Wedding dance

Description

Archie and Helen’s wedding celebration included the customary “theft” of household items from the bride’s home conducted by members of the groom’s family the night before the wedding during the henna party celebrations. Archie’s relatives literally took everything from the Altoonian household, leaving not even a broom to sweep up the mess, making Vartanoosh Altoonian very upset . At their reception, the groom’s family and friends danced in the items that had been taken. This photo shows groomsmen Leo Tosoonian, Peter Bedrosian and Archie’s sister-in-law Azadouhi Misakian dancing in with the ironing board. Jim Malcus is dancing with a movie camera, and Eshak Mooradian has the framed portrait of the Altoonian children held aloft. The bridal party is dancing around the “thieves”. During this dance, promises were made by the bride’s family to entertain the groom’s family to ransom back their items. This “old country” wedding tradition is no longer common but was a wonderful way to bring two families