Ethiopian Elements Filled This Wedding at Lodge and Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Dina and Solomon's romance began with his appearance on the cover of ESPN magazine. “Solomon moved from Ethiopia to Maryland in 2007,” Dina says. “Everyone knew him as the talented cross-country runner on the cover of ESPN. My mom asked me to friend him on Facebook as a fellow local Ethiopian.” Over a decade later, Dina and Solomon’s wedding combined American and Ethiopian traditions, from a sand ceremony to a choreographed Ethiopian first dance. 
Dina chose a strapless mermaid gown, while Solomon switched things up in a dusty-rose jacket. “Solomon wanted to stand out in a unique look that was different from the groomsmen,” Dina says. “Once we saw this, we knew it was the one.”

Dina and Solomon’s siblings and best friends stood next to them at the ceremony, but the couple was surrounded by love from all sides. “We had a few guests who came all the way up from Ethiopia, one from London and countless others from all over the country,” Dina says. The pair’s wedding date fell during the Ethiopian fasting season, which prohibits Ethiopians from eating animal products. The newlyweds’ solution: vegan vanilla and chocolate cupcakes.