REAL WEDDING:: SUSAN KARIMIHA + RICHARD RUSSO

SUSAN’S STORY:

It was a Friday evening at the beginning of spring, in March 2017. We met at Magpie Café in downtown Baton Rouge for a dinner date. The date with Richard felt warm, natural and we had good chemistry. The next weekend, Richard invited me as a date to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and a wedding in New Orleans and I agreed. We had so much fun and shared friends in common. After about 1 month of dating, we decided to define the relationship.

RICHARD’S STORY:

The first time I spoke to Susan, we talked on the phone for over 1 hour. Susan came to Magpie Cafe that Friday night and I was immediately attracted to her and sweet personality. I asked her to be my date the next weekend for a friend’s wedding, where she ended up knowing more people than I did. We had so much fun in New Orleans that weekend. We continued going on dates, and on her birthday, I took her out to dinner. I asked her to be my girlfriend the next day. We’ve been dating ever since.

Susan's bridesmaids each wore a different style dress within a warm golden and blush color palette.

Richard and Susan pose for portraits on the Cabildo rooftop.

The couple planned a Persian wedding as a special ode to Susan’s family’s heritage. Special traditions included a complete Persian Ceremony. This included a full spread called a “Sofreh Aghd,” for the ceremony, an altar which includes very traditional ceremonial items which have specific significance.

During the ceremony, happily married women grinded sugar over Susan and Richard’s heads and the couple fed each other honey off of their pinkies in front of all the guests.

The "Sofreh Aghd" included Rue Seeds, Traditional Pastries, Mirror and two candelabras, Bread, feta cheese, and greens, Decorated eggs, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts, Fruits: pomegranates, grapes, apples; Gold Coins; Hafez's Divan, and an Antique Paisley Rug.

The wedding festivities included a traditional Persian knife dance called the “Raghseh Chagoo” where guests “steal” the cake knife and dance with it and the couple must pay to get it back. Several guests danced with the knife before giving it to the happy couple to cut their wedding cake.

“Our favorite part of the wedding day was watching all of our loved ones, in the historic Cabildo in the French Quarter, dancing and drinking to the music of DJ Sultan. All of our hard work and planning paid off,” shares Susan. “Celebrating with our friends and family is a memory etched forever in minds and hearts.”

The reception ended with a traditional New Orleans second line through the streets of the French Quarter.

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ADDITIONAL CREDITS:

PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEO: WeddingLens | GETTING READY LOCATIONS: Beau Séjour Bed & Breakfast (Bride); Hotel Monteleone (Groom) | CEREMONY + RECEPTION LOCATION: The Cabildo | OFFICIANTS: Fatimah + Habib Pourian | BRIDE’S GOWN: David’s Bridal Collection, David’s Bridal | MENSWEAR: Joseph & Feiss Black Notch Lapel Tuxedo, Men’s Wearhouse | FLOWERS: Designed by Bride, Built by Bridesmaids with flowers from Villere’s, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods | BAKERY: Walmart Bakery (Wedding Cake) and City Donuts (Groom’s Cake) | CEREMONY MUSIC: DJ Sultan | RECEPTION ENTERTAINMENT: Kinfolk Brass Band | HAIR + MAKEUP: Travis Quibodeaux for TQ Hair Studio (hair) and Devin Bajoie (makeup) | WEDDING PLANNER: Megan Sapp for Down Annie Lane and Fatimah Pourian (Persian ceremony designer) | DECOR RENTALS/CANDLE DECOR/LIGHTING: Perrier Party Rentals | FAVORS: Black Tie Mercantile | INVITATIONS: The Constance Creative