FEBRUARY 2021

Above: Above: A happily married couple beside their wedding cake (submitted by
Pastry Guru). Opposite page, clockwise from left: The happy bride and groom.
Table setting by Top That Table. Wedding reception at Regency Manor.
looks bleak,” said General Manager
Jovann Dawood-Mihalian. “No one
is really committing to events because
of the uncertainties of extended
indoor dining restrictions and the
increased spread of the virus. Since
last year we have been forced to
pivot and change our business model
multiple times to keep revenue coming
in and at least make payroll.”
Dawood-Mihalian is hopeful
2021 will be better after first quarter,
but Regency is not taking any
chances.
“We are optimistic that the second
quarter of the year we will begin
to rebound. Just in case though,
for the balance of 2021, we will be
promoting our carry out and off-site
catering menu. Our guests love our
food and service. If they are not allowed
and/or are too uncomfortable
to enjoy our food and service indoors,
we are hopeful that they will use our
services for their private home or outdoor
events. COVID-19 has forced
every business to deep dive into what
they are good at and try to expand on
those qualities to survive. This is still
a rough time for everyone in the food
service industry.”
Government grants and loans
helped several of those interviewed
get their businesses through 2020,
but they mostly helped businesses
pay bills for overhead and didn’t
come close to replacing lost revenue.
There is a lot of anxiety for the
Chaldean community regarding
nuptials in 2021. Smaller weddings,
home and outdoor events will ease
some of the stress, but alternatives
are not very viable.
“Some people have done the
virtual thing, but for our Chaldean
community, we’re very social and
we need each other. We need to be
present with each other. The whole
Zoom, Facetime, Skype thing won’t
work for us,” said Attisha.
Keina, who spoke to me from
Florida, said he has discussed “destination”
weddings in Florida, where it
is warm and restrictions on gatherings
are more liberal, but the cost of
travel and hotel are prohibitive.
It’s Really About the Couples
In the end analysis, Attisha said
weddings are about the couples, the
people who are pledging their lives
to one another. Families often drive
the pomp and circumstance associated
with large weddings. The couples
just want to be together with those
close to them.
Keina recalls a wedding between
two people, both of whom were deaf.
The pair met at a school for the deaf
and many of the guests were deaf
friends from school. Many could not
hear the music that is such a central
part of a Chaldean wedding.
“With Chaldean music it’s so energetic
and loud, but you could feel
their emotions even though they
couldn’t hear anything. They would
wave their napkins or their hands to
signal dancing or clapping,” said Keina.
“It was such a beautiful wedding,
because you truly, truly felt the love
in the air at this wedding.”
In the end, that seems to be the
point. The wedding event is really
about the love between two people
willing to make a lifetime commitment
to one another.
FEBRUARY 2021 CHALDEAN NEWS 19