AJ and Mara were married at the groom’s parent’s home followed by a casual dinner at a local restaurant. The combined their Jewish and Romanian Orthodox faiths to create a one-of-a-kind ceremony, which was witnessed by close friends and family only.

“We only invited our immediate family and a few friends who lived in town”, the bride told us. “As AJ is Jewish and I am Christian and from Romania, we combined aspects from both a Jewish and Romanian Orthodox wedding. We also chose not to wear the traditional tuxedo and white dress. AJ wore a black suit with a white t shirt and I chose a a short pink dress. We wanted it to be different and more laid back than a traditional wedding. Guests could wear whatever they wanted, too. Some dressed up and some wore very unique things – AJ’s best men wore matching denim suits with big buckles that read A and J!”

Their ceremony didn’t include music or the exchange of vows. Instead, they focused on the meaningful aspects of their cultures, making the ceremony deeply personal. AJ’s brother-in-law, who had gotten ordained specifically for this occasion, officiated.

After the ceremony, the celebration continued at their favourite local restaurant where they rented a private room. The intimate dinner was followed by a night of dancing at a local club, where they rented a booth and enjoyed the music of a great DJ.

Everything about this wedding was DIY and low-fi. The flowers were all put together by Mara’s mother, using IKEA vases and they did their own hair and make-up. They also made budget-friendly choices with their attire—AJ wore a suit he already owned, and Mara found her beautiful pink dress secondhand.

AJ and Mara’s highlight of the day was just how relaxed it all was. “The only thing we would have done differently was to maybe invite more of our cousins/ extended family,” Mara concluded. “It was such a last minute decision to tie the knot that we kept it very small. We are having a bigger reception style party in 2025 to celebrate with the rest of our loved ones though!”