Oldouz and Ben

October 1, 2010

Millcreek Inn

Occupations*: Oldouz is a database architect for a marketing outsourcing company. Ben is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Utah. His research is focused on cosmic ray physics.

*How the couple met*: In 2003, Oldouz was enrolled in a first-year physics course with Ben's ex-wife, Jennie. Jennie decided to play matchmaker and took Oldouz to Ben's office after telling her that she knew the perfect guy to help Oldouz with her homework. Once they started going through the homework set, Oldouz offered to take Ben out for coffee. On the way to the coffee shop, Oldouz was having such a hard time keeping her eyes on the road that she almost got in three separate wrecks (in less than a mile). This went on for several weeks until Oldouz ended the relationship she was in and Ben was subsequently asked her out.

How he proposed*: In 2009, Oldouz and Ben spent their second year together at Burning Man. On their first night at festival, after many hours of touring around looking at art installations and dancing a spontaneous parties, Ben asked Oldouz to get something out of the front pocket of a backpack. Instead of finding what she was looking for, she found a ring. Ben then dropped to his knee and rattled off string of seemingly random syllables that the Internet had assured him would indicate to a Persian girl that he wanted to marry her. Surprisingly, it worked!

*Bridal shower/Bachelorette party*: While all sorts of ambitiously foolish ideas floated around the week before the wedding, ultimately Oldouz spent a warmly intimate night at her sister Orchid's house in the company of her sister, soon-to-be sisters-in-law, and a couple close friends.

*Bachelor party*: The bachelor party held at the The Hive: http://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Salt-Lake-UT/The-Hive/186713080958 There was lots of Belgian beer, hors d'oeuvres from Liberty Heights Fresh, an artistic burlesque troupe, five cans of fluorescent latex body paint, and a twister board. It was epic (and no cameras were allowed).

WEDDING

*Ceremony Place*: Millcreek Inn

*Date*: October 1st

*The bride wore*: A flowing ivory gown by Maggie Sottero.

*The groom wore*: Classic Edwardian evening wear complete with top hat and kid gloves.

RECEPTION

*Reception Place*: Millcreek Inn

*Wedding music*: A couple DJ friends from Burning Man spent four months creating an ensemble of Middle-Eastern themed electronica.

*Menu*: Mediterranean Buffet: Endive Pear Salad, Greek Salad, Seared Eggplant, Isreali Couscous, Mediterranean Dover Sole, Marinated Shoulder of Australian Lamb, Hummus and Middle Eastern Breads

*Cake*: Lemon cake with ivory-colored frosting adorned with purple paisleys.

*Colors*: Royal Purple, lilac, ivory

*Theme*: "When East and West become one"

*Flowers*: Studio Stems. The bouquets and table arrangements were all based around purple flowers with the addition of peacock feathers to give the bridal bouquet a Persian twist

*Décor elements*: Paiselys!

*Unique details*: Our American ceremony was officiated by Mayor Corroon. We had readings from writers around the world in their native tongues: Robert Burns in Scots, Alexandr Pushkin in Russian, Madeline l'Engle in English, and Rumi in Persian. After the recession, we returned for a Persian ceremony officiated by a former mayor from Iran. This was conducted in front of a ceremonial Persian wedding spread that Oldouz's mother had obsessed over for several months before the wedding.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT

*Bride's answer*: Attempting to ballroom dance to electronic music with Ben

*Groom's answer*: Ben's most memorable moment was when he jumped the gun and kissed Oldouz before the mayor had instructed him to do so.

HONEYMOON

*Place*: The entire honeymoon was a surprise for Oldouz. The night of the wedding we went to the Grand America in Salt Lake. The next morning we jumped in the car and started driving. The first night we went to Jackson, Wyoming. The next day we went hiking in the Grand Tetons. After spending a second night in Jackson, we spent the next day touring around Yellowstone. After spending the final night at the Old Faithful Inn, we spent some more time in Yellowston and then traveled home via Lewisville, Idaho where we found the grave site of Ben's great-great-great-grandfather, the first Stokes to come to America.

*Most Memorable Moment* On the last morning, we took all the petals from Oldouz's bridal bouquet and set them afloat in the Firehole River.

WEDDING ADVICE

1) Before you start to think about anything else (venue included): formulate a guest list. 2) If you get married in Salt Lake, get the Grand Honeymoon package at Grand America for your wedding night. It's pricey but it's money well-spent.

VENDORS

*Rings*: The stone for Oldouz's ring is an extremely rare natural, untreated padparadscha that was procured directly from a mine in Sri Lanka. The platinum ring and setting was custom-made to fit the stone by a platinum smith in Honolulu. Ben's ring was made of tungsten carbide and acquired off Ebay from this seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/lampard0603

*Invitations*: The wedding invitations were printed in India by http://www.indianweddingcard.com/

*Rehearsal dinner*: The rehearsal dinner was held at The Roof in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

*Photography*: Photography was done by http://www.opiefoto.com

*Bridal gown*: the bridal gown was a Maggie Sottero Vanessa procured off Ebay from this seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/chelseabridal

*Alterations* Express Tailoring & Reweaving, 672 S 300 W

Hair and Makeup: Landis Lifestyle Salon, 1298 S 900 E

Bridesmaids' dresses: The bridesmaids' dresses were procured off Ebay from this seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/yourweddinghome/

*Groom’s Tux/Suit*: The groom wore a tradional white-tie ensemble pieced together from acquisitions from several merchants on Ebay including: http://myworld.ebay.com/formaltailor http://myworld.ebay.com/monkeysuits http://myworld.ebay.com/*damco* http://myworld.ebay.com/fashion455 http://myworld.ebay.com/thetuxxman

*Flowers*: Studio Stems: http://www.studiostems.com/

*Catering*: The catering was all provided by the venue with the exception of the Persian pastries which were provided by Pars Market, 3949 Highland Dr

*Cake*: Carries Cakes: http://www.carriescakes.com/

*Venue:* Millcreek Inn: http://www.millcreekinn.com/

*Entertainment/Music: * Jared Gallardo of Jellyfish 12000: http://www.jellyfish12000.com

Officiant: Peter Corroon (American Ceremony) and Mahdi Hoseinyzad (Persian Ceremony)