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a real-life wedding
Yana
& Beau
LOVING CUBA
WEDDING CELEBRATIONS
Waiting in line for exhibitors' badges at the Canadian
International Auto Show in Toronto a few years back, Beau Bates
recognized Yana Poudrenko; they had both attended the
University of Guelph where they had some classes together. The
chance meeting led to romance and eventually to wedding
celebrations in Cuba.
BUTTERFLY PROPOSAL
Beau wanted to honour traditional values by asking Yana's father
for her hand in marriage. This was complicated by the fact that
her father lives in Russia. Yana's mother taught Beau enough
Russian so he could phone him and receive his blessing for the
couple to marry.
Knowing Yana's fascination for butterflies, Beau chose the
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory to propose. Pausing in front
of a waterfall, surrounded by butterfly "jewels of the air", Beau
handed her a penny, asking her to shut her eyes and make a
wish. When she opened them, he was down on one knee, asking
her to marry him--proof positive that wishes can come true!
PHOTOS: STAN SWITALSKI PHOTOGRAPHY