Dreamy Wedding at The Griffin House in Hood River Incorporates Persian Elements

Sometimes, physics can lead to chemistry. When Zahra Hayati ventured to the U.S. from Iran to start her graduate studies in physics at Florida State University, sparks flew when she met classmate Bradford Cannon. “On Valentine’s Day 2014, [Brad] gave me a pink flower and asked me to be his Valentine,” says the bride. Just over nine years later, the pair tied the knot at The Griffin House in a dreamy, light-filled wedding set against a breathtaking backdrop of rolling hills, verdant vineyards and the majestic Columbia River Gorge. The bride and groom sought to infuse their love for good food, hiking and their separate cultural heritages into their special day. Zahra explains, “We didn’t have a Persian-style wedding, but we wanted to incorporate Persian elements.” For example, the groom’s ring— purchased from a store in Iran—was engraved with the couple’s wedding date according to both the solar Hijri calendar and the Gregorian calendar to symbolize the uniting of their two cultures. The couple exchanged vows flanked by arrangements of blush and white garden roses accented with baby's breath, with Brad giving some of his promises in Zahra’s native tongue. The reception, held under hanging greenery and among cascading flowers, was filled with Persian songs and dancing, including the unique Baba Karam dance. The infusion of Persian flavors even found their way into the Champagne toast, with the bride ensuring that each glass of Champagne contained rose jam at the bottom of the flute and rose petals floating at the top. There was also a traditional tea station. “I mixed the idea of a tea station with wedding favors so that guests could pick a teacup, select their favorite tea, try all sweets and finally take home their cup along with mini bottles filled with sample tea and rose buds as a gift,” notes Zahra. Tables showcased smaller arrangements of the signature flower combination. As the evening progressed, guests signed a painted representation of the venue, a lasting keepsake of the idyllic setting for the newlyweds.