Beti: "The bride Nishan grew up in this neighbourhood. In typical Ethiopian society, close neighbours share good and bad times with the family. This is a happy occasion where all the neighbours, friends and family are invited to celebrate.

In our culture, it is customary to say goodbye to the people who are elderly when the bride leaves her home to start her own life. The bride should kiss the knees of the elderly member of the family and friends and show her respect. It is a mixture of saying goodbye to her previous life and the people in it and thanking them for raising her and supporting her to this point in her life. In my picture, we see her kissing the knees of one of the neighbours and the neighbour is giving her blessings and wishing her a happy marriage and good future. I love this part of the ceremony because it touches my heart and shows that we have a wonderful tradition."

[Photo by Beti]

Beti: "The bride Nishan signing the marriage certificate. In Ethiopia, people can sign the marriage certificate and stay engaged for a while and have the wedding ceremony later on before they start their lives together. Or, they can have just the engagement party and get married. In this engagement party, the couples are planning not to have a big wedding. They are planning to start their lives with this ceremony. During the signature ceremony the couples sign the certificate and the municipality man reads the content to the guest and the family members."

[Photo by Beti | ]

Beti: "The Bride's name is Lishan Ephrem. She has gone to the nearby beauty salon to get her hair done and styled. You can also ask the hair-stylist to come to your own house but it costs a lot. In this picture, the bride's hair is styled in a fashionable and beautiful way. For weddings, the best hairstyle is used to make the bride even more beautiful. In our country there are many types of hairstyle but this is a modern hairstyle followed by people living in the cities. I love this hairstyle it is perfect."

[Photo by Beti]  

[Photo by Ronaldo]

Worki: "A traditional Ethiopian musical instrument mostly used in churches."

[Photo by Worki]