REAL WEDDING

  • Photography By:

    J. Cogliandro Photography

    NEDA MEHMANDOOST & REZA RAHGOZAR

    April 11, 2015 in Houston, Texas

    Neda Mehmandoost and Reza Rahgozar met in a college biology class in San Antonio, Texas in 2007. Both were studying to become doctors and immediately clicked. After completing their bachelor degrees, Neda was accepted to a new school and moved to Philadelphia in order to further her medical education.

     “I knew it would be a challenge for us to be apart, but neither of us were willing to see it any other way,” she says. “We spent four long years in a long-distance relationship and continued to have faith in our love. Skype was a life saver, too!”

    THE GOLD ACCENTS ON THE CASTLE’S IVORY WALLS ALSO SERVED AS INSPIRATION FOR THEIR WEDDING THEME COLORS.

    During 4th of July weekend in 2013, Neda’s last year of school, Reza got down on one knee in Philadelphia’s romantic LOVE Park, and popped the question. Of course, Neda said “Yes!” and the wedding planning process began for a spring 2015 wedding.

    From the moment they saw Chateau Cocomar, the newly-engaged couple knew it would be a magical place to host their special day. With both of them being Persian, they also knew their wedding had to be nothing short of glamorous. There was something beautiful in every crevice of the French-inspired castle, from sweeping archways to extravagant chandeliers. The gold accents on the castle’s ivory walls also served as inspiration for their wedding theme colors, which was a combination of gold, ivory, and blush pink.

    Neda and Reza are both busy doctors, so Neda’s mother stepped in to help with planning the event. “My mother has a deep passion for gardening succulent flowers,” Neda explains. “I wanted to incorporate small, meaningful details to personalize our big day and, of course, honor my mother.” Unique table numbers were held up using succulents that were handpicked from Neda’s mother’s garden, adding the perfect personal touch. Her father also put together a gorgeous dessert table filled with Persian sweets.

    April showers were falling on the day of the wedding, but the weather only made the event that much cozier. “One special memory from that day was seeing my favorite uncle, who passed away about two months later at a young age,” says the bride. “I am so blessed that I was able to see him one last time, and in such a happy setting–dancing and laughing the night away. His laughter and smiles that night are forever ingrained in my heart, and watching him in my wedding video later meant the world to me.”

    The wedding turned out to be everything the newlyweds had hoped it would be. Neda says, “In the end, it was a beautiful weekend with our friends and family, and we are blessed beyond words to have been surrounded with so much love on our big day.”

    >Written By: Lauren Malamala


    WEDDING TALENT

    Location: Chateau Cocomar, Houston, TX; Floral Design: Plants N Petals, Houston, TX ; Cake: Edible Designs by Jessie, Houston, TX


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