Timeless Elegance in Umbria

Photography by Paola Colleoni for Parshan & Lucas

Amongst the rolling Umbrian landscape and architecture steeped in ancient beauty, Parshan and Lucas wed at a celebration imbued in sentiment, tradition and Italian charm. In a romantic collision of cultures, Parshan’s Iranian background and Lucas’s South American heritage converged to create an event wholly unique and intimately shared with friends and family from across the globe.

Enamored by the timeworn facades and majestic allure of Chiesa del Carmine, they let the poetry of the venue speak for itself, only adding elegant layers of blush roses and tapered candlelight for their ceremony.

The reception unfolded at dusk, with two dramatic long tables adorned in crisp linens and timeless dinnerware. Classic wrought iron chairs draped in pashminas lined the tables, keeping guests warm amidst the night air. From above, rows of peppered lights danced in the blackened sky while a feast of Italian delicacies was served, igniting regale and revelry that flowed late into the evening…

It was a family affair with Lucas’s mother styling the event and Parshan’s father handcrafting her bespoke gown, all details beautifully captured by Paola Colleoni.

Our Story

Names / Parshan & Lucas

Wedding Date / 5th September, 2018

Guest Numbers / 60

How We Met

We met in June 2013. A mutual friend put us in contact, and I spontaneously took a trip to Ecuador to work at Lucas’ architecture firm, odD+.

He was my boss for the first little while, and it was only meant to be a temporary stay. How things change…

Our Engagement Story

We decided to get married on the train in Italy, traveling from Venice in May 2016.

The Details

Wedding Location

We wanted an intimate wedding, and a chance for our families to spend time together and get to know each other. Lucas’ family is from Ecuador, and I’m Iranian born, Canadian raised, with family scattered all over the world.

A destination wedding in Italy seemed like the perfect opportunity for our families to meet, greet, eat the best food, and have to most memorable time in a different yet magnificent setting – something new, something to look forward to.

We came across Chiesa del Carmine online. The pictures were breathtaking, the staff were lovely, the wines delicious, and the truffle woods really sealed the deal. We went with our gut feeling, and it was the perfect decision.

Preparation

To kick-off the festivities, we had a welcome celebration at Carmine’s winery, Vineria del Carmine, as our families met for the very first time! The venue was stunning, and there were plenty of truffles on the menu. It was such a happy evening, filled with music, dancing, great food and wine, and the absolute best company.

The night before the wedding was a rehearsal dinner hosted by the groom’s family at Ristorante Il Caldaro. It was a night filled with live music, exceptional wines, fantastic food, and many heartfelt speeches by our family and friends.

The final event was a farewell BBQ, a relaxing day after the wedding, which some enjoyed by the poolside. It was a lovely afternoon and the perfect send-off for all of our guests. They were all truly blown away by the series of events, and we couldn’t have asked for a better time.

Overall Style / Aesthetic

The style and theme of the wedding were meant to compliment the Umbrian landscape; the rolling hills, the vineyards, and the ancient architecture framed the wedding beautifully. The setting was already picture-perfect and very romantic, therefore we went with a soft look of neutrals, lush florals and romantic layers.

Ceremony Decor

Many of my ideas for the ceremony came from ancient Persian manuscripts. My mother and I collected vintage brass candleholders for almost a year and all of the elements that composed the Persian Aghd table.

And for the decorations, Pinterest is always helpful!

Reception Decor

The decorations were directed by my talented mother-in-law, Monica Sevilla of Cayetano Y Monica Decoraciones and executed by the lovely wedding planners at Chiesa Del Carmine. Of course, Monica had every little detail custom-tailored for the event.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

My mother-in-law Monica Sevilla took care of the styling, while Chrissie Todd and Alessandra Zucca were the event planners at Chiesa del Carmine. They were in charge of all coordination, from accommodation to transportation, day trips, our three pre/post wedding events, the wedding ceremony and reception, and every little detail that goes into welcoming 60 guests from 10 different countries! They were truly exceptional.

Fashion Notes

Bride’s Dress

My father, Jalal Fatehi, made my wedding dress. He’s a scientist by profession, but the most talented maker. He spent one year meticulously patterning and sewing my dress, carefully choosing all of the materials, and creating every little detail. The dress is made of French lace and satin. I’m so deeply proud of his work, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. It truly fits like a glove.

Jewellery / Accessories

I used the earrings my mother wore on her wedding day. Halfway through the evening, I changed to a pair my mother-in-law gifted me earlier that day.

Grooms Attire

Bespoke Luigi Bianchi Mantova tuxedo.

Style Notes

Stationery / Invitations

Ecuamag Invitaciones.

Flowers & Bouquets

Roses were gifted to us by a friend of Lucas’s. 2500 roses were shipped from Greenrose, Ecuador! Our florist Stefano Giambarioli made the arrangements in Italy.

Cake

We had an Italian Millefoglie as the wedding cake.

Food & Beverages

Food was one of the main reasons we chose to get married in Italy. Lucas and I both love to eat and cook Italian food, and I must say, the menu was outstanding.

The entire menu was regional Umbrian cuisine by Ristorante Apollinare. We started with an extensive Antipasti Buffet during cocktail hour by the pool, followed by a five course dinner, and a fantastic dessert buffet.

Honeymoon

Our honeymoon began with a road trip from Umbria to Veneto, spontaneously stopping at different villages, eating at the most delicious foods, and discovering the most special hidden spots along the way. One of these spots was Abano Terme, a commune known for its hot springs and mud baths, the perfect place to stumble upon, to relax and unwind after our four-day wedding celebrations.

With our mutual love for food, Lucas surprised me with a cookery course called Stirred, located in a luxury 15th-century Villa in Veneto in the northeast of Italy, the heart of Italy’s prosecco region. The itinerary was filled with seven days of cooking, eating, drinking, and tastings of local prosecco, wines, olive oils, and cheeses. We learned a tremendous amount about the Italian culinary, which we apply to our lives today.

This incredible experience was followed by some days in Venice, our favorite place to visit. We love Venice for many reasons, but most particularly, as architects, we love attending the Venice Biennale of Architecture.

Wedding Songs

‘Gole Yakh’ by Kourosh Yaghmaei was our first dance song.

Readings

Our family and friends were very much involved in the wedding ceremony. They shared poetry and blessings during the Persian Aghd Ceremony and took part in the special rituals and traditions throughout.

Special Details

A Memorable Moment

So many special moments, but I think for the guests, the moment that is most talked about, even to this day, is the ceremony.

In the Persian Aghd Ceremony, it is customary for the bride to not answer when she is first asked to take her fiancé’s hand in marriage. Lucas’ family were unaware of this tradition and were absolutely shocked and terrified when I stayed silent! For a short few seconds, you could see the fear and disappointment in their faces. It normally takes additional encouragement from the families to receive an answer from the bride.

In our case, our mothers were called upon to lend a hand. Our mothers sewed a few symbolic stitches onto the unity cloth that was held over our heads, symbolizing the binding of two people coming together and two families becoming one.

One Thing I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Wedding Plans…

Planning a wedding from a distance is challenging. My family and I were in Canada, I was completing my masters, Lucas and Monica were in Ecuador, and we were all planning a wedding in Italy with guests coming from ten different countries! It was overwhelming at times, but in the end, everything went very smoothly and it was all perfect.