Armenian (Irani) Wedding, Glendale, CA, 1993

Another custom is to hide the bride's shoe and, when found, to see if it fits anyone other than the bride. As the last item of her bridal dress, Zhuliet's shoe, which was not claimed by another, is put on her right foot by her eldest brother.

Katrina Thomas's notes: The largest concentration of Armenians in the U.S. is in Glendale, CA, most having emigrated from Iran. Both the bride and groom of the two weddings I photographed were born in Iran, but keep the customs of old Armenia. A unique marriage ceremony, shora-orhnank, is blessing the bride's wedding dress which has been purchased by the bridegroom and is brought to her home for sanctification by a priest. Afterwards, if a betrothal ceremony has not been performed already, the priest may follow the blessing of the dress with a rite of espousal. The custom of the groom providing his bride's dress has been abandoned today.