Royal Oak Couple Hears Wedding (and School) Bells

While some lamented the end of summer vacation, there is a Royal Oak couple who couldn't wait to go back to school last week.

Rachel Rosenbach and Zachary Vickers were simply buzzing as they left on Thursday. The couple returned to the building, which was formerly Dondero High School, because next weekend they will tie the knot in the school’s auditorium.

“The building looks so different,” Rosenbach said. “But the auditorium looks the same with its murals. It’s a beautiful place that we both remember.”

Rosenbach and Vickers plan to exchange vows on the auditorium stage on Saturday.

The pair met at Dondero High School in 2004 when both served on the student senate - Rosenbach (Class of 2006) was a junior, and Vickers (Class of 2005) was a senior. The couple also participated in numerous sports for the Oaks. After his graduation, Vickers attended Western Michigan University, and Rosenbach followed him there a year later.

“We loved Dondero,” Rosebach said, so it seemed only natural to get married where the romance started. Most of the eight bridesmaids and eight groomsmen are former high school classmates, so the wedding will feel like a homecoming celebration.

After the wedding, the bride and groom will head to the , where they have been working with Market Master Shelly Mazur, for the reception.

“Shelly is fantastic. She’s setting up a stage for our band, (Michael Bermudez) and our DJ (Ron Sulewski),” Rosenbach said. She added Bermudez is a Dondero grad and Sulewski went to Kimball High School.

As you might have guessed, Rosebach and Vickers not only love each other, they really love Royal Oak.

“It is such a wonderful place to grow up,” she said. The couple have already purchased their first home on the same street where Vickers’ parents live.

Royal Oak Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin wishes the the bride and groom the best.

"Their choice of wedding location is a powerful statement regarding the importance of schools in the lives of individuals and a community," he said.

Would you like to use a district building? If the answer is "I do," keep reading.

A permit is required for the use of district buildings and sites for events that occur outside of the regular school day. The application form is available on the district’s website and at the Office of the Director of Transportation and Custodial Operations, which is located at 1601 N. Campbell Road.

"We are proud of our facilities and welcome community use of them," said Lewis-Lakin. "We have an established procedure that outlines what facilities are available, acceptable uses, and rental fees."

The procedure is available at: http://www.rosd.k12.mi.us/board/policy/5000/5012b.pdf.

Want to announce to the world that you’re engaged to that great gal you’ve had your eye on for a while? Ready to tell everyone that you just married that nice man from your hometown? Patch is ready to help.