Wedding | Keyana & Linus

The Anti-Bride
Aug 14
7 min read

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We’re quite different in many ways, but we balance each other out effortlessly. What really brings us together are our shared values and the way we see life: full of movement, growth and curiosity. We live fast-paced lives, we tend to move at least once a year, travel often, and are always exploring new business ideas.

Linus works in real estate investing and is incredibly driven, with a strong focus on health, family and discovering new places. I’ve worked alongside him, but recently shifted gears to focus on building my portfolio as project manager in renovations and interior design. I also have a big love for animals, philanthropy and cooking.

After the wedding, our next chapter is figuring out where we want to settle. We’ll be traveling and spending time in different places to see what feels like home and we are beyond excited to see where we will end up!

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We were actually just about to sign with a venue in Italy when everything changed, we found what felt like our dream holiday home tucked away in the Swedish countryside. As soon as we saw it, we imagined our future kids spending their summers and Christmases there, growing up with memories woven into every corner. That vision made us realize: how much more meaningful would it be to say our vows in a place that would become part of our family story? Instead of a beautiful, but distant, venue we hadn’t even visited, we chose a place that will hold decades of memories. It just felt right to begin our marriage somewhere that already felt like home.

How many guests did you have?

We invited around 30 people each, keeping it small and intentional. We wanted the wedding to feel more like a really great house party than a formal event, laid-back, fun and full of the people we genuinely spend the most time with. The focus for us was never on the numbers, but on creating an atmosphere where everyone felt at home and part of something really personal.

What was your budget?

Initially our budget was around 70,000 euros but we ended up just above 100,000 euros. This included everything except the clothing, rings and any adjustments we made to the house and garden in preparation for the wedding.

Tell us about your outfits.

The overall theme of the wedding was whimsical, fairy-like with a touch of LoveShackFancy, but when it came to my outfits, I didn’t actually choose anything based on that. I just picked what felt like me. I’ve always felt most comfortable when I keep things personal and natural, which is why I ended up doing my own hair and makeup. I tried a trial beforehand, but I just couldn’t get comfortable not feeling 100% like myself.

I didn’t end up finding my dream dress in Sweden so we took a flight to New York to keep searching, I found her almost immediately at Danielle Frankel. Five months later we flew back to New York City to pick her up. My everyday style is pretty simple, but not necessarily classic, and I think that came through in my dress. It was silky and very minimal, but had wide hips that gave it some drama and structure. The Spanish veil definitely did its part as well. It felt effortless, but still special, exactly how I wanted to feel on the day.

My “something blue” was a pair of dreamy blue René Caovilla heels, truly a favorite, but also an ankle charm with a firouze, which is a turquoise stone from my mother’s village in Iran.

All of my jewelry holds deep sentimental value. Almost every piece was gifted to me by Linus during meaningful moments in our relationship. But the one that means the most to me is my gold bangle. It has been passed down through generations on my mother’s side, given to the eldest daughter when she gets married. It feels incredibly special to wear something that so many of the women in my family have worn before me.

My after-party dress was all about having fun. I wanted the drama and that’s just what Mirrror Palais delivered. Both that look and my wedding dress ended up having a subtle 18th-century feel, which I loved.

For the rehearsal dinner, the mood was a bit darker and more sultry, so I went with a fitted dress made from a mix of a silk-like fabric and lace from Rabanne. I had the neckline altered, it originally had a turtleneck, which never feels quite right on me, so we made it into a boat neck to feel more like myself.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

We wanted it to be a true party, not just for our guests, but for us too. We wanted the wedding night to be the opposite of calm: fun, wild, a little like a rave. Since many of our guests didn’t know each other beforehand, we planned the rehearsal at a spa hotel. All the ladies spent the day together in the spa, with drinks, lunch, relaxing, and the men went golfing. It ended up being the perfect way to break the ice. By the time the wedding started the next day, everyone already knew each other. There was no awkward mingling, just pure celebration from the start.

The second thing that really mattered to me was bringing our vision to life. I’m very specific (some might say particular!), and even with things I knew nothing about, I instantly knew what I wanted and what I didn’t. It was definitely a collaborative process with our amazing planners, but there’s always that bit of suspense, you don’t really know how it will all come together until the actual day. Seeing it all unfold exactly as I imagined was incredibly special.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

One element I absolutely had to incorporate was my Persian culture. We made sure to sprinkle in meaningful cultural touches from the start . While guests were getting ready at their hotel, they were served a Persian lunch, because, obviously, nothing sets the tone for a great party like saffron and barberry.

We had a traditional ceremony, but then we flipped the script with a Persian sofreh aghd ceremony, which was totally new (and very entertaining) for many of our guests. And then came the dancing. The second the Persian ceremony ended, literally right there at the ceremony spot, the Persian music kicked in and the party basically exploded.

We kept that energy going all night. Our first dance was to a Persian song, complete with Persian-style choreography. We had belly dancers during dinner, a shisha lounge that people loved way too much, and music that kept everyone moving, whether they knew the lyrics or not.

Bringing that cultural energy into the wedding was so important to me and seeing everyone jump in and embrace it made it even more special.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Two big tips from me:

First, get the wedding planner. Even if you're super organized and think, “I can totally handle this,” trust me, on the actual day, you don’t want to be the one keeping track of table placements or timing the cake cutting. And you definitely don’t want to put that pressure on a friend or family member either. You want someone else in charge, someone who knows the plan inside and out so you can actually enjoy your own wedding. I wouldn’t have been able to pull any of it off without ours, they were worth every penny.

Second, this may sound cliché, but seriously, let it go. About two days before the wedding, you have to make the decision to stop obsessing and just release control. At that point, nothing good comes from micro-managing the seating chart or rethinking the playlist. Just be present, have fun, and let the rest unfold. You’ll enjoy it so much more.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

I’ve already raved about our wedding planners, Freddy Weddings and rightfully so, they were amazing and truly turned the vision into reality. Honestly, I can’t complain about a single vendor. Every one of them delivered beyond expectations, and I’m so happy with the choices we made.

One special moment for me was getting ready alone, no bridesmaids, no maid of honor, just me. But I was surrounded by the photographer, videographer, and our planner, and it couldn’t have felt more right. They were so warm, helpful, and calm, it created such a peaceful and happy environment that I didn’t miss having a room full of people at all. It felt natural and relaxed, which set the tone for the rest of the day.

The vendor that really stole the show for a lot of our guests, though, was Rosers, our caterer. The food was unreal. People kept saying it was the best food they’d ever had, not just at a wedding, but the best food, period. And serving that kind of quality to a big group is no easy task. Every single plate was perfect. The service was also next level, so synchronized, like a beautiful dance. Just flawless.

And I have to give a big shoutout to Danielle Frankel and her team. Their customer service was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. From the start, they made me feel so supported, even with all my questions and worries, they were kind, responsive, and helpful. What really blew me away was when I went to pick up the dress in New York and noticed a tiny stain on the back. I admitted it might’ve been my fault, since I had just tried it on and just asked if they had a recommendation on how to remove it. They not only tried to fix it, but when they couldn’t, they actually remade that part of the dress and shipped it to Sweden, completely free of charge. It was so professional, generous, and kind. Definitely a luxury experience from start to finish.

Photographer: Elle Johnson @ellejohnson | Planning, Styling, Flora & Stationery: Freddy Weddings