Couple: Seti and Harry
Wedding Date: September 14, 2013
Wedding and Reception Location: Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Charlotte, NC
Wedding Theme: Combination of traditional East African heritage along with modern Southern style

For the Love of Soccer “Harry and I met watching the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands. We were sitting at the same table,” recalls Seti about her first encounter with her husband. “I didn’t know anyone there so I started talking to him.” She adds, “I thought he was handsome and had sweet brown eyes.” Harry shares, “I was intently watching the match. All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, I see a gorgeous girl sitting across from me.” A match was officially made and Seti and Harry’s love story began.

Kindred Spirits “Our first date was playing tennis,” reveals Harry. When asked what his courtship with Seti was like he says,”We loved seeing and experiencing new things all over Charlotte. We also enjoyed traveling to different cities; exploring the food and local [culture].” He continues, “We are both very close to our families and that commonality was great to find.” Seti echos Harry’s feelings on their memorable dating years. “Harry was full of surprises,” she says. “For example, once he told me we were going out to dinner but instead of eating in a restaurant he rented a small boat for us. We had dinner on the boat at sunset in the middle of the lake. It was very romantic. We also traveled a lot and celebrated our anniversaries every month.”

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[All images by Greyson Steele Photography.]

Work-Life Balance While Seti and Harry had a storybook romance leading up to their nuptials, like all couples they experienced challenges. “When we started dating Harry was studying for his MBA,” Seti explains who maintains a busy schedule herself as a dentist. She continues, “He worked all day and went to school two nights a week for 3 hours each day. It taught us how to manage our time well in order to make [our relationship] work.” Harry agrees. “That time definitely taught us the importance of communicating and supporting each other. It helped us appreciate the time we spent together. And it was important to me that she supported not only my academic pursuit, but also the commitment needed to advance my career [as an engineer].”

Culture Club Chic After a heartfelt proposal including horseback riding and a vineyard tour, a nervous Harry popped the question to Seti who happily said yes. The fun-loving couple began planning their wedding and settled on the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture as their venue. “We wanted a rooftop wedding in uptown Charlotte.” Seti notes, adding it was a plus that the Gantt Center reflected both their backgrounds. (Seti is Ethopian and Harry, Black American.) Before 170 friends and family members, the pair exchanged traditional vows just shy of sunset. During the reception, guests enjoyed Ethiopian and classic Southern cuisine before dancing until 1AM to an eclectic mix of music including Jay Z and Ethiopian tunes. Loved ones traveled from all over the world to witness their union. The joy was palpable. “It was such a happy wedding. Guests clapped when Seti walked down the aisle,” remembers Harry fondly. Seti agrees saying, “Our wedding day was one of the happiest moments of my life because of all the love around us!”  

Seti’s Budget-Friendly Tips for Brides-to-Be

Prioritizing is Key “Prioritize what is important to you first; that way you can splurge on things that matter most. Save on items that are low priority on your list,” Seti advises.

Negotiating Works “Negotiate everything down. We talked every vendor into giving us a discount,” reveals Seti.

Keep Your Guest List Tight “Put your foot down when it comes to guest list. It’s tough but don’t invite everyone you know if you want to keep costs low and still have a fabulous wedding,” Seti warns.

VENDOR CREDITS

Venue: Harvey B. Gantt Center

Officiant: Pastor Greg Baker of Central Church of God

Rentals (draping, dance floor, linens, food service equipment): Party Reflections

Florist 1 (centerpieces): April’s Floral Expressions

Florist 2 (bouquets): New Creations

Chiavari Chairs: The Linen Loft

DJ: Charlotte DJ & Events

Photo Booth, Terrace Overhead Lighting, Cake/Sweetheart Table Draping, Uplighting: Charlotte DJ & Events

Caterer 1: Southern Gourmet

Caterer 2: International Café

Wedding Coordinator: Head Over Heels

Videographer: Charlotte Video Ventures

Photographer: Greyson Steele Photograpy

Cake: Carolina Cake Artistry

Makeup: Makeup by Champa

Hair: Bezash of Modern Salon & Spa

Take a look at past Tie the Knot Tuesday and (Not Quite) Tie the Knot Tuesday features here.

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