The Mill at Fine Creek | Richmond, Virginia | Wedding | Angela & Soheil

Angela and Soheil’s love story started with a friend crush. Angela’s best friend, Maureen, had moved in with some new roommates, and Soheil was one of them. The group hang out a lot, and soon Angela found herself falling for Soheil. The feelings were mutual. A few years later, after a night away for a friend’s wedding, Soheil planed a day full of surprises for Angela near their home base of Washington, D.C. After an amazing meal at Range in Chevy Chase (owned by Frederick’s own Bryan Voltaggio!), they headed to a play at The Kennedy Center, a dream come true for Angela. While touring the center’s rooftop and marveling at its amazing views, Soheil popped the question, and Angela, naturally, cried. We captured their gorgeous downtown D.C. engagement session earlier this year, and were eagerly anticipating a short trip down I-95 to Richmond, Virginia,  in late August, for their wedding day at The Mill at Fine Creek, including lots of details celebrating Soheil’s rich Persian heritage, which Angela heartily embraced.

The day started with some beautifying with the ladies from Jennifer Saunders Makeup & Hair Service.

Angela thought of everything — we loved the shirts she and her bridesmaids wore for getting ready, perfectly coordinated with their dresses!

Angela’s gown was all kinds of gorgeous, a stunning blush, covered in beautiful lace details. The hanger (“Mrs. Saeed”) was a gift from Soheil.

Some final touch-ups before getting into the dress! It’s for real!

For her graduation, Angela received this pearl necklace from her mom. On her wedding day, she wore it again.

Soheil’s mom gifted her new daughter-in-law with a pair of beautiful earrings.

It was all smiles and tears as Angela read a note from her soon-to-be husband.

Meanwhile, over at the cottage next door, the guys were busy tying ties and making jokes.

And Soheil took some quiet time to read a letter from Angela.

And then it was time for the “first look.” Such a great, supportive group of friends!

These two were so excited to see each other! The nervous energy was contagious…

So much love.

Could these two be any more gorgeous?

The Mill at Fine Creek is a Virginia Historic Landmark, and it’s surrounded by lush forest and impeccably maintained grounds. The perfect backdrop!

Erica Hutchison of Black Creek Flowers and Sweets created the florals.

With the first look before the ceremony, we had plenty of time to explore it with Angela and Soheil and their wedding party.

And there’s Maureen, Soheil’s former roommate, and Angela’s best friend. A great choice for a Matron of Honor!

Such gentlemen!

As Angela ducked back inside, Soheil greeted the busloads of guests arriving for the ceremony.

Soheil shared a special moment with his grandmother before the wedding ceremony…

… as Angela waited inside the bar, watching guests arrive and preparing for her big entrance!

Traditionally, Persian marriage ceremonies take place before a beautiful wedding spread called the Sofreh-yeh Aghd. Soheil’s mother and a dear family friend handcrafted all the special details. Gold coins symbolize wealth, wild rue (a Persian incense) keeps the evil eye away and brings health, and pomegranates and apples symbolize a joyous future…

As part of the Sofreh, Angela and Soheil included the holy Qu-ran, symbolizing religious, as well as cultural, traditions. In Soheil’s native Farsi, was an ornate script saying “Moborak bad,” or “may it be blessed and prosperous.”

Decorated eggs, walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts symbolize fertility and health, while a bowl of crystallized sugar, “Kaas-e Nabaat/Shaakh-e Nabaat,” symbolizes the sweetness of life, and continued happiness.

We love this idea for a favor — inside these cute envelopes was a scratch-off lottery ticket!

Both Angela and her mom got emotional when it was time to walk down the aisle.

During a traditional Persian wedding ceremony, the Aghd, the groom and bride are each asked for their consent to marry. The groom responds quickly, but the bride makes him wait, creating suspense and excitement. After the third time she was asked, Angela responded in both Farsi and English, saying, “With the permission of my parents and elders, Yes!”

After their first kiss as husband and wife, the couple dipped their pinky fingers in a cup of honey, or assal, and fed the honey to each other, to start their life together in sweetness.

They did it!

Right after the ceremony, the entire wedding party lived up to the party in its name — so much hugging, yelling, and celebrating!

Then, it was time for family photos. Angela’s grandmother couldn’t have smiled more.

And Soheil’s mom couldn’t have been prouder of her son.

These giant balloons were amazing, a surprise gift that turned out to be a great photo prop.

Angela is such a wonderful, sweet person. Her beauty shines, inside and out!

Included with the Sofreh is a mirror (Ayeneh-yeh Bakht) and candelabras (Shamdoon). The mirror represents truth and the candles, placed on either side of the mirror, are symbols of light and fire, representing a bright future.

Gotta love some sibling love. Soheil’s sister kept saying “I can’t believe I am at my brother’s wedding!”

Always love awesome props during toasting time.

Before the bride and groom could cut their cake, they had to earn the knife during a traditional Persian knife dance, the Raghseh Chagoo. In a playful dance set to music, Soheil had to “buy off” the bridesmaids and female members of his family. Soheil offered money to impress the knife-holders, who could hand over the utensil to cut the cake, or not! Once the cake was cut, dancing resumed and the party really started!

Elizabakes created the pretty (and pretty tasty) wedding cake!

First, a sweet dance between mother and son, and then, it was time to open the floor, with help from Choice Entertainment.

You know what we love? When we run into another couple whose wedding we’ve photographed. Here’s our intrepid shooter, David, with Angela and Soheil and Jenna and Chris, who were married only a few months prior!

Between dances, we managed to grab the newlyweds for some portraits in the lit-up mill.

And, all too soon, it was time for the magical day to end… with a sparkler sendoff, of course!

Thank you, Angela and Soheil, for including us in your truly beautiful day. It was as special as the two of you are, and we were honored to be a part of it!