Victoria and Jake incorporated meaningful symbolism throughout the entire celebration, from pomegranates on their invitations, representing abundance in both cultures, to custom-designed kippahs. Every tradition was intentionally chosen to reflect not only where the couple came from, but also the life they are creating as husband and wife.
They began with a traditional Sofreh Aghd, the Persian wedding table filled with symbolic elements representing love, prosperity, health, and a joyful marriage, which they followed with a Jewish ceremony beneath the chuppah, symbolizing the home they would build together.
Not that Victoria and Jake stinted on style – this was one seriously elegant wedding, centered around a monochromatic palette of soft pinks with the most stunning florals. We also love that the duo “wanted the celebration to feel less like a formal reception and more like guests had stepped into a vibrant Middle Eastern beach club—where everyone was welcomed, every culture was celebrated, and no one wanted to leave the dance floor.” Don’t miss the incredible energy in the exquisite photos by Vadim Pastuh.
One of the most meaningful moments happened during the reception, when Victoria and Jake danced with the American, Israeli, and Persian flags, in a beautiful celebration of surrounded by love, joy, and unity. In Victoria’s words, “Our wedding was a reminder that love transcends labels, borders, and traditions.”
Read on for the full story in the bride’s own words…
Venue
Victoria, the bride: Jake and I chose the JW Marriott Grande Lakes because it offered everything we were looking for in a wedding venue. The staff was exceptional—attentive, professional, and dedicated to making every detail seamless. The expansive resort also allowed our guests to enjoy both privacy and the full resort experience throughout the weekend. It was especially important to us to select a venue close to a major airport, making travel convenient for our family and friends flying in from across the country.
Theme
Our wedding theme was a celebration of timeless elegance, centered around a monochromatic palette of soft pinks. I knew I wanted an all-pink wedding, but I was determined for it to feel sophisticated and romantic—not like a baby shower or gender reveal. Our wedding planner, Carly Magnarella of Carlisha Rose Events, brought that vision to life flawlessly. Every detail, from the florals to the linens and lighting, worked together to create a cohesive, elevated design that felt both modern and unforgettable.
Carly was an absolute superstar throughout the entire planning process. She specializes in fusion weddings, so from the very beginning we knew our Persian-Jewish celebration would be in the best possible hands. She understood how important it was for us to honor both cultures authentically while creating one seamless experience for our guests.
Our wedding was a fusion of Persian and Jewish culture, tradition, and faith—something deeply personal to both of us. We incorporated meaningful symbolism throughout the entire celebration, from pomegranates on our invitations, representing abundance and prosperity, to custom-designed kippahs that reflected our Jewish heritage. Every detail was intentionally chosen to tell our story and share the traditions that matter most to us.
In a time when the world often feels divided, we raised the flags of Israel, America, and Persia (lion and sun) and celebrated side by side, surrounded by love, joy, and unity. Some may say that Persians and Jews are at odds, or that a love like ours is unlikely. But history tells a far more nuanced story—one of connection, coexistence, and shared humanity. Our wedding was a reflection of that truth.
Invitation/Stationery
Our invitations, signage, and day-of stationery were designed by Jamie Lee of The Moxie Workshop, and she played such an important role in tying our entire wedding aesthetic together.
From the invitations to the ceremony and reception signage—and even custom napkins—every detail felt cohesive and thoughtfully designed. Jamie really helped us infuse personality into the paper goods while still keeping everything aligned with our soft monochromatic pink theme.
Her work brought a sense of fun and creativity to the overall design and helped set the tone for the entire weekend from the very first piece our guests received.
Hair + Makeup
My makeup artist, Liz Santana, is known for her signature Hollywood waves and flawless glam makeup. As a Persian bride, I didn’t want to shy away from a more elevated, dramatic look—and Liz absolutely understood that vision. She created a look that felt polished and radiant while still enhancing my natural features.
Dress
For the ceremony, I wore a custom ball gown designed by Dina Hawidi of Arlington, Texas. Years before we were even engaged, I stumbled across Dina’s Instagram as she was growing her custom bridal business. I immediately fell in love with her intricate beadwork, dramatic ball gowns, and incredible craftsmanship. If you know anything about Middle Eastern bridal fashion, you know it embraces grandeur, intricate embellishments, and making a statement—and I knew from that moment that if I ever got married, I wanted Dina to create my wedding gown.
Ironically, Dina wasn’t the first bridal designer I visited. My mom, mother-in-law, and maid of honor planned a girls’ trip to Dallas, where we visited Iconic Bride. The moment I tried on a Blanche gown—a drop-corset mermaid silhouette—we all looked at each other and instantly knew it had to be my reception dress. There wasn’t a single ounce of hesitation. It was probably the easiest wedding dress decision a bride could make.
