Semhar and Yonatan got married at Kidisty Mariam Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church in Summer of 2019.Kidisty Mariam Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church is located in Decatur GA. Their wedding was definitely one of the most unique and memorable events that I’ve ever had the privilege to experience. The entire wedding (and reception) was done in Tigrinya, so I had to study up on the various aspects of the ceremony prior to the wedding and just react as things happened on the wedding day since I couldn’t rely on audio cues. It was definitely one of the more challenging, however rewarding experiences I’ve had the chance to photograph. Coverage started early (like 6:30am early) with both the bridal party and groom’s party getting ready at the hotel in Atlanta. Once everyone was dressed, we traveled to the church in Decatur. Eritrean weddings last between 2-3 hours and it’s not uncommon for the bride and groom to share their ceremony with other couples getting married that day. After the ceremony, we traveled back to the hotel since there was a significant break between the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception. We originally planned to do the majority of the post wedding photos at Piedmont Park, however the heat caused us to utilize the hotel for part of the photos and finish up at the park. After finishing those post wedding photos, there was a couple of hours of intermission before the start of the reception. The reception was held at the KTN ballrooms in Duluth GA. Semhar and Yonatan had a ton of friends and family that traveled into Atlanta to celebrate their big day with them. The entire ballroom was packed with guests that all had a special part in their big day. The party lasted well into the night and their formal exit didn’t happen until 1am the following morning when friends and family lined up with sparklers to cheer on their new life together
Day 2 for their wedding started with some formal shots of the wedding party wearing their traditional Eritrean clothes for the second celebration. We all travelled back to the KTN ballroom, where there was a second reception. This time, everyone was dressed in traditional Eritrean clothing and the night ended with a special tea ceremony between the couple and their families.
Unlimited Coverage at Kidisty Mariam Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church and Reception at KTN Ballroom
