Real Bride Aja, who look absolutely radiant, married her husband in a Tara Keely wedding dress. The Royal Park, in Rochester, served as the backdrop as they not only married each other, but also two different cultures and religions.
What was your wedding date?
May 7, 2016
What was your wedding location and venue name?
Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan
Who is the designer of your wedding gown and where did you purchase it?
Tara Keely 2500, purchased at The Gown Shop in Ann Arbor, MI
When did you know your gown was “the one”?
The first time I went wedding dress shopping, I left with a hunch this might be my dress, but I wanted to try on some other styles just to be sure. I went to a few more appointments, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this dress and comparing others to it!
What is your absolute favorite memory from your wedding day?
It is so hard to pick just one moment! One of the best was when we were in the center of all our family members doing a Serbian circle dance, which is my family’s tradition. My husband’s family had joined in even though they had never been taught, and before I knew it, one of my cousins had brought out a big Serbian drum to beat in time to the music. Then he had my husband stand up on the drum, while another cousin then picked my husband up onto his shoulders! We were all laughing and dancing and it was such a beautiful moment of our cultures and families coming together. And so much fun!
Why did you want to get your gown cleaned and preserved?
I don’t have any specific plans for my dress (although it would be special if I or another family member had a chance to wear it in the future), but I loved it so much that I wanted to make sure it was kept in beautiful condition, whether for future use or just good memories.
What made your wedding ceremony feel extra special?
As I alluded to above, my husband and I come from different backgrounds. My family is Serbian and my husband is Jewish. Neither of us was interested in converting, nor did we want to miss out on the special wedding traditions from our respective backgrounds. We were lucky enough to have both a Serbian Orthodox priest and rabbi co-officiate our marriage, making the entire ceremony feel extra special. But I also loved walking out at the end to cheers from our family and friends!
Why did you decide to get your gown cleaned by Janet Davis Cleaners, a member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists?
It was important to me that my beautiful dress be cleaned and preserved by qualified professionals. I treasure it and would only trust it to the best!
Photos by Nicole Anderson of Sorella Muse Photography
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