Destination Wedding Photographer
Immersing yourself in cultural traditions - Ethiopian wedding in Addis
Location: Ethiopian Skylight Hotel
Emotions, music and culture in perfect harmony
Do you also dream of a wedding abroad? I met Kurat and Micki at their civil wedding in the wedding tower in Darmstadt . The friendly Eritrean-Ethiopian couple told me about their plans to celebrate a big traditional wedding abroad with their whole family and relatives in Ethiopia. As a wedding photographer for Destination Weddings, I love to accompany my couples wherever they want to celebrate the most beautiful day of their lives. So I had the opportunity to accompany them and immerse myself in the cultural traditions, exciting customs and joie de vivre.
The wedding took place in the capital Addis Ababa over a total of three days.
TAG 1
Family celebration
On the Thursday before the actual big wedding, which is usually on Saturday, the families are brought together. There is lots of delicious food and dancing until late in the evening.
TAG 2
The wedding reception
Then the time has come. The big wedding is about to take place at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, the address in the capital. But before it starts, it is customary for the groom to pick up the bride at her parents' home. He needs the support of his family to get into the house, as both families "fight" each other at the entrance gate with music and dancing. Against or for the intrusion of the new family member. What follows is great rhythmic drumming and singing, which paves the way for the groom to reach the bride. She is then waiting in the house together with the bridesmaids.
Around 400 guests are invited to the party at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, who spend most of the evening dancing like there's no tomorrow.
TAG 3
Traditional wedding
On the following Monday, a small group of around 80 guests celebrate in traditional Ethiopian dress. The friends who had traveled from Germany also dressed in traditional costumes. The groomsmen dance into the room and clear the way for the bride and groom. When Kurat and Micki enter the room dancing, no one is left on their seats. Everyone stands up and sways along to the sound of the band playing a traditional wedding song. There is traditional Ethiopian coffee and lots of delicious food again. The highlight is when the two of them slip away unnoticed and then present themselves in Eritrean wedding dresses. Nobody had expected that. The atmosphere is now definitely boiling over, and the guests who have traveled from Eritrea are particularly happy about this gesture.
"Marco accompanied us at our wedding abroad and captured a lot of wonderful memories. We couldn't have imagined a better photographer.
Three wedding celebrations in the middle of Addis Ababa could not have been captured better! In addition to the photos, we were particularly impressed by his relaxed, open and friendly manner."
Kurat & Micki
Would you also like to get married abroad?
I would be happy to accompany you to wherever you would like to say "I do".