Love, basketball and high heels

WHITBY -- It's no surprise that Nadia Kullo always wears heels: there's a foot-and-a-half height difference between her and her new husband, NBA player Matt Bonner.

The 29-year-old, who stands five-feet four-inches tied the knot with the six-foot 10-inch former Toronto Raptors star last Friday at an extravagant wedding that took place at the Estates of Sunnybrook in Toronto.

Days away from the wedding, Ms. Kullo was beaming at her Stag and Doe party at Port Whitby Marina last Wednesday.

"I feel excited but anxious," she said, "There's a lot of last-minute things to worry about but I'm very happy."

The couple first met through a mutual friend while Ms. Kullo worked at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto as an events host and Mr. Bonner, originally from New Hampshire, played forward for the Raptors.

He had already been traded to the San Antonio Spurs when they started dating last year but he still frequently visited Ms. Kullo in Toronto. They now share a home there with their dogs Olive and Daisy.

Their Stag and Doe party -- complete with a basketball pinata -- was held at the marina due to the location's significance for Ms. Kullo and her family.

She used to live in the Beaches area of Toronto while her mother Pamela Kullo-Egelton, who now lives in Whitby, worked in social services for the region for 10 years. Ms. Kullo and her brother, Adam, went to daycare in Oshawa and the family has many memories of attending events by the Whitby Harbour.

"We have quite a history here so having the party at the marina fits with where we used to live and where we live now and the kind of community that we enjoy," said Ms. Kullo-Egelton, who spent months planning the nuptials.

The marina's hall was filled with about 100 guests consisting of family and friends from all over, including some from England and China. They offered their blessings and shared memories of Ms. Kullo as a child.

"I remember Nadia was never satisfied just eating cookies and muffins because she always wanted to know what all the ingredients were," said Cathy Kehoe, whose children grew up with Ms. Kullo. "She was always concerned about the small details."

When it came to popping the question, Mr. Bonner had an eye for details too as he sent Ms. Kullo on a scavenger hunt on Valentine's Day, with stops to all their favourite places to visit in Toronto.

"It was so cliche," Mr. Bonner said, laughing as he recalled the proposal. "I made her think I wasn't going to do it and then I did."

As for Ms. Kullo's parents' impression of their new son-in-law, they both said they couldn't be more proud.

"I think she has good taste," Ms. Kullo-Egelton laughed, adding she has always thought of Mr. Bonner as exceptionally modest, despite his fame.

Ali Shaukat Kullo, Ms. Kullo's father, echoed the sentiments but admitted he's not a basketball fan.

"I've never liked the game and I still don't like the game," he laughed. "But Matt's a very nice, down-to-earth guy and I'm very happy for both of them."

Mr. Bonner became a fan favourite while playing for the Raptors and was nicknamed the Red Rocket after his red hair and reputation as an avid rider of public transportation in the city.

The couple chose to wed at the Estates of Sunnybrook for its advantage to the community (all profits were donated to Sunnybrook Hospital) and easy access from the TTC. They exchanged vows in an outdoor ceremony surrounded by lavish sunflowers and then went inside for the reception where leg extensions were needed at some tables to accommodate the taller guests. The bride watched the night unfold atop a cushion on her seat.

During his toast, Mr. Bonner's father, Dave, predicted that the couple's future children may not be tall enough to be forwards in basketball but they could certainly be guards -- typically the shortest players.

The honeymoon will be in Bora Bora, followed by a trip to Africa for Basketball without Borders, a youth summer camp designed to promote friendship and goodwill through sport. They plan to live in San Antonio during the basketball season and then split their time between New Hampshire and Toronto.

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