Mar 27, 2017 By Luke Campbell 3 min read

The fascination of other cultures began at an early age for Dave Motak as he saved his lunch money to buy and put together house kits from the German instruction manual.

That love for ethnic diversity has continued for the Bethel Park sculptor, art educator and graphic designer, now with the purpose of being able to show others what these countries have by producing specialty tours since 2004.

The 2017 Royal Wedding Tour, which is scheduled from June 29 to July 12, will take the small group to Germany, the Czech Republic and three different cities in Poland while being able to enjoy the reenactment of the 1475 Royal Wedding between Polish princess Jadwiga (Hedwig) to the young Duke George the Rich of Bavaria in the town of Landshut.

“I found a German website in 2011 and saw that they were doing this gala wedding pageant,” Motak remembers. “I mentioned it to a friend who is on the Polish Honorary Council in Philadelphia for the Republic of Poland, and she said ‘why don’t you plan a tour?'”

Motak took his planning experience from the past and applied that to creating a one-of-a-kind trip to various European countries highlighted by the wedding reenactment with more than 3,500 people in costume that takes place every four years.

From how many horses were in the wedding party to who was in the wedding precession has all been kept by town records to commemorate and replicate a time where new political alliances were trying to form after the fall of Constantinople to the Turks.

“This is not an off-the-rack trip,” Motak said about the creativity he tries to infuse into the 12-day adventure across Europe. “Every year we try to do something different. I’m known for pushing the envelope on different and special things. However, we need a certain number of people for the tour to make it financially viable to meet the budget. I work with a travel agent and let them know what I want. I research hotels, restaurants and things to do and they do the same. We both see what’s not only doable but make sure it’s at a reasonable price.”

The group of 26 people that went to the royal wedding tour in 2013 – many from the South Hills and Pittsburgh area – was filled out by members of ethnic communities from other states. Enjoying events surrounding the royal wedding, including jousts, concerts and medieval feasts, the tour will feature palace and castle tours, a vintage trolley tour, sightseeing and shopping.

“I worry about every last detail,” Motak said. “People really enjoy what we do. We stay at nice hotels, have nice meals and do a variety of different things.”

Motak said space on the trip is limited, so he’s urging people to register as soon as possible. For more information, go to www.janddtours.net or contact Motak at 412-835-0539.