Ross and Alla surrounded themselves with their closest friends and family members to celebrate their wedding. I met the pair of them twice, before the wedding, but it was at the dinner the night before their wedding that I first got to see how connected they are to those that love them. Ross is straight-laced and has a very serious way about him. But if you watch, his hand finds his way to the small of Alla’s back and he peaks at her so subtly out of the corner of his eye. If Alla catches his glance, Ross gives her a crooked smile.
Alla has one of the warmest personalities of anyone I have ever met. She lights up a room when she enters and people are just drawn to her. Alla was as excited to see each of her guests, and greet them, as they were to see her. There were countless times that someone would catch her attention across the room and Alla would smile and wink.
Family and culture are important to the pair of them. They’re both brilliant and tenacious. Their friends and family spoke of them both as being selfless caretakers who pay attention to and care about even the small details. This was evident when Alla presented gifts to her mother, sisters and remaining bridesmaids. This is where I got choked up. We all want to be understood, loved and validated. Receiving a gift from someone that resonates with you personally, because the giver pays such close attention to your heart, conversation and every day life is validating. Alla spoke to each of the ladies as they individually opened their gifts. And every gift spoke to the care Alla has for each of those ladies and proved that she pays attention to even the small details of their lives.
It was a true honor to play a small part in the wedding day of such a loving and attentive couple as they were married and surrounded by culture, tradition and the people who love them most. Alla and Ross were married at the Temple Beth Emeth in Ann Arbor where they had an intimate, family only ceremony to sign the ketubah. The ketubah is a beautiful jewish wedding contract that is truly a work of art. They celebrated at their wedding reception at the Michigan League also in Ann Arbor. Toasts were made and tears of joy were shed before nearly every person in the ballroom participated in the hora. The dance floor remained full and I experienced one of my favorite rounds of dancing shots ever.
Thank you to Elida of Elle Ticula Photography for second shooting beautifully, per usual!
