Tara Crugnale had a structured life with no time for romance.

She operates Dolce Kimera, a home decor business, she was a candidate in two elections, she's president of the Hamilton East Progressive Conservative Association, a director of Children Requiring Immediate Effective Direct Aid, a director of Festival of Friends, and a host of Cable 14's The Opinionators.

Then in January she met Traian Miu at the Martini House in Burlington. They talked nonstop for three hours.

"Love isn't something you rationalize or fit into a schedule," Tara says.

"It appeared so fast that it threw our comfortable solitary worlds into a tailspin."

Five months later they knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

The formal proposal with a beautiful ring took place last month in Venice.

They married Aug. 3, the Sunday after their return. Tara wore wedding and reception dresses by Hamilton native Lida Baday from Milli's.

They hosted 80 close friends for a champagne reception and dinner at the Edgewater Manor Restaurant in Stoney Creek a couple of weeks after the wedding.

Guests included Tara's friends from The Opinionators: Ron Corsini, Don Ross and Loren Lieberman.

Tara is a daughter of Natashia Crugnale, founder of CRIEDA, and Bruno Crugnale, Hamilton's Italian vice-consul.

Traian is a mechanical engineer and a son of Nick and Maria Traian, who came to Canada from Romania in 1989 and settled in Kitchener.

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Look for more art at the airport when you welcome your friends and relatives.

Photos of Hamilton's treasures -- the escarpment, its water falls and the Bruce Trail -- are hanging in the new international arrivals hall at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

Designer Viola Mueller, of Design Smarts, and Allyson Wenzowski, of Publicity Works in Dundas, created the display, courtesy of the Hamilton Conservation Authority.

It's part of Sense of Place, a concept that Vancouver Airport Services developed for the 18 airports it manages around the world.

Inspiration for the escarpment theme came from former City of Hamilton (Ancaster) councillor Murray Ferguson.

Richard Koroscil, airport CEO, says it's a celebration of the amazing things in this area.

"We get so many Europeans who love to hike the trails.

"We are partnering with the Bruce Trail to create finishes inside that represent the trail and escarpment," he says.

A gift shop selling local arts and crafts is planned and more local art and photography will be installed in the international arrivals hall.

sbourret@thespec.com

905-526-3305