The Lauren, A Condominium

Ruta Just Got Married
Ruta "Sunshine" Kidane Michael, our always smiling weekday receptionist, was married last week. (Click on pictures for enlargements.)

Flowers for the Bride

Ruta (aka Rita aka Ruth) Kidane Michael married Surfael Asres October 31, 2004. Surfael is a manager at the Watergate Hotel.

It was the second marriage for both -- to each other. The two former high school sweethearts were first married in a civil ceremony in Silver Springs in 1999.

This service was a formal ceremony in the traditional style of their homeland, Ethiopia.
The groom presents a bouquet to the bride before leaving for the church.
The bride arrives at the reception.
The bride arrives at the church

The Arrival of the Bride

The couple invited about 200 relatives and friends. In the extended family tradition of Ethiopia, 375 people showed up.

Ruta is wearing a  tiara and (USA) traditional white bridal gown.

 

Traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Catholic Ceremony

Ruta and Surfael were married at the Debre Hail Kedus Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Northeast Washington, DC.

The Wedding Couple and Priest

Ruta Kidane Michael and her husband  Surfael Asres  with beaming Aba G/Mariam, the priest of the Debre Hail Kedus Gabriel Ethiopian church.

Like other young couples whom Aba G/Mariam marries, Ruta and Surfael took four days of prenuptial classes.