A Tropical Wedding With Lilac Accent Touches at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

Though Tubi and Jahi met and got engaged in Washington, DC, they looked to their ancestry, rather than simply their party’s meaningful location, when planning their celebration. “We wanted our wedding to be a reflection of us and the communities we come from—both Ethiopian and African American,” Tubi says. “Ultimately, we wanted our wedding to be not only a celebration of our love, but also an epic party and a one-of-a-kind experience for all of our guests.” To honor Tubi’s Ethiopian roots, the pair partook in a grand traditional entrance under a canopy of palm leaves surrounded by dancing family and friends. “We were going for simple, elegant, tropical vibes because we both love the beach,” Tubi says. “Palm leaves are common in Ethiopian weddings, so we incorporated those.” Tropical foliage created a simple contrast alongside soft roses and gold geometric linens. The couple’s 18-person crew was one stylish bunch—the guys wore tuxes with white pocket squares, the ladies dressed in wisteria-colored dresses, and Tubi’s sister and maid-of-honor rocked a rose gold gown. Gold lanterns also made a regular appearance inside the auditorium.  A vanilla buttercream cake finished with gold foil and a fern rounded out the otherwise largely Ethiopian menu. Later, eskista, or Ethiopian dancing, got underway.  The couple created a unique wax stamp bearing the design and hand-stamped it onto the back of each invitation envelope and on place cards.  Instead of signing a book, guests took pens to the mats of gold picture frames, which Tubi and Jahi plan on using to hang their personal vows in at home.