Wedding customs by country
Marriage in Ethiopia begins when the groom’s family sends elders, called Shimagle, to the bride’s family. The elders discuss the dowry, which is a gift given by the groom’s family, and check the family tree of both the bride and groom to make sure they are not related for at least seven generations. Once the dowry is agreed upon and the families are not related, the wedding is announced, and both families prepare for two ceremonies: one at a church or mosque and another called the mels(i) ceremony.