When brides-to-be dream of the ideal venue for their wedding, what images come to mind? The waterfront, a high-end hotel or an exotic destination are usually at the top of the list. Does any woman think of IKEA?

Julie Rodgers did.

She married Willie Pittman Tuesday inside the restaurant at IKEA's College Park, Md., location.

The  two had known each other in high school in Washington, D.C., but lost touch after graduation in 1981.

They reconnected through social media, and on April 17, 2010, met for lunch at the IKEA near both their places of work.

"It turned into this long conversation, catching up on 30 years of history. We strolled through the store, we played in the design room," Rodgers told ABC TV local affiliate WJLA, based in Washington, D.C.

They are the first couple married in that IKEA, and the store offered the space at no cost, WTOP.com reported.

About 25 guests attended, and the store's signature Swedish meatballs were on the menu.

"Ikea did just a beautiful job of everything that they provided for us and I'm just speechless, and I'm very seldom speechless," Rodgers told WJLA.