Parissa + Atta | Elegant Downtown Hotel Wedding | San Diego

Parissa & Atta’s Persian-American Wedding at the Westgate Hotel

Some couples dress up for the occasion. Parissa and Atta dress up as a lifestyle. Their June wedding at the Westgate Hotel in downtown San Diego was elegant from the first detail shot to the last dance. The day blended a traditional Persian ceremony with a Western one, followed by a reception that didn’t let up all night.

From a Rolls Royce to the Westgate

I first worked with Parissa and Atta at their engagement session at Pasadena City Hall. They showed up in a green ball gown and a sharp suit with a matching green tie. Then they topped it off with a Rolls Royce, booked just for the shoot. So when they told me they’d chosen the Westgate Hotel for their wedding, it made perfect sense. If you missed it, take a look at their Pasadena City Hall engagement session with a Rolls Royce.

A French-Inspired Landmark Downtown

The Westgate Hotel brings old-world European style to the middle of downtown San Diego. Inside, you’ll find crystal chandeliers, gilded details, and a grand curving staircase. Up top, a rooftop terrace looks out over the surrounding skyscrapers. That mix of classic interiors and modern skyline gave us two completely different looks in one venue.

Getting Ready in the Details

The day started with the small things that set the tone. Parissa’s satin heels and the couple’s rings sat beside their custom monogrammed stationery, which included photos from their Pasadena City Hall engagement session. Then the women closest to her helped Parissa into her off-the-shoulder ball gown. With a tiara and a long cathedral veil, the look was pure royalty. Her first walk down the Westgate’s grand staircase felt like a scene from a period film.

A Sofreh Aghd on the Rooftop

The Persian ceremony took place on the rooftop terrace. The couple sat before a sofreh aghd, a traditional spread filled with symbolic items, including a mirror, candelabras, and fresh flowers. As the ceremony went on, women from their families held a delicate cloth above the couple’s heads. Meanwhile, two cones of sugar were ground together over the cloth, a wish for sweetness in the marriage. Later, Parissa and Atta each dipped a finger in honey and fed it to the other. Surrounded by family, it felt both intimate and grand at the same time.

Two Ceremonies, One Seamless Moment

Instead of separating their traditions, Parissa and Atta blended them. The Western ceremony followed right after the sofreh aghd, in the same spot on the terrace. Local news anchor Shally Zomorodi officiated both, guiding the couple from one tradition straight into the next. As a result, it didn’t feel like two events. It felt like one celebration with two chapters, flowing naturally from start to finish.

Skyline Portraits at Sunset

After the ceremonies, I took the couple back out for portraits as the sun went down. The city’s glass towers reflected the warm light, and Parissa’s veil stretched across the terrace. Then we moved inside to the grand staircase and the hotel’s ornate lounges. Two settings, two moods, all within a few floors of each other.

A Ballroom Reception With Serious Energy

Inside, the Westgate’s ballroom glowed under its chandeliers. And then the dancing started. Persian music filled the room, and the dance floor filled right along with it. At one point, Atta’s friends hoisted him into the air above the crowd. Meanwhile, Parissa danced in the center of a circle of guests, waving a white handkerchief overhead.

A Persian Knife Dance Before the Cake

Before the cake cutting, guests took part in a Persian knife dance. One by one, dancers took turns holding the cake knife and dancing with it, playfully refusing to hand it over. To get the knife, the couple had to offer a little something in return. It’s one of my favorite traditions to photograph, and the whole room was laughing and cheering along. Eventually, the knife made its way back, and Parissa and Atta cut the cake together.

Two Traditions, One Celebration

Parissa and Atta’s wedding honored where they came from while celebrating where they’re going together. Between the sofreh aghd, the skyline portraits, and a dance floor that never emptied, the day was every bit as stylish as they are. Congratulations, Parissa and Atta.

Planning a wedding at the Westgate Hotel? You can also see Meghan & Nick’s French-inspired Westgate wedding, or check out our full venue guide to learn all you need to know about The Westgate Hotel’s wedding accommodations. And if you’d like to explore how photography fits into a Westgate wedding, reach out, and let’s talk about your day.

The Wedding Vendors and Creative Partners Behind the Day

Photography: PMC Photography

Venue: The Westgate Hotel

Officiant: Shally Zomorodi