Harmela and Abel’s Wedding at The Oak room in Sandy Spring MD – Wedding Photographer in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC

We remember meeting Harmela and Abel for the very first time. The love and admiration they had for each other was palpable. Abel was looking at Harmela like his girl crush – which she was – which prompted the question “What do you like about Harmela?” The answer he gave was unforgettable. He looked at her, gave a big grin and said “I like everything about her!, never once taking his eyes off her the entire time. She looked back, laughed and reached in for a kiss. The chemistry was undeniable and we knew this would go far beyond a beautiful wedding day to a very successful marriage of two people who actually, really, truly like each other! 

When you are planning the perfect wedding, it can be difficult to fit everything you want to in just a single day – so why not split it into two? That’s exactly what the Ethiopian wedding tradition is and Harmela and Abel’s wedding party lasted for two whole days! What a wedding it was, and we at Judah Avenue were thrilled to be their wedding photographers for both the Ethiopian white wedding and the Ethiopian wedding Mels ceremonies which happened the next day. 

Harmela got ready for her special moment at her parent’s home surrounded by her friends and family. Jokes and laughter filled the air as she got her hair and makeup done, and when she stepped into her bridal gown, she proved that she looks like a goddess no matter what she wears.

Meanwhile, Abel got ready for the ceremony surrounded by his own friends and family, and it was clear they were having just as much fun as the bride and hers. We snapped a few photos of him surrounded by his groomsmen before he stayed true to Ethiopian tradition and left in a limo to retrieve his bride.

According to Ethiopian wedding tradition the groom has to go to the bride’s parent’s home and take his bride from her parents’ house. When he arrives it is usually in a limousine with a lot of fanfare and celebration and fighting. It can get very aggressive and wedding photographers have to capture these moments while keeping our equipment safe. It can be a challenge but definitely part of the story we like to capture! 

Our groom Abel has just arrived to cheers and greetings from his friends. Now he has to fight through with help from his entourage to break into Harmela’s parents’ home and get his bride. You can see the bride’s family resisting the entry and fighting back to keep their girl.Finally, the groom has his bride and in an incredible moment, we snapped a photo of the two as they slipped into the car and headed for church.Friends and family filled the pews, many of them wearing the traditional clothing for Ethiopia. Watching the bride and groom exchange their vows was breathtaking, and there were more than a few happy tears shed throughout the audience.After the ceremony, we took the opportunity to snap a few photos of the bride and groom with their parties on the steps of the church, as well as dozens of amazing photographs on the grounds at a scenic location in Washington DC. It seemed no matter where Harmela and Abel stopped to strike a pose, they looked like they should be modeling in a bridal magazine. In a split second bid to show that the groom was not the only hot guy in town, these grooms men take a second for a GQ pose too:))

Love this candid photo of our gorgeous bride and groom.  Not sure what she was pointing out but they look amazing!

Then, it was off to the reception at the Oak Room. The regal cake sparkled from its place in the corner of the room, and guests quickly filled the beautifully decorated tables. Photographs and dancing was blended with well-wishes and congratulations, and everyone wanted to get a chance to have a photo snapped with the bride. When Abel and Harmela took the floor, their dance looked like something out of a fairytale.

We loved seeing the engagement guestbook we created for Harmela and Abel in use. The wedding guests loved it as well.

Champagne was opened as the cake was cut – something that is also in honor of Ethiopian tradition. The crowd applauded as Harmela and Abel shared a sweet moment with each other in the front of the room. The celebration and dancing lasted long into the night, with everyone offering their blessings with every chance they got. There is no doubt that this couple not only loves each other very much, but that they are adored by everyone who is in their lives.

Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day! Clearly, you two are going to have many, many beautiful years together, and all of us here at Judah Avenue want to extend our warmest congratulations. If you are a guest who just wants to say hello to us you can do so on our Instagram page @judahavenue, or if you engaged and looking for a wedding or engagement photographer in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, you can connect with us at (240) 643-4708 or make an appointment to visit our studio at 718 Cloverly Street, Silver Spring, MD 20905. Our email is info@judahavenue.com

Enjoy more beautiful scenes from their wedding on their Ethiopian wedding here: http://www.judahavenue.com/2017/07/harmela-and-abels-traditional-wedding-at-kahler-hall-in-columbia-md-wedding-photographer-in-maryland-washington-dc-and-virginia/