Nada Milosavljevic and Bob Allard met over a dinner with mutual friends in Boston, where they gathered to brainstorm about a philanthropic organization they were involved in, as well as an upcoming volunteer event. A week after that fun and engaging dinner meeting, the two went on their first official date at Neptune Oyster House near the waterfront, followed by a boat ride in Boston Harbor.
“I was enthralled with discussions about how he built his company but, more importantly, how he used that experience to mentor others and help new start-ups in the Boston community realize their dreams,” Nada shares. “As a newly trained physician, he was patient with my long hours at the hospital and he would even work late into the evening helping me edit my first book. He came with me to NYC as I submitted the completed draft. It was a milestone we shared.”
A THREE-DAY WEDDING CELEBRATION THAT WOULD HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORY AND BEAUTY OF THE NEW ENGLAND SEACOAST.
Three years later, the couple took a trip to Vienna, Austria. After checking into the Hotel Bristol, the two attended the Vienna Opera that evening. It was there, looking out from their box seats during intermission, that Bob proposed. The sweeping grandeur of the space and the joyous, congratulatory sentiments from fellow opera-goers made it an unforgettable engagement.
Nada and Bob’s wedding weekend took place 15 months later in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. With guests traveling from throughout the US, Canada, and Europe to celebrate, the couple decided to host a three-day wedding celebration that would highlight the history and beauty of the New England Seacoast. At each event, guests also received locally inspired gifts as a memento for that particular moment.
On Friday – the first day – guests were given the option of golfing at Portsmouth Country Club or touring the Strawberry Banke Museum. All 120 guests were invited to the rehearsal dinner that evening at the Portsmouth Historic Society, and everyone enjoyed wining, dining, museum tours, and a night of live jazz music.
The next day, guests were picked up by trolleys and transported to two ceremonies throughout the day. With Bob being Catholic and Nada being Orthodox, the separate ceremonies were their way of honoring both families and religious traditions. “The reception was at Wentworth-By-The-Sea – a landmark hotel dating back to the 1870’s,” says the bride. “We reserved the original 1870 ballroom which had incredible charm. Our event design channeled a blend of old Hollywood glam and the New England Seacoast. From the dramatic floral arrangements to the live oyster shucking during the cocktail reception, we wanted every detail to let our guests know how grateful we were to have them present.”
Before their guests departed, the newlyweds hosted one last gathering in Portsmouth, chartering the Thomas Laighton ship for a post-wedding brunch buffet and long cruise from Portsmouth Harbor to the Maine Coast. For their honeymoon, Nada and Bob spent three incredible weeks touring China.
