Two traditions
The Ceremonies
Friday, October 2 · 4:00 pm
Church of St. Nicholas
The Wedding Party
- Bride
- Anoumid Vaziri
- Groom
- Anthony Cullen
- Celebrant
- Father Pero Markić
- Maid of Honor
- Donya Shodja
- Best Man
- Paul Cullen
- Parents of the Bride
- Maryam Montazeri & Behzad Vaziri
- Parents of the Groom
- Ann & Eamonn Cullen
- Flower Girls
- Orlaith Cullen & Faye Jameson
- Music
- Cellists Nina Zvone & Elza Filipović
Order of Service
Introductory Rite
Entrance Procession
Canon in D
Lighting of the Candles
Ani and Anthony light two candles, representing their presence here as two individuals who come together in marriage.
Entrance Antiphon
Opening Prayer
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading
Song of Songs 2:10–13, read by Ann-Marie Jameson
Responsorial Psalm
Lauda, Jerusalem (Psalm 147), sung by Ann Cullen
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 13:4–8, read by Ann Cullen
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Rite of Marriage
Declaration of Consent
Blessing of the Rings
Exchange of Rings
Prayers of the Faithful
Read by Terry Deeney, Patrick Dawson, Eoin Diffley, Dermot Kelly and Joseph Cullen
Lighting of the Marriage Candle
Raglan Road. Ani and Anthony light the center candle, symbolizing their unity in marriage.
Prayer of the Newly Married Couple
Nuptial Blessing
Concluding Rite
Final Blessing
Signing of the Register
Air on the G String
Recessional
Spring, Vivaldi
Saturday, October 3 · 3:30 pm
The Persian Ceremony
The Sofreh Aghd is a traditional Persian wedding spread, arranged with symbolic elements derived from nature that celebrate love, unity, abundance, and the couple's journey together.
On the Sofreh
Mirror
Reflects the couple's bright future together
Candles
Bring light, clarity, and warmth to their union
Bread
For a life full of nourishment and celebration
Coins
Represent wealth, luck, and success
Sweets
A little symbol to wish the couple a sweet and joyful life together
Fruits
A symbol of health and a joyful life
Honey
For a sweet beginning and a sweeter journey together
Rosewater
Sprinkled for its fragrance, bringing purity, freshness, and love
Wheat
A wish for abundance and prosperity
Spice
To protect the couple from negative energy
Eggs
A symbol of fertility and new beginnings
Nuts
Signify a rich and fulfilling life
Sugar Cones
A symbol of sweet blessings for the couple
Book of Poetry
Verses of love to bless the union
A poem by Saadi
One glance from you, my love, is worth more than a thousand words, more precious than any gift this world could ever give.
You are not like the sun, rising only to disappear again. Others may come and go, but you remain constant, eternal, unchanged.
And so, my love, I ask nothing more of time or fate, only that I may remain beside you, lost in the sweet intoxication of loving you, as you remain, forever, within my heart.
All my life, I shall remain lost in the sweet intoxication of loving you, for even before I came into this world, you had already made your home within my heart.
How could I ever speak of life without you, when my heart has never known a world in which you were not there?
The moment you revealed your face to me, every wandering path came to an end.
This heart of mine has long belonged to you. Take it, beloved, and hold it close; for after all the days of longing, let love at last be its healing.
A wise heart knows to whom it should surrender. For destiny is not ours to command, nor love ours to explain.
Some hearts are simply drawn together, as though they had known each other long before they ever met.