Accessories
My veil was designed by Dina Hawidi, and it was absolutely stunning—elegant, detailed, and everything I had envisioned. It was also surprisingly heavy, but in the most beautiful, dramatic way that made it feel truly bridal and special.
Shoes
For shoes, I honestly struggled more than anything else in my wedding look. I couldn’t find anything I loved for the longest time and felt like I was endlessly searching for the right pair. Eventually, I discovered Sarah Flint almost by chance, and it was exactly what I had been looking for. I chose the Perfect Sling 85, which matched my vision perfectly—classic, comfortable, and effortlessly elegant.
Bridesmaids
For my bridesmaids, I wanted them to have the freedom to choose dresses they felt beautiful and comfortable in, while still keeping everything cohesive with our overall aesthetic. We selected a coordinated color palette and used Dessy, which made it easy for everyone to find a style that suited them while staying within the same tonal family.
Ceremony & Chuppah
Honoring both of our backgrounds was one of the most meaningful parts of our wedding day. We began with a traditional Sofreh Aghd, the Persian wedding table filled with symbolic elements representing love, prosperity, health, and a joyful marriage. We then transitioned into a Jewish ceremony beneath the chuppah, symbolizing the home we would build together. Every tradition was intentionally chosen to reflect not only where we come from, but also the life we are creating as husband and wife.
Our original ceremony was planned outdoors beneath an existing pergola. The Sofreh Aghd would be displayed in front of us, and my husband’s tallit was to be draped over the pergola, creating our chuppah. It was exactly how we had envisioned blending our two traditions.
Then, less than an hour before the ceremony, a classic Florida rainstorm changed everything. Within minutes, our entire vendor team sprang into action. Every floral arrangement, the ketubah, signage, the Sofreh Aghd, and countless ceremony details had to be carefully moved indoors and completely reimagined.
One of the most memorable moments of the day came from our incredible production team FyerFly. With no existing structure to work with, they quite literally built us a chuppah from scratch. They were running throughout the venue gathering materials, problem-solving in real time, and doing everything they could to create a sacred space worthy of our ceremony.
While it wasn’t the design we had originally envisioned, watching the care, urgency, and heart they poured into making it happen made it even more meaningful. Their dedication reminded us that the beauty of a wedding isn’t found in perfect plans—it’s found in the people who come together to make those moments possible.
In the end, our ceremony became even more symbolic than we had imagined. Our wedding was more than a celebration—it was a reminder that love transcends labels, borders, traditions, and even unexpected storms.
Ketubah
Like many Jewish couples, we viewed our ketubah as so much more than a marriage contract—it was a meaningful work of art that would become a permanent part of our home and a reflection of our marriage.
Ironically, choosing our ketubah was one of the hardest design decisions I made. I spent months searching because I couldn’t decide on a style that truly felt like us, and before I knew it, I had waited almost too long to have one custom made.
Then we found the perfect design: a beautiful pink ketubah adorned with pomegranates. It immediately felt like it was meant to be. The soft pink palette complemented our monochromatic wedding perfectly, while the pomegranates held special significance in both Persian and Jewish traditions, symbolizing abundance, prosperity, fertility, and blessings for a joyful future together.
Our music choice
Music was one of the most important parts of our wedding because we wanted the celebration to feel less like a formal reception and more like guests had stepped into a vibrant Middle Eastern beach club—where everyone was welcomed, every culture was celebrated, and no one wanted to leave the dance floor.
Our wedding party made their entrance to the Persian classic “Bigharar” by Moein. As they entered, they proudly carried the American, Israeli, and Persian flags, symbolizing the three identities that have shaped our story. It was an incredibly meaningful moment that reflected the spirit of our wedding: unity, pride in our heritage, and the belief that love brings people together.
To bring that vision to life, we flew in our incredible DJ and entertainment team from Toronto. Our DJ, drummer, and MC created an atmosphere that was electric from the very first song. DJ Borhan masterfully blended Persian hits, the high-energy Hora, and nostalgic 2000s throwbacks, keeping every generation on the dance floor all night long. It never felt like a typical wedding reception.
Flowers
Our floral design was centered entirely around our blush pink monochromatic vision.
We incorporated lush arrangements of pink baby’s breath, pink roses, and pink hydrangeas throughout every part of the wedding, creating a soft, romantic atmosphere from the ceremony through the reception. Both my husband and I also carried pink calla lilies, which added a modern, elegant touch and tied our floral story together beautifully.
