Armenian Wedding

February, 28th, 2009


In Rancho Cordova, a city in Sacramento country, 22 year old Aleena R. was getting for her big day. With the population of the city being primarily Armenian, I had the pleasure to photograph and attend my first Armenian wedding. There are many special traditions that are not practiced in other western weddings.


A few traditions I found interesting were the "basket dancing" at the Brides house. The family has three or four big baskets and a lot of traditional dancing (which I encountered throughout the day) begins. In the baskets contain the brides shoes, jewelry and presents.


Another tradition was the "apple" tradition which symbolizes virginity... It is rarely ever practiced anymore but the best man has a sword with red apples pierced through it. It is offered to the bride at her place on the day of the wedding. The next day, if the sheet of the nuptual bed shows blood (which is apparently shown in public), the red apple is given to the bride's family by the groom's side as a token of "appreciation" that they gave away a good girl who was still a virgin. I think the apples were shown just to follow old tradition, since many modern marriages do not follow through with the bed sheets being shown in public.


At the brides house, in a room of just women, Aleena was dressed by her brides maids and accompanied by her mother and future mother in law.


While the Grooms party meets at the Brides house, the brides brother puts on her shoes, and the family gives their daughter away to her new husband and his family. And of course- a lot more dancing ensued.