Clair & Kiran: A Marriage of Cultures

December 13 2008 :: Rockmosa Community Centre, Rockwood

Photography by Mélanie Driedger Photography
Story by TheWeddingRing.ca

Clair Hopkins Brandow and Kirankumar Modi met in December 2002 at work shortly after Clair moved to Ontario from Saskatchewan. She says that she and Kiran became friends right away started dating in February 2003. Early into their relationship, Clair admits she found herself on the phone with her mom, telling her that Kiran was someone special, “I remember telling my mom that Kiran was someone I could marry…”

Seven months later, Clair and Kiran moved in together and they’ve been together ever since. “We are best friends and we always keep each other laughing.” The couple had the love and support of family as well. In fact, Clair told The Ring that her Dad gave Kiran his blessing, even before Kiran officially asked permission.

On August 14, 2006, Kiran popped the question. It was just a typical weekday night, Clair told The Ring, “We were watching TV and Kiran came over to the couch where I was laying down; he held out the ring box in front of me and asked ‘Will you?’.” And while that’s probably more than enough of a proposal from the man she loved, Clair replied, “Will I what?” before insisting Kiran get down on his knee and do it right. He asked her again, formally, and she said “Yes!”

For the wedding of about 200 guests, Clair and Kiran wanted their wedding to be a big celebration that brought both their families and different cultures together. “Although I am Christian I decided that I wanted to have a traditional Hindu ceremony,” said Clair. “Although both religions share similar elements, the rituals, actions, participation of our family and friends and the beautiful prayers and vows that we made during our wedding were very special to us.”

Traditional Hindu invitations from Gujarat, India were sent out marking December 13, 2008 as their date. For the ceremony, everyone wore traditional ceremonial dress and jewellery, also from Gujarat, India. Clair looked stunning in a traditional red sari. Bridesmaids wore blue saris, each with a different beading design and matching jewellery. The best men wore the same colour of blue. and the groom wore a traditional wedding Sherwani. No one involved in the ceremony in the Mandap wore shoes, as is tradition in Hindu culture.

The wedding party was made up of the matron of honour, Shauna Tulik, and bridesmaids Cathy McKay and Amy Brotzel – all friends of the bride. Kiran’s best men were his older brother, Manish Modi and his high school friend Matthew Pratola.

The ceremony and reception took place at the Rockmosa Community Centre in Rockwood, Ontario. The centre was located close to where their guests were travelling from and it also offered the size they needed for their large guest list as well as the ability to accommodate the Mandap (the Hindu structure they were married under).

A Hindu wedding includes several religious rites before and during the ceremony, performed in the presence of family deities. They represent the importance of the bond between a husband and wife. The ceremony itself lasted an hour and a half and also included traditional religious rites. Among them was the most important rite, the Sapt-padi (seven steps or vows). During this, Kiran and Clair take seven steps together and make promises to each other relating to nourishment, health, prosperity, mutual love and trust, fruition, longevity and devotion.

There was a brief break for portrait-style photos before the wedding party changed their outfits for the next stage of the day. Clair’s organza strapless gown was ivory with a sweep train and a crystal beaded bodice. Accessorizing around her winter wedding date, Clair wore an faux fur wrap, a snowflake pin, and sparkling silver jewellery. The bridesmaids wore aubergine dresses with black gloves and faux fur wraps. Kiran and his groomsmen wore black tuxes and ivory shirts; the groom’s vest was ivory and the groomsmen’s purple.

Then the entourage headed out into the snowy landscape of Rockwood for photos, taken by Mélanie Driedger Photography. “It was an absolute pleasure working with Mélanie and her husband Justin,” says Clair. “They made taking pictures a fun, relaxing and creative process. We couldn’t be more pleased with all of the photographic work they did for our wedding.”

After a fabulous photo shoot that included a ton of formals, they loaded up into the limo and headed for Tim Hortons for a coffee (ah, a bride after our own hearts!).

Clair planned the reception décor, in contrast to the colourful reds and golds of the ceremony, to be more of a classic, wintery look. “We had white twinkle lights, ivory roses with greenery on each table and lots of tea lights,” she says. A local Rockwood florists arranged the flowers which included bouquets made of roses in fuschia and different shades of pink, as well as green hypericum berries.

All of the food – lunch after the ceremony and the evening dinner – was catered by specialty caterer, Empress of India, from the Guelph area. “The food was amazing and included many traditional chicken, goat and lamb dishes and lots of vegetarian dishes, appetizers and sweets,” explains Clair.

Even with the lengthy ceremony and two wardrobe changes, Clair and Kiran made it a priority to leave time to spend with family and friends on their wedding day. After a full day of love, laughs and sentiment, Clair and Kiran sent guests home with lucky gold elephant wedding favours, each with a card on top that was imprinted with Clair and Kiran’s names and the wedding date. This was the bride and groom’s way of letting their guests know that their wedding couldn’t have happened without their family and friends.

“Our wedding was a wonderful adventure filled with many emotions and surprises. It couldn’t have turned out any better.” ■