This has been one of our most asked questions! Although our wedding is scheduled for a Thursday evening (which may be considered unconventional), the chosen date holds personal significance for us as a couple. When planning for our day, we decided the date itself held more importance than the day of the week. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and flexibility, as we recognize that this date may diverge from more traditional choices.
We are so excited to experience and share new cultures with each other, and we’re thrilled to introduce these traditions to our families! Our wedding will blend Ethiopian and American customs, with parts of the ceremony and celebrations in both Amharic and English. This gives both Ethiopian and American families a chance to connect, learn, and embrace the beauty of each other’s cultures while celebrating our love and unity. We thank you for immersing yourselves in new experiences!
We request that guests arrive in cocktail/formal optional attire. Draw inspiration with a bright spring color palette, or by visiting our Pinterest page: https://www.pinterest.com/katie_mahl/wedding-inspo-guests/ Please refrain from wearing the color white or blue.
A brief, intimate ceremony with the bride and groom and their closest friends and family will take place before the reception. We warmly extend an invitation to all guests to attend the cocktail hour and reception following.
Please note, after the June 15 deadline, the RSVP page will become inaccessible on our website. If you forgot to send over your official RSVP, please send a note to us through email: katieandsam2026@gmail.com
Free parking is available at the venue, and you may leave vehicles overnight; please pick-up your car by 10:00 AM Friday. Shuttle services will be limited due to hotel restrictions. If you arrive before or during cocktail hour, please enter the event through the back entrance, located near the rear of the parking lot. This entrance will guide you to our cocktail hour, which commences at 4:30 PM, prior to the start of the reception. All attendees are invited to participate in the cocktail hour.
Kindly consult your invitation, determining whether you are permitted to bring an additional guest. Should your invitation permit this, it will be addressed as “*Your name* and a Guest.” If the allowance for a guest is granted, your RSVP will include a designated area to indicate this on the RSVP page. Please include your guest's name for our seating chart. If there is no additional space provided, you are not authorized to bring anyone accompanying you. If you would like someone to accompany you, we ask that you contact us.
We absolutely love you and your children. However, due to the maturity and location of this particular event, our reception and ceremony is exclusively for adults and familial children. Please consult your invitation for your specific circumstance; if your invitation is addressed to "The *Last Name* Family," each family member is invited to attend.
Professional photographers and videographers will be capturing moments throughout our special day! Following the wedding, photo albums will be made available on this website. Please note that our ceremony will be conducted in an unplugged manner; thus, all photographs will be taken exclusively by our designated photographers. During the reception, we encourage you to take videos and photographs; however, we kindly ask that you remain mindful of the professional shots being captured and refrain from obstructing the professionals as they work. We welcome you to share any photographs online to commemorate our celebration!
A limited selection of beer, White Claws, and High Noons will be available during the cocktail hour and reception, along with champagne for toasts. A full cash bar will be open, providing additional drink purchases.
When RSVPing, there will be a section where all dietary preferences and restrictions can be shared. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns.