Melse

Eden and Moses' Intimate Wedding at the Beautiful R Garden Boutique in Pickering (Eritrea meets Nigeria!)

Hello all you lovely souls! Today am sharing the wedding of Eden and Moses!

Fun fact: These two are from cultural backgrounds that are the very representation of the cultures I grew up around. The bride is Eritrean by heritage and the groom is Nigerian. Having been born in Nigeria of Eritrean Heritage myself, I had to tell myself: Wow! What are the odds!

These lovely people were truly made for each other. I have to say I am quite lucky with the clients I have worked with in my career. Many are truly some of the most wonderful people one could meet. I first met Eden while covering another wedding a few years back. She was the wedding planner for that wedding and it was great to connect with another Eritrean wedding vendor! As fate would have it, years later I would cover her own wedding!

I started off the day at the Toronto Don Valley Hotel where Eden was getting ready along with her family and friends. At the same time my second shooter on this day (The lovely Shubila K) covered the groom getting ready with his family at his home. After the getting ready we all headed to the church ceremony that took place at the Calvary Church on Pape Avenue. It was a beautiful ceremony that started off with the main ladies of both sides lighting up a candle in unity. Moses’ brother officiated the ceremony and one of Eden’s friends sang the most beautiful song while Eden walked down the aisle in what was one of the most emotional moments I have ever witnessed!

After the beautiful ceremony we all headed to Pickering for the reception. It ended up being a bit of a rainy and humid day. The intimate wedding reception happened under a white tent. Wedding Designer Tristan of Luxe Design T.O created a beautiful vignette of white and green decor with hints of peach. One can never go wrong with these colors. Super Elegant!

The bride and groom had two entrances. The first entrance in their main wedding outfits and the second entrance happened after they both changed into the most amazing turquoise green Nigerian outfits! Eden’s Gele (Nigerian Head wrap) fit was so well done. She truly looked like a Nigerian Queen! There were lots of beautiful speeches to toast the bride and groom and of course lots of dancing!

To end the evening each table had takeaway slices of cake in a box (made by Hephzibah Delight - which is owned by Moses’s sister) and wow were they delicious!

As much as I loved their beautiful wedding day. I have to say I really enjoyed capturing their Melse (Traditional Eritrean day after the wedding ceremony) on Day 2 of their wedding weekend. The most beautiful light appeared for their portraits and I had the freedom and time to create some beautiful portraits with no interruptions. We took their photos in one of the gems of Scarborough: The Cedar Ridge Creative Centre. The portrait session was followed by their reception at a location in Riverdale.

Vendors (Hover over the names for the links):

Planner: Weddings with Nia

Bride’s Makeup at Wedding and Melse: BBM Beauty

Cake: Hephzibah Delight

Main Shooter: Karimah Gheddai (Me!)

Second Shooter for KGP: Shubila K

Decor: Luxe Designs T.O

Video and Live Streaming: F10 Studio

Singer at the Church: Hallelujah Ghide

Eritrean Food: Minia Catering

Nigerian Food: Heritage Afro Caribbean

Photobooth: Snaps N Co

Tent Rentals: Tent X

Wedding Venue: R Garden Boutique in Pickering

Wedding DJ: DJ Shorty

Melse Portraits: Cedar Ridge Creative Centre

If you would like to book me for your 2023 Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

Colorful Florals and Green Velvet Ring Box with couple's monogram -  photo taken by Toronto based Eritrean photographer Karimah Gheddai Photography
Colorful Florals and Green Velvet Ring Box with couple's monogram -  photo taken by Toronto based Eritrean photographer Karimah Gheddai Photography
Wedding Details from the intimate Eritrean Nigerian Canadian wedding
wedding dress detail shot toronto R Garden Boutique
Invitation suite Green, red and orange
Colorful Floral Bouquet - Green Orange White Yellow and Peach
Ring in bouquet photo by Karimah Gheddai Photography
Wedding details featuring the invitation suite, beautiful bowtie shoes
Eritrean Bride getting ready at Don Valley Hotel in Toronto photo by Toronto African Photographer Karimah Gheddai
Eritrean Bride getting ready at Don Valley Hotel in Toronto photo by Toronto African Photographer Karimah Gheddai
Eritrean Mom wearing a zuria fixes her daughter's wedding dress during her getting ready on her wedding day
Eritrean Bride getting ready with her Mom at Don Valley Hotel in Toronto photo by Toronto African Photographer Karimah Gheddai
Eritrean Bride has help from her sister in putting on her shoe on her wedding day
Brother helping groom put on his cufflinks
Groom's brother helping him get ready for his wedding
Wedding Ring and florals
Groom reading letter from bride
Bride is emotional after reading letter written by her husband
Wedding singer sings as the bride walks down the aisle
Ring Exchange at Nigerian Eritrean Wedding in Toronto Canada by Eritrean Toronto based photographer Karimah Gheddai
Wedding Portraits at The R Garden Boutique
Eritrean Bride - Photo by Toronto based Eritrean Photographer Karimah Gheddai
Wedding bouquet Photo of Bride
Intimate tent wedding at R Garden BoutiqueGreen White Peach Orange Decor by Luxe Designs T.O
Groom holds bride's dress as they walk during the wedding portraits session in Pickering
Intimate tent wedding at R Garden Boutique Green White Peach Orange Decor by Luxe Designs T.O
Green White Peach Orange Decor by Luxe Designs T.O
Green White Peach Orange Decor by Luxe Designs T.O
Wedding Cake with orange and white floral details
R Garden Boutique Wedding Pickering Green White Peach Orange Decor by Luxe Designs T.O
R Garden Boutique Wedding Pickering
R Garden Boutique Wedding Pickering
R Garden Boutique Wedding Pickering Ontario Eritrean Nigerian Wedding
R Garden Boutique Wedding Pickering Ontario Eritrean Nigerian Wedding
R Garden Boutique Wedding in Pickering Ontario Eritrean Bride Nigerian Groom
R Garden Boutique Wedding Pickering
Eritrean Bride and her friends - Photo by Toronto Eritrean wedding photographer Karimah Gheddai
Eritrean Wedding Toronto Entrance
Eritrean and Nigerian Food at a wedding in Pickering
R Garden Boutique Wedding Eritrean Nigerian Wedding
Nigerian Wedding Toronto Pickering traditional outfits - Photo by Karimah Gheddai Photography
R Garden Boutique Wedding in Pickering Ontario Eritrean Bride Nigerian Groom
R Garden Boutique Wedding
Weddings R Garden Boutique
R Garden Boutique Wedding - Mom with Bride Nigerian and Eritrean Outfits
Toronto Nigerian wedding photographer
toronto NIGERIAN wedding photographerNigerian Eritrean couple toronto Wedding - Photo by Karimah Gheddai
Eritrean Nigerian Couple's Melse Wedding Photos taken at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre in Scarborough by Eritrean Photographer Karimah Gheddai
Cedar Ridge Creative centre Wedding Photos
Eritrean Bride with beautiful traditional hairstyle at her Melse Portraits at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre in Scarborough
Cedar Ridge Creative Centre wedding photos in Scarborough - Toronto Eritrean Wedding Photographer Melse Kappa Kaba
Cedar Ridge Creative Centre Wedding Photos
Karimah_Gheddai_Photography_Nigerian_Eritrean_Canadian_Wedding
Eritrean Bride and Nigerian Groom in Traditional Eritrean outfits for their Melse Portraits in Scarborough Ontario. The Kappa or Kaba is a traditional gold embroidered outfit that is worn at an Eritrean wedding - Cedar Ridge Creative centre
Melse Photos Toronto Eritrean Nigerian Wedding Kappa
Melse Photos Toronto Eritrean Nigerian Wedding Kappa
Eritrean wedding photographer toronto Kappa Photos taken at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre
Melse decor toronto
Eritrean Wedding Decor Toronto Melse
Melse Decor Toronto
Toronto Eritrean Wedding
Eritrean Food catered by Minia Catering in Toronto for the Melse (Traditional eritrean wedding celebration)
Eritrean Bride with her mom at the Melse
Cedar Ridge Creative Centre Scarborough Portraits

Thank you for stopping by and spending a part of your precious day looking through my blog post. I am always honoured and grateful!

I hope to see you back here, or even better in person as we work together!

Until next time have a great one!

If you would like to book me for your 2023 Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!