Our incredible florist, Sarah Leung of Flower Girl Designs, completely exceeded our expectations. One of the things guests commented on all night was not only how many flowers there were, but also how the entire reception smelled like a fresh flower garden. Sarah had such an eye for selecting the perfect shades of pink that complemented our blush monochromatic palette without feeling overly sweet or one-dimensional.
Photographer and videographer
Photography was one of our biggest priorities, so choosing the right photographer was an easy decision. Our photographer, Vadim Pastuh, had photographed our engagement session in Lake Como, Italy, in November 2024, and we immediately knew we wanted him to capture our wedding as well.
Vadim and his wonderful wife, also an incredibly talented photographer, traveled from Europe to photograph our wedding, making it so special to have the same team document our journey from engagement to marriage.
We knew we were in the best hands. Vadim was named World’s Best Photographer in 2025, recognized among the Top 20 Wedding Photographers in Europe, and has been featured in Vogue. We truly couldn’t have imagined anyone else capturing our day.
Food and cake
Our catering was handled entirely by the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, and everything—from the service to the presentation—was seamless and beautifully executed.
For dessert, we had a five-tier blush pink wedding cake that perfectly matched our monochromatic theme. The cake featured traditional piping details, subtle hidden bows, and was topped with two elegant swans. Inside, it was a vanilla base layered with lemon curd and raspberry filling, and finished with fresh fruit for a light, balanced touch that guests loved.
For dinner, guests were offered a choice of beef tenderloin or salmon, both of which were executed beautifully and received so many compliments throughout the evening.
Wedding List/Registry
Bloomingdales and Williams Sonoma.
Extra Details
Our wedding took place during a deeply uncertain and emotionally charged moment in global events, and we were very intentional about acknowledging that reality in a meaningful, symbolic way.
We incorporated a moment into our celebration that felt like both a tribute and a statement of unity. As part of our reception, we danced with the American, Israeli, and Persian flags, representing our identities, our families, and the communities that shaped us. It was a powerful expression of love, pride, and solidarity—honoring where we come from while choosing connection over division.
More than anything, our intention was to reflect the idea that our shared humanity is greater than the narratives that often separate us. Our wedding was a reminder that people and cultures are deeply intertwined, and that love has the power to bridge history, identity, and difference in a way that feels hopeful and grounding.
Honeymoon
For our honeymoon, we traveled to Morocco, and our very first night happened to fall on Passover.
Shortly after my husband moved to DC, he befriended a rabbi and mentioned that we would be in Morocco during Passover. That connection unexpectedly led to one of the most meaningful parts of our trip, he helped arrange for us to join a local family hosting Jewish travelers for a Passover Seder.
Sitting at that table, surrounded by people we had just met, celebrating a tradition so deeply rooted in history and identity, was incredibly special. It was the perfect start to our honeymoon, intimate, and deeply meaningful in a way we will never forget.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
If I could give one piece of advice to future couples, it would be this: don’t stress so much about achieving the “perfect” wedding—or even the “perfect” weight. I spent months trying to lose those last few pounds, only to realize that the nerves during the week leading up to the wedding did most of the work for me anyway!
More importantly, understand that something will go wrong. Maybe the microphones won’t work, the signage won’t be placed exactly where you envisioned, or an unexpected Florida rainstorm will completely change your ceremony plans. Ours certainly did.
But once you’re standing together, saying the Seven Blessings, drinking from the kiddush cup, and beginning your marriage, none of those little details matter anymore. Your guests won’t remember a misplaced sign or a last-minute change—they’ll remember the love they witnessed between you and your partner.
I was incredibly hard on myself throughout the planning process, and if I could do it all over again, I would spend far less time worrying about perfection and far more time soaking in every moment. At the end of the day, your wedding is about your marriage, not your timeline.
VICTORIA & JAKE’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Vadim Pastuh
Venue & catering – JW Marriott Grande Lakes
Planner – Carlisha Rose Events
Bride’s dress & veil – Dina Hawidi
Bride’s reception dress – Iconic Bride
Bride’s shoes – Sarah Flint
Bridesmaids – Dessy
Hair + Makeup – Liz Santana
Flowers – Flower Girl Designs
DJ – DJ Borhan
Production – FyerFly
Stationery/Invitation – The Moxie Workshop
Wedding List/Registry – Bloomingdales and Williams Sonoma
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, you’ll want to join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club. Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for Jewish and Jew-ish brides that removes wedstress and indecision and gives you what you need to plan with confidence during these uncertain times. Join our Brides Club here.
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