This Chicago History Museum Wedding has officially been dubbed the “Big Gay Persian Wedding” by the self-described non-binary brides, Ro + Andy. They combined cultures to create a truly *magical* wedding that encompassed who they are as a couple.

Their Story

“We met through a dating app shortly after Andy moved to Chicago for grad school,” Ro told me. “Immediately on our first date, we knew we had found something special. When we didn’t want the date to end, we got ice cream at Jeni’s and stayed as long as we could before saying goodnight with our first kiss. It’s been over five years since then, and that feeling that we fit just right together has only gotten more certain throughout all the joys and challenges of life. We can’t wait to start the rest of our lives together, knowing our love will only strengthen with time.”

Getting Ready, First Look + Portraits

Ro’s family is Iranian, which meant they grew up speaking Farsi and that they KNEW this wedding was going to be epic. Their mom wept while helping them put on the dress (it was such a sweet moment) and dad couldn’t stop smiling! There was lots of FaceTiming with family who were halfway across the world to celebrate their union. Andy got dressed just a floor below with the help of their mom. I absolutely loved seeing all of the personal elements the couple incorporated into their outfits, from the intricate hair pieces to the watch and bracelets.

After a private (but very giddy!) first look in Andy’s room, we set out with the wedding party for portraits. Our first stop HAD to be Jeni’s, the very location where Ro + Andy had their first date! The light refracting from the windows created rainbows everywhere, it was so cool. From there we took some portraits at the South Pond before heading over to the Chicago History Museum.

The Sofreh Aghd

One of the most important aspects of their ceremony was the sofreh. Translating to “spread” in English, the sofreh is a Persian tradition where couples sit next to a large display of important objects and symbols. I remember Ro describing what it was going to look like, but I was blown away with how beautiful everything looked put together. Combined with the stunning florals, this was a display I will honestly never forget.

During the ceremony, sugar cones were rubbed together above Ro + Andy’s heads, symbolizing sweetness and happiness. This sentiment is also represented by the couple dipping their pinky finger into honey and feeding it to their partner. Once Ro + Andy kissed, their guests erupted with applause before being going into the other room for cocktail hour.

Chicago History Museum Wedding

The couple decided to spend the next 40 minutes away from guests… because they had a surprise! Ro chopped off over 8 inches of hair to debut their fresh cut for the rest of the evening. Their mom had the BEST reaction when they finally came out to greet everyone! Once everyone was seated for dinner, the couple made their entrance and cut the cake. After hearing some heartfelt speeches during dinner, Ro + Andy shared a first dance to “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac. Andy then danced with both their mom and their dad separately while their sister sang the music. Once Ro danced with their dad, guests poured onto the dance floor to party with the newlyweds.

Ro + Andy are good friends of mine, and being able to photograph their Chicago History Museum wedding was truly unforgettable.

Venue: Chicago History Museum / Coordinator: Arlotta Events / Florals: Hedonia Flowers / Hair: Essri Hair Studio / Makeup: Hannah Bayens / Getting Ready Hotel: Viceroy Chicago / Signage: LBrown Design & Paperie / Ro’s Dress: Weddings 826 / Andy’s outfit: Uncommon Closet / DJ: DJ Armin / Catering: Paramount Events / Cake: Alliance Bakery