عقد

In an Iranian wedding the aghd and the عروسی (arusi, the party) are two separate events, sometimes on the same day, often weeks or months apart. The aghd is the moment a couple becomes legally and religiously married. It happens at a سفره عقد (sofre-ye aqd), a ceremonial spread laid on the floor with mirrors, candles, honey, sugar cones (کله‌قند, kalle-qand), herbs, a Quran or a Divan-e Hafez, decorated bread, and dishes of seeds and sweets. Each item has meaning. The mirror and candles symbolize light and clarity. The honey is shared between the couple to start the marriage with sweetness. The sugar cones are rubbed together over a white cloth held above the couple's heads, raining sugar on them.