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| Wedding Essentials 2 0 1 4
a real-life wedding
When love is in the air, time and distance are irrelevant. The
love story of Kylene Ganigan and Ronald Batin spans the globe.
The Philippines, Dubai, India, Canada, the Maldives--all figure
prominently in their romantic narrative.
The couple met when they both were studying engineering
at Saint Louis University in Baguio City in the Philippines.
Ronald describes their official first date in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.,
as a "white-knuckle and audacious one". The ice-breaker was at
the Rock Bottom bar, followed by a visit to an Arabic restaurant
to enjoy shisha, the traditional Arabic oriental waterpipe. Initial
awkwardness melted away as they talked and laughed about all
the years they had known each other and never dated.
THE PROPOSAL
Kylene flew in to Abu Dhabi Airport early one morning, unaware
that Ronald and his friends were busy making preparations for
the proposal. He recounts that "it was nerve-wracking, as we are
in an Arabic country where PDA (public displays of affection)
are prohibited". He arranged for flowers to be distributed to
onlookers, for a big banner to be held by friends, for a
photographer and videographer.
Kylene first saw all the flowers and thought it was an early
birthday surprise but then the banner was unfurled, reading "will
you marry me?". Holding a bouquet of flowers and a diamond
ring, Ronald knelt down and proposed. She remembers
wondering if this was real and even asking Ronald, "are you sure?".
Kylene &
Ronald
DUBAI COUPLE FALLS
FOR MUSKOKA WEDDING
PHOTOS: WMAC PHOTOGRAPHY