Yoseph is arriving on May 1st and Emma arrives on May 18th. Both head back to Toronto on June 1st.

The dress code for our wedding is formal/cocktail attire. It will be held indoors. Wear what makes you feel your best! For more information about our dress code please refer to: https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-guest-attire-cheat-sheet

While we will be signing our papers in Toronto, the ceremony in Addis will be a celebration of our union and partnership. It will be hosted at Yoseph's childhood church, the International Evangelical Church (IEC) of Addis Ababa, at 3pm and then we will all make our way to the Haile Grand Addis Ababa after for the reception.

We will be having a ‘mix and mingle” event on Thursday May 23rd where folks can meet and get to know each other before our special day! Please visit our itinerary page for details. We will also be hosting a late lunch/early dinner (otherwise referred to as the 'Melse') at Yoseph's parents house on Monday, May 27th at 3pm.

Our venue is located close to most of the hotels listed on our Travel & Accommodation page. There are a few car service options similar to Uber that we have used and that are recommended by the international community living in Addis Ababa, these include Feres and RIDE. Both services have an app that can be downloaded on your smart phone prior to your trip on Google Play and the Apple Store. Please note, it is likely that not all drivers will speak English. Also, you must pay in cash for the rides, it is not paid through the app. Hotels can also be a great source of help in booking private transportation and taxis. We are looking into providing a shuttle bus service to and from the venue, this will be confirmed and details announced as we near our special day! We hope to make this happen but if we aren't able to secure a shuttle please be prepared to make your own way to our wedding reception using either Feres or RIDE.

Our best advice is to not expect folks to speak English. While many do, it is a good idea to learn a few Amharic words to help you get around and immerse yourself culturally. While learning a new language is fun, we recognize it's not easy and many of you are in Addis for a quick visit, but fret not, technology is your best friend! For quick and easy real time communication, we recommend downloading the Google Translate app to your iPhone or Google Assistant if you have an Android. Bonus feature of the Google Translate app is that it has a cool feature where you can scan words (signs, menus etc.) with your phone as well which is useful for getting around! Check out this website for more tips on how to use both the Google Translate app and Google Assistant to translate languages: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/3-ways-to-translate-conversations-in-real-time-with-google-assistant

We love and welcome your little ones! However, if you are able to find care, we encourage you to treat our wedding reception as a fun night out!

If you have a plus one it will be noted on your invitation. We have a strict guest list to stay on budget. Our wedding is RSVP only. We will only be able to accommodate those listed on your invitation.

The food at our reception will be served buffet style and will include vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options (no pork will be served). We cannot take individual allergens into account so please plan accordingly to eat before or after if needed.

Yes, we encourage guests to post pictures on their social media channels, our only request is that you tag each photo with our wedding hashtag #yosemma so we can keep track of all of your pictures!

Your presence and joyful energy on our special day is a wonderful gift and more than we could hope for! But should you feel inclined we would be very grateful if you contributed to our travel fund! You can etransfer or transfer funds to Emma's PayPal at emmakristinaanderson@gmail.com.

Addis Ababa in May can be unpredictable; while it is the warmest time of the year, it is on the cusp of rainy season, so we recommend that you bring a rain jacket and warmer clothing for the evenings. Addis Ababa sits at an impressive 7,726 feet (2355 m) above sea level so the days are warm but not humid and evenings are cool (can get down to 11 Celsius).

The news can be confusing and provide conflicting information about a country's current status. While the situation is volatile and unpredictable in several areas throughout the country due to ethnic conflicts, Addis Ababa is not the epicenter for these conflicts. The most common types of crime in Addis Ababa include petty crime such as pick pocketing. Like in most major cities, crime significantly increases after dark so be aware of your surroundings at all times. Please refer to the Government of Canada's website for more information: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/ethiopia

Per the Government of Canada webpage on travel advice, "Ethiopian law prohibits sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. Those convicted can face up to 15 years in prison. 2SLGBTQI+ travellers should carefully consider the risks of travelling to Ethiopia." Ethiopia is a relatively conservative country, so these laws are enforced and not recommendations. With that being said, we would never want you to feel uncomfortable and unsafe and we empathise and respect if your decision is to not travel to Ethiopia.

Yes. But don't fret, its super easy! You can obtain a visa online using this website: https://www.evisa.gov.et/.

We recommend that you DO NOT drink the tap water and opt for bottled water. We also advise that you don't drink beverages with ice unless you are sure that it was made with bottled water. It is okay to brush your teeth with tap water!

Ethiopia has different regulations and standards with regards to food handling, this means consuming raw/uncooked meats, fruits and vegetables could increase your risk for food borne illnesses. If you have a sensitive stomach or want to err on the side of caution, we recommend only eating fully cooked meat, cooked vegetables and peelable fruits like bananas, avocados, oranges etc. Ethiopia has incredible organic produce! If you decide you want to try raw meat (an Ethiopian delicacy with interesting historical origins) we advise you take de worming pills, speak to your healthcare provider about this before you travel.

