When Washington, D.C.-based photographer Kirth Bobb covered couple Amman and Meriam’s wedding, he was interested in capturing the rich cultural elements that added an additional layer to their already beautiful wedding story.

“Amman is Eritrean and descends from the Tigrinya and Bilen tribes,” Bobb explains, “and Meriam is a member of both the Tigrinya tribe of Eritrea and the Amhara tribe of Ethiopia. In their cultures, wedding celebrations often blend traditional Habesha and western customs. The main events were an Orthodox Catholic wedding ceremony, which was held at the beautiful Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annandale, Virginia, and a festive reception, which was held at the Foxchase Manor, in Manassas, Virginia.”

All photos © Kirth Bobb

Given everything going on, Bobb felt it was important to pay close attention to the various nuances of the day. “It all made for a very unique experience and offered lots of opportunities for great moments, like those of both bride and groom starting their day getting ready with their closest family and friends. The celebration continued with a very early Orthodox church ceremony where their priests and guests called in unison for the blessings of the newlyweds.”

“The biggest challenge I faced with this particular wedding was one that is unavoidable when working in Washington, D.C., in the summer months—suffocating heat and humidity,” Bobb adds. “However, since I’m familiar with D.C., I was able to provide the couple with quite a few options for indoor portraits that offered great light and some relief from the heat. For our official portraits, we chose to use the National Gallery of Art as our backdrop.”

“Throughout the day and into the reception, traditional Eritrean and Ethiopian customs, some of which overlapped, were evident in the celebrations. At the beginning of the reception, the male elders led the way in welcoming the couple with song and dance. While the female elders and family members held palm leaves and joined the men in song as the couple arrived (this custom is called the Medebale).”

As part of Bilen tradition, Bobb, adds, Amman had his head shaved to signify his transition into manhood (as a result of getting married). Next, his head was draped with a white cloth and he was given a sword (a family heirloom). “There are also traditional songs that were performed before the dancing began—Awelo and Masse. These songs honor and pay homage to family members and members of their communities that helped in preparing the wedding celebrations,” Bobb explains.

At the end of the reception, elders and respected family members of Meriam and Amman were lined up and seated. As the couple exited, they knelt before, kissed and embraced each elder as a show of gratitude and respect. These elders, in turn, extended blessings and well wishes to the newlyweds. “This emotionally charged portion of their day was especially touching to photograph because it signified that Amman and Meriam were officially leaving their childhood homes to start lives of their own as husband and wife,” Bobb says.

GEAR OF THE DAY

Cameras and lenses: Two Nikon D750s paired with a 35mm lens for storytelling and an 85mm lens that helps with portraiture and situations where a longer focal length is needed.

Lighting: Flashpoint speedlights paired with MagMod modifiers.

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