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Cinderella Actors Who Got Engaged On Stage Marry in Magical Wedding Inspired by Fairytale (Exclusive)

T.Williams20 min ago
And they lived happily ever after!

After getting engaged onstage while playing Cinderella and Prince Charming in a production of Cinderella last year, actors Gabe Hanna and Ellarose Kleefisch exchanged vows on June 15, 2024 in front of 130 friends and family at St. Sava Orthodox Cathedral in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The nuptials paid tribute to the fairytale, including the bride's replica dress of the ballgown worn by Lily James in the 2015 live-action remake of Cinderella .

"I just removed a piece of the top and had the perfect dress for me left!" Kleefisch tells PEOPLE of the gown, which featured a corset-style bodice and full tulle skirt. "I thought the dress was magical and it fulfilled all of the dreams I had about my wedding as a little girl. I truly felt like a princess when I wore it."

Adds Hanna: "The moment I saw her enter the church with her father, I was speechless. She quite literally took my breath away."

"We also had a custom sword engraved with our names and wedding date to cut our cake. I would say that's pretty royal!" he continues.

The couple's three-tier chocolate cake featured Italian meringue frosting and was covered in flowers reminiscent of Kleefisch's bouquet — which was made by her father along with all the celebration's florals. The dessert also perfectly matched their reception tablescapes, from the colorful candelabra to the blue glass goblets.

Hanna is Greek Orthodox, so the couple had a traditional Orthodox wedding ceremony and Kleefisch handmade their wedding crowns out of artificial flowers, floral wire and ribbon to match their wedding colors. She also hand-painted the "unity" candles that they held throughout the ceremony.

"We wore the wedding crowns with a ribbon tied to each other as we walked around the altar three times, symbolizing our first steps as a married couple while we walk in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit," Hanna tells PEOPLE.

The celebration was full of emotion as the couple exchanged their vows.

"The moment we left the altar we both broke down. I think we just couldn't believe we actually got to be together forever," Kleefisch tells PEOPLE. "We snuck into an office in the church and cried into one another's arms."

After the ceremony, the festivities moved to the couple's wedding reception held at Kleefisch's parents' house on the outskirts of Milwaukee, where guests were treated to a buffet by Stoddard's Meat Market & Catering, followed by late night snacks from Chick-fil-A.

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Their first dance as husband and wife to Cody Fry's "Photograph" preceded a spectacular fireworks display, before the couple went on to party the night away with those closest to them.

"It was a beautiful gift to have our wedding reception in Ellarose's parents' backyard. Her father surprised us with fireworks that lit up the night sky after the sunset. It was a thoughtful and beautiful time," Hanna tells PEOPLE.

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