A Vintage Affair

Good morning, Bellas!

We are SO excited to share details from Semhar & Mussie's wedding with you today! This Victorian slash Vintage themed wedding was beautiful and beyond detailed in every decor and fashion element!

Everything from their choice of colors -sapphire blue, canary yellow and platinum- to the intimate details in their table decor with blue damask print table linen, a combination of tall and short yellow vases and tall silver candelabras, personalized coasters, personalized flutes and a custom-made, personalized boon set for Melsi (day 2)- was perfectly orchestrated at the Paradise Palace, a stunning, victorian style venue full of hanging chandeliers!

Bypassing the usual 1,000 guest Habesha wedding theme, Semhar & Mussie settled (successfully!) with a guest list of 400 and created an intimate atmosphere for their guests with a cocktail hour (uncommon in Eritrean/Ethiopian weddings) and serenaded their guests with a live pianist as they ate, drank and enjoyed themselves!

Not only does this bride have impeccable taste in decor and design, but she is smart and efficient! She wanted a different look from ceremony to reception and instead of having a complete wardrobe change, she was transformed by changing some small details. Here's how she achieved it:

For the ceremony she wore- ball gown with train and cathedral length veil trimmed with crystals and a crystal headpiece; hair was down.

For the reception she wore- Same ball gown with bustled train, a french birdcage veil and a statement necklace; hair was up in a loose side bun.
Genius! She gracefully went from modest, traditional bride to hot, trendy bride with just a few simple arrangements! Love it!

The boon set- boon is the traditional Eritrean & Ethiopian coffee ceremony that is usually included in the Melsi (day 2). Check out this custom-made, personalized boon set that was displayed at their wedding! It had the bride & groom's pictures on it- SO unique and lovely!

Not only did Semhar successfully plan her wedding with much class and elegance, but she maintained a balance while doing so. She had these words of wisdom to share with our future brides:

"Marriage is much more than a day or weekend of festivities, though the celebration is important. Couples can easily get so caught up in planning an extravagant wedding and neglect preparations to becoming husband and wife; so do have a balance.
 Make the time in advance to be counseled by your priest/pastor, seek marriage counseling, or any other preparations (reading books together) to ensure your marriage will forever be pure and a long-lasting journey."

Read Semhar + Mussie's full wedding story HERE and check out more of their inspirational wedding pics and detail of vendors! 

To inquire about getting your own personalized boon (coffee ceremony) set contact Biniam at: biniamf@yahoo.com

Turquoise Wedding Inspiration

Hi, Bellas! Turquoise is such a beautiful color with it's magical blue-green shade that not only looks good on all skin colors, but makes for a swoon worthy wedding color! Turquoise decor in flowers, linens and bridesmaid gowns are lovely; and even more lovely when paired with other complimentary hues!

Check out this Turquoise wedding from Betty and Dr. Bereket's Houston wedding held at the Bayou City Center.

Photo Credit: Sara Solomon-Kwende | Wedding Coordinator: Debora Yemane | Makeup by: AlexisBaddoo@gmail.com

Here is another example of how Turquoise can be beautiful with other bold colors such as purples and blues. Here is an example of how two bold colors can work really well together! Love this inspiration from our featured bride Selam.

And for a more Spring'ish look and feel, Turquoise pairs REALLY well with peach, coral and yellow hues! Check out this beautiful collage inspiration.

Coral and turquoise statement necklace

And how about a Pop of Turquoise in this vintage lace wedding gown....!

Peek-a-boo Turquoise

Fun Fact: did you know that Turquoise is French for "Turkish" as this valuable gem or stone was originally imported from Turkey. Also, in many cultures, the Turquoise gemstone has been cherished for thousands of years as a holy stone and a bringer of good fortune. Sweet! (Source)

Get Inspired, Bellas! xo

Did you have a wedding with a splash of Turquoise hues? Share your Turquoise inspiration with us here or email them to info@herbigday.info

Pimp My Chair

Goodmorning, Bellas!

We wanted to share a few inspirations from our 'Pimp My Chair' files! Lately, we have come across wedding chairs that are above and beyond the typical wooden chair disguised in  fabric chair covers topped off with the pretty satin bow. Below are some fun ideas of how to "pimp out" your chairs for your special day! And to save yourself some money, consider decorating only the bride and groom's chairs or the entire wedding party! Also, choosing chiavari chairs and adding simple sashes, silks, lace, pins and brooches or fresh flowers on a bow is gorgeous and pretty simple for a DIY project!

Remember, there is no limit to your creativity!

Enjoy, xo.

Did you have fun, decorative wedding chairs at your wedding? Share your pictures with us by emailing them to info@herbigday.info

One Day Habesha Weddings - A New Trend?

On July 27th, 2014 Bethlehem & Esrom tied the knot at the beautiful TPC Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club while 200 of their family and friends witnessed a breathtaking ceremony as the couple became a part of the scenic masterpiece that comprised the beautiful Cascade Mountains of the Northwest!

As every wedding is unique and special in its own way, almost all Habesha weddings tend to follow the tradition of having a two day wedding affair; asserting the Eritrean or Ethiopian traditions and culture.

I believe there has been a turning point in how we celebrate Habesha weddings, especially with our generation, and the two day weddings just may be the first to be shelved. With creativity and a vision (and superb planning, of course!), I believe it is very much possible to successfully execute a one day Habesha wedding, incorporating the meaningful details of the culture into the day.

I believe Bethlehem & Esrom's wedding will be the wedding that is talked about for years to come! The simplicity, elegance and charm was just timeless! More importantly, not only did they make a sound financial decision, but they managed to step outside of the traditional norm (and stringent expectations) to appease their desires and thoughts for a dream wedding!

Hear from the bride herself about their decision to have a one day wedding, the difficulties it posed and how they managed to execute. Also, Bethlehem tells us her top Pros & Cons as well as whether or not she would do it all over again.

Find out what she said HERE!