The Oak Room of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel was turned into a veritable garden of Eden, when Professor and Mrs. G. A. P. Ganepola hosted a dinner reception for the homecoming of their daughter Sayuri Audrey Ganepola and her groom Jeffrey David Kaczynski. The couple were married recently in the USA where the brides family have been in residence for many years. Speaking to the groom's father he told us that he was most impressed with everything that contributed to the success of the event, even though the wedding ceremony and reception in the States too was star class but didn't have the glamour and glitter of this homecoming in Sri Lanka.

Contributing in no small way towards this were the floral decor Shirohana created. The tall stands on the tables stretched from the table top to the ceiling in a garden full of flowers which ranged from the Amarylis to the Halocondas and the crab claws providing a rich and colourful ambience.

The bride for this evening wore a creation by Ritu Kumar the slim skirt of ivory worked richly in gold over which were panels of the same fabric worked as well to create a fuller skirt effect. A neatly pleated fall created the impression of a saree, and the blouse with little sleeves was heavily encrusted with dazzling stones, sequins and beads. The bouquet was a cascade of orchids and other exotic flowers, and flowers adorned her hair, and she wore diamand jewellery and a paddakam in gold, and from the tip of the sleeve was another jewelled pendent. Her two bridesmaids wore sarees in a uncommon combination of colour. Exotic and glamorous was the Indian inspired outfit she wore to leave in. In a red and olive green the saree was draped in the gujarati. Her long plait was adorned with flowers and she carried a garland for a bouquet.

There were many guests who brought the riches of the east into focus, and to set the tone the bride's mother wore a rich Indian silk saree in red dotted in gold and bordered in green and gold. The necklace of amethyst, with a aquamarine pendent and pink sapphires Dulanjali Jayakody wore with a vivid pink and aquamarine saree. The black saree Shirlene Ozman wore was worked in a border of turquoise sequins, also had sequins scattered all over it. White was the background to the aquamarine work on Padma Maharaja's saree she matched with prefect jewels and flowers in her hair. Roshini Jayasekera whose husband Jerry proposed the toast wore a tanchoi silk in a silver grewy stones and peals for jewellery. Mackie had her lime green saree worked in sun like motifs in brown and orange. Himali Senanayake had her grey silk saree with a fused border and pallu in turquoise and sapphire blue. Nimmi Tambaih favoured the elegance of biege worked in a wide border at the botton only in sequins in grey silver and rust, she wore with traditional jewellery. Gowrie de Silva was in a gold hued saree and Chamari Jayaratne in a bright pink saree worked in rosettes of design. Ruki Tissanayagam had her red saree woven with gold.

There was music for dancing from Misty, and there were a troupe of dancers to entertain the guests who were hosted to a sumptous buffeet and all the finest of wines and stronger beverage for those who preferred drink from the famous names and manufacturers.

Also making a speech of appreciation of the hosts and the couple was Jayantha Dhanapala.