In what can truly be described as a modern-day fairytale, a Washington art curator was wooed by an Ethiopian Prince and married in a lavish ceremony – after he used a cheesy line to pick her up in a nightclub.
Ariana Austin, now 33, was partying with a friend at Pearl Nightclub in 2005 when she was approached by Joel Makkonen.
Image via The New York Times
Makonnen told The New York Times, “I said: ‘You guys look like an ad for Bombay Sapphire.’ Not even five minutes later, I said: ‘You’re going to be my girlfriend.’”
And while that line might have been laughed at by another girl, Austin decided to give Makonnen a chance – and only learned of his royal heritage after they began dating seriously.
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Prince Joel is the great-grandson of Ethiopia’s last emperor, Haile Selassie I. Through him, the royal family trace their lineage back to King Soloman and The Queen of Sheba.
The lavish ceremony, described by the couple as when “Old World aristocracy met New World charm,” was held on September 9th at the Debre Genet Medhane Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and was officiated by 13 priests and clergymen.
Image via The New York Times
The ceremony, held at Foxchase Manor, had 307 guests and was a beautiful gold sequin affair, celebrating a union described by Austin as a combination of “sheer black power and ancient Christian tradition.”
Maybe we’ll reconsider laughing off the next cheesy pick-up line we hear.
Images via The New York Times
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