Olga & Kamal Won the Jackpot

 Their story starts a while ago, but for you - my faithful blog visitors - it all begins when I start taking pictures and that's on a chilly September evening:

 This is when the ladies' sangeet/chunni ceremony happens. Olga's priorities are very well defined:

 Kamal is fed a few pounds of sweets:

 I think he's full:

 Sounds like a party:

 Enter the jaago:

 The mehndi party takes place on a late October evening, right before the wedding day:

 The present ladies are beautifully decorated by two skillful henna artists - Rukhshinda Zubair and Simran Athwal:

 The bottom of the feet design looks familiar, doesn't it:

 It's easy to notice how good is Olga at multitasking, but don't ask her to plan your big day! She's making the schedule for the wedding ceremonies after they began:

 But Lord Ganesha is here, so I'm not worried:

 Next day is the wedding and we're at Olga's at 5 am for a few very early morning rituals. She's warming up for the maiya:

 For some of us it's way too early:

 It doesn't mean you can't have a smile on your face:

 And even one on your knee:

 Olga's mom creates some rangoli art on the glass door:

 Outside is still dark and the wedding bangles are prepared for the choora ceremony:

 Hindus need a pandit (priest) for that and he's here, waking up whoever is still sleeping:

 Slowly, the bracelets are going where they are supposed to stay for one year:

 All done:

 Ioana takes over the photography from here and Shana Chowdhury takes over the makeup:

 Not before a quick snack:

 Monica is a little behind with the makeup:

 But she can get all the final touches in the limo:

 Meanwhile, I'm at the hotel where the future groom's family spent the night. They all came from Calgary to get a wife for Kamal.

 This is proof that maiya ceremony can be completed in under two minutes:

 With very pleasant results, too:

 After a needed shower, Kamal has to step on a bunch of clay pots and brake them:

 With a little team effort, we have a perfectly usable groom in minutes:

 Of course mom is so proud of him:

 A very excited baraat procesion makes its way to the Hindu Mandir of Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta:

 Kamal is welcomed by his soon to be mother in law:

 The milni ritual is fueled by love:

 Hindu gods are waiting inside:

 The flower girls:

Kids find the perfect moment and place to play tag:

 The traditional greeting by exchanging the garlands goes differently than usual:

 Olga probably needed some lasso training for this challenge:

 I'll turn off the commentary for a little while so you can enjoy the ceremony in silence (actually, I don't want to spend two more hours thinking of something smart to say):

 "Take this fourth step with me towards welfare and total well being of each other":

 Olga is welcomed in Kamal's family:

 The weather is tricky this time of the year (in Alberta that means the whole year), so we have to hide away from the rain for some shots:

 This is too easy! I let you comment on it:

 Guess what - Olga is hungry again:

 And she needs some money for the vending machine:

 The fun is over and some more ... fun begins. Obviously we're back at Olga's place and Kamal is well received by his new wife's family:

 Kamal's brothers are engineers and looks like they don't have a chance negotiating against Neha:

 Pretty soon she gets what she wants:

 Olga is ready to leave her family now:

 She's going to live in Calgary with the man she loves.

  It's customary for her brothers to push their car away. Not all the way to Calgary, only for a few meters:

Congratulations, Olga and Kamal! Thank you so much for everything!

love.more.cosmin