Dara and Ivan were wed on October 30, 2016.
Dara dazzled in a fitted lace mermaid gown with a sweetheart neckline and a beaded belt, topped off with a lace-edged cathedral-length veil. She carried a multicolored bouquet of white hydrangeas, white and purple roses, lavender, and jewel accents. Her six bridesmaids were dressed in floor-length plum-colored gown in various silhouettes.
Ivan wore a traditional tuxedo with black bow tie, while his six groomsmen wore gray suits with plum bowties. All the men wore mini-bouquet boutonnieres wrapped with plum-colored ribbon.
At the ceremony, the chairs were adorned with floral arrangements in the bride’s colors. Dara walked down an aisle strewn with rose petals. She and Ivan took Communion during the ceremony, and the officiant asked the guests to remember to pray for the couple in their first year of marriage.
Then, it was off to the reception. Guests signed a special piece of art for Dara and Ivan before being seated at tables dressed in white tablecloths and floral centerpieces. They enjoyed a meal of Caesar salad, chicken marsala, penne pasta with Alfredo sauce, and breadsticks. The children who attended even had their own special menu — macaroni and cheese, French fries, fruit cups, and juice boxes, with gummy worms for dessert.
During the toasts, Ivan’s best man, a friend who has known him since high school, spoke about how happy he was for the couple. Dara’s sister gave an emotional speech about how much she loves her, and Ivan’s brother shared funny stories and thanked the guests for coming to the wedding.
Dara and Ivan danced for the first time as a married couple to a country song, then cut the cake, a three-tiered confection that featured white-on-white embellishment, the couple’s last initial, roses, and a “Mr. and Mrs.” topper. Guests were also treated to a sweets bar.
The newlyweds left their special day with a signature sparkler send-off.
We wish the happy couple the best of luck in their new life together!
Photography by: The Graceful Stories
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