wedding on August 4, 2017, with a ceremony at St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church and a stunning reception at Palladio Banquet Hall. We love how the couple combined all the traditions of these two rich cultures into their wedding.
We're excited to share the details of Mary and Anil's Armenian wedding along with the beautiful photos by Jay Jay Productions!
Q: Tell us all about your big day...Did you start your Armenian wedding with the traditional morning celebration?
Mary: Before the church, we had the "hars haktznel" tradition. We had a Dhol Zurna band and welcomed the in-laws with "nazuk". The in-laws brought the tray of cognac and chocolates as they arrived. Just like the old Armenian wedding traditions, we even played the game where you steal the bride's shoes and before we left the house, the in-laws offered money for us to leave.
Q. How was your dress shopping experience?
Mary: I knew my Armenian wedding dress was the one the moment that I tried it on. It was the first of only 3 dresses I tried on. Karoza Bridal in Glendale did amazing custom work to accommodate. We customized a detachable train to match the details on my dress. It was so heavy that it took 3 girls to help lift it up!
Q: What was special about your Church ceremony?
Mary: Anil was baptized in the Armenian Church Sourp Khach (Holy Cross) in Montebello. He knew that Christianity is a big part of the Armenian culture and he was proud to be baptized as part of our commitment to each other. His Armenian name is now Ara (like in Armenian history, Ara Keghetzig).
Q: Where did you guys take your photos on the day of your wedding?
Mary: Besides the church and Palladio Banquet Hall, Jay Jay suggested that we take pictures at the train/Union Station in Glendale the day of our Armenian wedding. Those photos came out amazing. He is truly a master of his craft!
Q: What other Armenian traditions did you incorporate into your special day?
Mary: We had a special Armenian dance (shoorch bar) for the Armenian wedding, along with a few Indian dances. At both weddings honey was represented as a sign of purity, so our mothers gave it to us to eat. Following old Armenian tradition, when we entered the reception, we stepped on plates to break them and his mom put lavash bread on our shoulders for good luck.
Q: What advice do you have for other couples planning their wedding?
Mary: Our advice is to enjoy your planning as much as possible. These days are special and should be filled with joy and love. There may be challenging days, but take them with ease. Despite the stress and hectic schedules, we wish we can go back and relive those days.
Q: Where did you go for your honeymoon?
Mary: Maro travel tech helped us find a beautiful resort on Waikiki beach on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The Halekulani was right on the clear blue beaches and with breathtaking views. We snorkeled, swam with dolphins, and double kayaked.
Vendors & Details
Church: St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Reception Venue: Palladio Banquet Hall
Indian Ceremony and Reception: Marina Del Ray Marriott
Photography & Videography: Jay Jay Productions
Flowers: Avant Garden Events
Rentals: White Night Design, Synx Events
Entertainment: Heartbeat DJ, Gravity Entertainment, Takis kokotas Statoulis
Transportation: Lions Limo
Bridal Dress: Karoza Design
Indian Bridal Dress: Dreams Collection
Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bridal Hair & Make up: Studio Kay Salon, Zhanna the Salon House
Bridesmaids Dresses: Joli Couture
Groom's Tux: Bridal & Tux 4 U
Cake: Rafi's Pastry & Cakes
Catering: Carousel, Bhanu's Indian, Carol Krikorian
Favors: Lara's Gifts
Rings: Facet Gems
Special thanks to Mary and Anil for sharing your beautiful Armenian Indian wedding and Jay Jay Productions for providing the stunning photos.
And if you missed the details from their Indian wedding, be sure to check out the Armenian Indian Wedding Part 1 blog!
Did you have a multi-cultural wedding? If so, contact us as we'd love to hear how you incorporated your cultures into your wedding day.
Tags: armenian , bridal shoes , bride , chocolate , cognac , groom , indian wedding , tradition , wedding cake , wedding day , wedding dress , wedding photography , wedding planning
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