A Colorful Multicultural Wedding at Aria in Minnesota

After talking to their families and researching traditions, Nadia Effendi (31 and a licensing manager) and Miguel Briseño (34 and a musician and photographer) had a very specific vision for their wedding. “Our personal and modern theme was the blending of our two families and their cultures,” Nadia says. After a ceremony with Persian rugs, lanterns and a Sofreh Aghd topped with traditional Persian, Pakistani and Mexican elements, the celebration continued with a Mexican-themed cocktail hour, papel picado and lots of bright colors. Inspired by his father’s wedding attire from the ’70s, Miguel sported an all-black ensemble. Nadia wore a Pakistani lehenga. Persian rugs, lanterns and marigolds decorated the space, which was centered around their ceremony table. Nadia hand-painted denim jackets that channeled traditional Perisan art as a gift for her bridesmaids. “The more color, the better,” Nadia says. Dinner included a grilled apricot and edible flower salad, spinach pie and shirazi salad. fAs the ceremony ended, a mariachi band appeared to usher the wedding party and guests into the cocktail area. While they played, guests sipped on his and hers signature cocktails with Mexican (a tequila and jalapeño concoction) and Persian flavors (a gin, pomegranate, cucumber and rose mix).