With years of event planning under her belt, we’d expect nothing less than a gorgeous, glamorous celebration for Yodit Gebreyes’ wedding to Andy Endale. Their August nuptials—which wove in Ethiopian traditions—were captured by Danielle Real Photography.
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Entrepreneur Andy seemed on the quiet side when he met event planner Yodit at a Christmas Eve party, but surprising details in common (like the same birthday!) kept the pair chatting. Their first official date was a Cedric the Entertainer movie followed by a game of pool at Lucky Strike. “Andy was the quintessential gentleman the whole time,” Yodit remembers. Few words were needed for the proposal six years later: Andy slipped the ring on Yodit’s finger while she slept.
The couple’s late-summer wedding combined Ethiopian traditions with their glamorous, fun-loving style. Andy and Yodit exchanged vows wearing traditional embroidered capes called kabbas, danced eskista before the blessing of the food, and served injera, kitfo, and ayib prepared by Andy’s family’s restaurant in Alexandria.
No stranger to weddings (Yodit runs the Virginia planning firm Favored by Yodit Events), the bride added a few unique touches—including a cake iced to resemble her dress. After a final blessing from their families (tradition holds that the bride and groom kiss the knees of their elders), the couple stole away in a XJ8 L Jaguar, and spent their honeymoon in Athens and Santorini, Greece.
VENDORS
Venue: Morais Vineyards & Winery | Photographer: Danielle Real Photography | Event Coordination: Favored by Yodit Events | Flowers: BCG Events | Bride’s Gown: Pronovias, Love Couture Bridal | Hair: Yene Damtew and Hair by Serena | Makeup: Makeup by Fifi and Dee Marie Makeup | Groom’s Tux: Suitsupply | Groomsmen Attire: Tuxedo by Sarno | Caterers: Main Event Caterers and Enat Ethiopian Restaurant | Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes | Music: DJ Mark Battle, One Sound and Entertainment; Kuku Sebsibe | Transportation: Vintage Limos | Lighting: 27 Studios | Rentals: Sammy’s Rentals | Stationery: Lepenn Designs | Calligraphy: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Photo Booth: Surpass Visuals
Need an amazing cake to sweeten your wedding celebrations? Head to these area bakeries to find the confections of your dreams.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
