Her Big Day: Proposal

Bride-to-be: Meron Kassahun

Groom-to-be: Reshad Favors

Ethnicity of couple: Ethiopian & African American

Tell us how you met one another: Reshad and I saw each other at a friend's engagement party. I had travelled from DC to Florida for the party. Reshad and I spotted each other at the party. We locked eyes for a moment but did not exchange information until after the party.

How did he pop the question: Reshad planned for us to meet at the cherry blossom festival that takes place each year at the beginning of spring. Previously, I told him how much I loved cherry blossoms and how I wanted to watch them bloom. He figured it would be the perfect opportunity for him to ask for my hand in marriage. After taking in the cherry blossoms for a few hours, I spotted one of my family members. One by one, more of my family started to emerge. I still did not realize what was happening until I turned around and saw Reshad on one knee.

When's the big day: June 17, 2017

What are you looking forward to the most about your wedding: Enjoying the company of all of our close friends and family!

What would you say has been the hardest thing about planning a cultural wedding: Picking cake batter..they're all so good!

Any tips or advice for the couple planning a wedding right now: Save, save, save! And have a budget. It's also good to have someone that can say no sometimes for me it was Reshad (haha!).

Engagement photographer: Anthony Drayton
Makeup Artist: Blush by Makki
Hair Stylist: Yene Damtew
Engagement shoot locations: Tidal Basin, Lincoln Monument, Jefferson memorial

Congratulations again on your beautiful engagement, Meron! We can't wait for your Big Day! Many Blessings to the both of you, xx.

Bride-to-be: Luwam George

Groom-to-be: Yonas Fessehaye
Location: Atlanta, GA.

Luwam & Yonas just tied the knot over the Labor day weekend so we thought we'd share their sweet engagement photos and "how we met" story during the same week! There is so much L-O-V-E in each photo, we loved it!

Tell us how you met one another: Yonas and I actually met through mutual friends a few years ago. Everyone always mentioned how we should be more than friends, but it really never crossed our minds until after a few years of friendship. Our friendship eventually blossomed into something more after Yonas made a couple of attempts to have a first date. I would always invite people along not really knowing if it was a date or not lol. The really awkward first date led to me marrying my best friend. J

How did he pop the question: I had my family come in town for my cousin’s wedding, so I was running all over the place preparing for their visit. After grocery shopping, I pulled up ready to park and I noticed that Yonas had stolen my favorite parking spot. So I left my car in the middle of the street (yes, I know, very dangerous) and I stormed into the townhouse ready to give him a piece of my mind. However, I walked into a pathway of rose petals leading to a big heart made out of rose petals with a box in the middle of it. I was in complete shock and totally caught off guard, just the way that he had planned. As soon as I told him yes, I would marry him, I told him that he needed to move his car out of my parking spot. Afterwards, we celebrated with chick-fil-a and wine. J It really meant a lot to my family and I that he proposed right before they came into town so I could tell my parents and brother in person that I was engaged rather than over the phone.

When's the big day: September 5^th, 2015

What are you looking forward to the most about your wedding: We are both looking forward to having family and friends from all over the world come and join us in celebrating our union.

What would you say has been the hardest thing about planning an Eritrean-American wedding: Hmm… the most difficult thing would be the guest list. Throughout the process of wedding planning, we had to keep a large guest list in mind. In some ways, it kind of limited the options available for our wedding.

Any tips or pointers for the couple planning a wedding right now:

The wedding is only one day (well, two in our case)! Do not stress out over it and remember: the most important thing is the days AFTER the wedding- the actual marriage. Also, choose your bridal party carefully- they will make the wedding planning much smoother and more fun!

Engagement photos by: Ayu Hailu (we highly recommend him!)