My First Persian Wedding

Last weekend Laleh and I had the pleasure of attending a Persian Aqd ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society on Kensington Gore. It was the first Persian ceremony I had witnessed live rather than on DVD. I think our non-Iranian guests have got a lot to look forward to! To describe it as loud an energetic would be an understatement! As one of Laleh's relatives said as I was dragged on to the dancefloor before the ceremony had even begun, 'If you think this is frightening, imagine what it will be like with 200 of us in San Francisco!'

Can't wait to find out!

Wedding Poem

This is a poem that Laleh's father has written and had caligraphed to mark the upcoming wedding ceremony. Click on the image to see it full screen.

San Francisco - Weather Warning

I thought it might be useful to share a little perspective on what the weather is likely to be like in San Francisco in July. While San Francisco may be geographically in California, in terms of climate it could as well be on a different planet. San Francisco has its own micro-climate which is particulalry pronounced during the summer months.

San Francisco summers have scant in common with summers elsewhere. Marked by billowing white fog, the majestic product of sea spray, wind and Central Valley heat, San Francisco summers are characteristically overcast and cool, while the marine layer usually burns off by the afternoon. By late August, however, the fog thins and produces the iconic white finger of white pouring through the Golden Gate Bridge, rolling over Treasure Island and splaying against the Berkeley and Oakland hills, missing much of San Francisco altogether.

Present of Presence

Having the presence of our friends and family at our wedding is really the best present we can receive. However, should you wish we have registered at The Wedding Shop. Our wedding list can be found online at www.weddingshop.com/guests, or by telephone on + 44 20 7384 8400.

Invitations

Our invitations are being posted this week. However, if you'd like to be techno pioneer our e-RSVP facility is now live on the website. You can find it under the 'Directory' page.

'the story of how we met....'

Apparently a few of you want to hear the details of how we met. Hmmm....will need to take advice on that. But, something will be up by the weekend!

Flight Competition

We're running a competition for the flight arriving in San Francisco with the most wedding guests. Obviously, this gives a slight advantage to those of you flying in from London. So, there will also be prizes for the longest flight and the most exotic departure point.

So far British Airways flight BA285 on Thursday 19th July is in the lead. However, BA287 on the same day is only one passenger behind. If you'd like to take part in the competition just drop us a line with your flight details and we'll add you to the database.

What does the logo mean?

We've had questions about the meaning of our wedding logo. The design is composed of both our names in Persian script. 'Patrick' is the lighter script in the background while 'Laleh' is the darker script in the foreground. In Persian a 'Laleh' is a tulip and the script has been designed to evoke the shape of the flower. Laleh's father commissioned the design from a graphic artist in Iran.

Hair & Nails and Just About Everything Else

For ladies (and gents) who want to get their hair and nails spruced before the wedding Laleh recommends 77 Maiden Lane which is located just a block away from Union Square.

For appointments e-mail: a77salon@aol.com or call +1 (415) 391-7777.

Welcome!

Welcome to our wedding blog which is designed to complement the wedding website at www.lalehandpatrick.com. On the blog we'll be keeping you up-to-date on developments, offering insights on travelling around California and helping you connect with other guests coming to San Francisco.

Patrick & Laleh