Mona & Mike Are Taking the Plunge (Sikh Wedding Story in Calgary)

 The big day is finally here and Mona makes sure she feels great inside:

 Rupi makes sure she looks good on the outside:

 Her mom deals with the final touches:

 Mike: "I love Mona. There's nothing else I can say that will mean as much as those three words, but I'll try to explain. Throughout the week of the wedding, and the entire engagement, everyone kept asking me if I was nervous about getting married. I knew my life was going to change, but instead of being nervous, I had a sense of excitement. I was excited because I knew that I was going to be spending the rest of my life with my best friend and the person that makes me want to be a better person. In short, I love Mona."

 Arya is happy to help, as usual:

 Mike is almost ready, too:

 Mona: "In the Winter of 2009, I knew that Mike would be the person that I would one day spend the rest of my life with. After spending a year in Calgary, I had returned to Winnipeg to finish up school and was having a hard time adjusting. I believed that long distance would be the greatest obstacle in our relationship. Mike, however, made every effort to make it feel as if we were living in the same city. During special occasions he would drop by without notice, and was always there for me throughout my happiness and sorrows. I'm sure everyone that knows Mike, will agree with me when I say that his thoughtfulness is his greatest quality. He never misses an opportunity to let me know how special I am to him. I am blessed to call him my best friend and better half."

 The sun is up in the sky when the milni begins, right in front of the Sikh Society of Calgary gurdwara:

 The level of affection between the two families, is overwhelming:

 I mean these guys can't keep their hands off each other:

 Everybody gathers inside while the raagis play their hymns.

 The temple proves to be not spacious enough for what looks like the biggest wedding here:

 Good thing there's enough room for the bride to walk in:

 At the end of the ceremony, the newlyweds are offered blessings, shagan and sweets by their parents:

 It's a lovely sunny day.... so we have to hide somewhere in the shade. The Devonian Garden is a good spot, but full with tourists ready to snap pictures of the newest attractions:

 We have a few minutes for ourselves:

 The little canyon outside Mona's house is too tight when the doli begins, so I have to find a vantage point:

 In the same time, it's easy for the bride's sisters to defend the entrance against the groom's brothers, when the negotiations go south:

 Finally, Mike pays up and he's allowed in:

 Only to take his new wife away from her emotional family:

 The ride to their new home in Conrich never felt so comfortable (I'm just guessing here):

 Warm welcomes are not on the menu today:

 One more ritual before they can step inside:

 Sorry, I meant 'before they attempt to step inside':

 Gabbar, Mike's dog, has the groom's back:

 But he still has to pay his sisters:

 Eventually, they are inside:

 However, the ordeal fun continues. Mona has to pay Sheldon, Mike's brother, a hefty fee in order to make him get off her lap:

 After that, in a clever twist, the newly weds are turned against each other with the help of traditional games. They have to compete on who manages to untie first the red string off the other one's wrist. They try with one hand. Unsuccessfully:

 Somebody has to win, so Mona employs her other hand. Still unsuccessful:

 Nails don't seem to do much, so it's time to bring out the big guns:

 Success:

 The last contest is about who find the ring in the bowl of milk:

 Mike is devastatingly quick:

 But his wife doesn't give up easily:

 At the end, Mike's first love - Gabbar - approves of his second love with lots of tenderness:

 The 5th and final day is here and we're getting ready at Hotel Arts in downtown Calgary:

 Just when I thought Mike couldn't have more qualities:

 But like many grooms before him, he can't tie a bowtie, even with YouTube instructions (which probably makes it an ideal time I learned how to do that).

 We have time for a few more shots before we head to BMO Centre:

 The happiest couple of today makes its grand entrance:

 After the MC's, the newlyweds arrive with a little less excitement, but just as much love:

 The evening entertainment starts right away:

After a rich first dance, it's time for everybody to take over the dance floor:

 It's always great to see old friends, including Navjot and Manny:

 Somebody had the awesome idea of light-sticks:

 Which becomes extremely popular instantly:

 And Mike becomes some sort of orchestra conductor:

 Mona and Mike, congratulations one more time! It was amazing to be part of your families for a week. Thank you so much for everything!

love.more.cosmin

Vendors 'n' Things:

Sikh Wedding Ceremony (Anand Karaj) - Sikh Society of Calgary
Fancy Reception Venue - BMO Centre Palomino Room
Decorations - Universal Decor
Hair and Makeup - Roopstyle by Rupi Rarru
Fastest Mehndi/Henna Artist in the West - Gulshan Khan
Yummy Catering - Karma Fine Indian Cuisine, Taj Mahal, Mango Shiva
DJ & Lighting - House of Bounce
Dhol Player - Nathan
MC's - Navaz & Sukhchan
Crowd Management - Rimi
Cake - Cakes with Attitude
Video - Ringtail Films
Second Shooter - Bogdan Spineanu
Photography Assistant - Ella Anderson
Calgary Sikh Wedding Photographer - Canada Punjabi Wedding Photographer


You love it? You want it? Let me know: cosmindanilaphoto@gmail.com