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. There is a chance you may need a vaccine if you have not travelled extensively, so please visit your respective Government website for vaccine advice or you can visit this website: https://www.passporthealthusa.com/destination-advice/ethiopia/. You can also talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. Some good news! There is no risk of malaria in Addis Ababa so you will not need to take malaria pills.

Before you travel, please obtain medical travel insurance in the off chance you require immediate and emergency medical attention. We recommend you seek care at Nordic Medical Centre if needed. The Nordic Medical Centre (NMC) is Norwegian run and staffed by highly experienced international and Ethiopian medical professionals. They deliver high-quality medical services 24/7 and are the preferred medical provider for a number of international organisations, embassies and health insurance companies. More information can be found on their website: https://www.nordicmedicalcentre.com/. If you require emergency care or an ambulance from the Nordic Medical Centre, dial 8901 or +251 929 105 653.

The currency of Ethiopia is the birr (ETB). Credit cards are not widely accepted except by large hotels, travel agencies and a few shops and restaurants in Addis Ababa. However, most hotels have ATM's where you can withdraw cash. Make sure you have access to hard-currency cash in case of emergency. It is illegal to enter or exit Ethiopia with more than 1,000 Birr. You may enter or exit Ethiopia with up to US$3,000 or its equivalent in any convertible foreign currency. This doesn’t include birr. However: if you enter with more, you must declare the funds upon arrival. If you exit with more, you must have at least one of the following: a bank document certifying the purchase of the foreign currency and approving travel with the funds, or a customs declaration form made upon entry. We recommend you spend all your Birr before you leave the country since the exchange rate is poor and it can be difficult to exchange outside of Ethiopia. Please refer to the U.S. Department of State webpage at travel.state.gov to review the currency restrictions for Ethiopia before your trip in case of any changes.

This differs from person to person depending on your duration of stay and your budget. However, if we were to give a ball park number we would recommend 400 USD for a 5 day stay (80 USD per day) for a more luxurious experience. This is if you plan on eating at the nicer/more expensive restaurants for all three meals and want cash for souvenirs and excursions. If you are looking to be more budget friendly, you can opt for cheaper options that are just as great. See our Google maps link for recommendations on things to do and places to eat.

The best place to exchange USD, EUR or CAD to Birr is at any of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Awash Bank, Dashen Bank, Zemen Bank, Bank of Abyssinia locations. Alternatively, you can take out Birr from any of the ATM machines provided at hotels. Several restaurants also take payment by card but as a rule of thumb it’s always good to have some cash on hand!

Do not expect Wi-Fi to work in all public spaces. It works well in the airport and some hotels but if you would like consistent access throughout the duration of your stay, we recommend purchasing a sim card from the country's main phone provider, Ethio Telecom. Luckily for international travelers there is an Ethio Telecom shop in the arrival hall of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. When walking into the arrival hall after you pass the customs security check there is an Ethio Telecom store on your left-hand side. They DO NOT accept credit cards as payment so please have some cash (Birr, USD or EUR) on hand. Important note: you will receive your change in Birr even if you pay with USD or EUR. The exchange rate they use isn't the best, but at least you are able to buy a sim card for Ethiopia directly on arrival! If for some reason you are unable to buy a prepaid sim card at the airport, then we recommend you go to the DUKI Mall or the Century Mall in the city centre. These malls both have authorized Ethio Telecom stores. Always buy a sim card from an authorized retail store as the registration process is key for a working data connection!

A prepaid sim card in Ethiopia costs 30 Birr and comes with 15 Birr (30 minutes calling time) and 100 MB data (subject to change if Ethio Telecom changes their rates before May 2024). This is of course not enough for your entire trip so you can add daily, weekly and monthly data packages. These are the most common short term data packages: 1) 45 Birr = 1 GB for 1 day 2) 120 Birr = 2GB for 7 days. Ethio Telecom also offers unlimited data packages, for example you can pay 440 Birr (around 8 USD) for 1-week unlimited data. Overall, prepaid sim cards and top ups are very cheap and a great way to stay connected on your trip!

While you will be missed and we would love to have everyone celebrate with us, we understand that travelling to Ethiopia is a commitment and it can be expensive so if you can't make it that is absolutely okay! Please let us know as soon as possible and RSVP “no”, so we can plan accordingly. If you would still like to contribute to our special day, we will gladly accept a contribution to our travel fund! To contribute to our travel fund please etransfer Emma at emmakristinaanderson@gmail.com. For our non Canadian friends and family you can contribute through PayPal using the same email address. For those living in Canada, if you can't make it to Ethiopia, we are planning on having a casual and fun celebration of our union in the Spring or Summer of 2024, details to be announced at a later date!

You can reach us at emmakristinaanderson@gmail.com or yoseph.wondwossen@gmail.com if you have urgent questions. We kindly ask that you refrain from reaching out to us on the day of our wedding reception. If you have any urgent inquiries on the day of please reach out to Yoseph's father, Wondwossen, at +251 93 010 9196.