This wedding makes the royal in royal purple to a whole new level of family, love, and beauty.
Helina and Kidus got married in Texas with a traditional Ethiopian ceremony, reception and melse. I love the tie of the royal purple kabas to all the wedding decoration.
And that wedding cake. Oh my, those buttery buttercream layers are gorgeous.
Don’t forget to catch the puppy and the bride!
Helina shares her wedding us.
Wedding Style: I was all about simplicity and elegance. I opted for a mermaid style Val Stefani gown that had no embellishment but got all its drama from the shape. I glammed it up with a Givenchy crystal necklace and earrings to bring in some major sparkle.
I had my heart set on getting a custom couture gown made for my big day. I even went so far as to visit a dressmaker and begin plans. Luckily my bridesmaid who was visiting town one weekend convinced me to try a few boutiques before committing to a custom gown. I was so glad I did because after shop #4, I ended up finding the dress of my dreams!
Tell us about the wedding
My father is from Ethiopia and my mom is Black-American. My husband is Ethiopian. Our culture is very important to us. We had a religious ceremony in the Ethiopian Orthodox church a few days before our American reception. At the American reception at the Empire Room, we served Ethiopian dishes for dinner, had traditional dancers perform for our guests, and danced from everything to traditional Ethiopian music to Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and Justin Bieber. We ended the weekend full of festivities with a traditional Ethiopian reception called a “melse” where we both wear royal capes and crowns.
What is your best memory from your wedding?
Seeing my husband’s face as we walked down the aisle, and feeling so overwhelmed with the love and joy surrounding us. It was surreal- one of the best moments of my life!
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Enjoy the process and remember why you are doing it in the first place. Also–give yourself time to plan (we took about 14 months) so that you can save, personalize your wedding, and not stress out. On the day of- give it all to God and don’t stress!
{Wedding Vendors}
shoes: Betsey Johnson // ceremony location: St. Michael’s Ethiopian Orthodox Church (Ethiopian ceremony), Empire Room Dallas (American ceremony) // reception location: The Empire Room
http://theempireroomdallas.com/ // photography: Double You Photography/Videography: Double You Photography // wedding planner: Southern Affairs Weddings & Events http://southern-affairs.com/ // Rachel Reeves Events // florist:
Haute Floral, En Fleur // cake: Sweet Thangs By Lo // event designer: Southern Affairs Weddings & Events // sound & lighting: Astounding Sounds & Lighting // Wedding dress designer: Val Stefani // wedding dress salon: Gowns of Grace // bridesmaids dresses: Vera Wang // hair: Hair By See Lee // makeup: Fifi Tesfatsion