Roni & Melanie’s Big Fat Chaldean Wedding Gail Heriot

Best wishes to my former research assistant Ronson Shamoun and his bride Melanie Dallo.  Roni and Melanie were married yesterday evening in a beautiful ceremony at St. Peter’s Chaldean Catholic Cathedral.

When I left the reception a little before midnight, they were still dancing, and it didn’t look like they were going to break up anytime soon.  For all I know the relatives are still there (although I hope Roni and Melanie have taken a break for their honeymoon).

Those who know Roni know that he likes to live large, and the Shamoun-Dallo wedding was no exception.  The invitation arrived in a beautifully-boxed scroll.  The bride and groom were attended by no less than nine bridesmaids, nine groomsmen, two junior groomsmen, one junior bridesmaid, one ring bearer, two flower girls, two candle boys,  one bell boy, and of course a best man and a maid of honor.  I would estimate that the guests at the reception numbered about 700.   I’m told this is “typical” for a Chaldean wedding in San Diego, but I have a hard time believing that anything associated with Roni Shamoun could ever be called typical.

Live long and prosper Mr. & Mrs. Shamoun.  And never stop dancing.