Our Story

It was his smile that made me pause. His eyes were kind, his face handsome, his profile equal parts sweet and amusing, but the smile convinced me that, if nothing else, he was a guy who would make me laugh. By that time, late into my dating years, I had established some pretty strict swiping rules: no fish pictures, no shirtless pictures, and definitely no interior car selfies. Derek had none of them, and a great smile, so what the hell, he got the swipe.
 

I also had a ‘no pen-pal’ rule, so when Derek had a bunch of things filling up his calendar, delaying our first date for a few weeks, I broke my own rule and decided to entertain a texting mini-relationship before meeting in person. I remember thinking “OMG, please be real, please be real” over and over again during the first few weeks of texting because it was honestly so good. He was (and still is) the absolute best texter (for those who don’t know, a good texter is rare. A good texter that also ends up being a good date is basically non-existent. Pretty sure I found the only one lurking in the wild!).
 

So when I sat myself on a bench, just outside the AGO, waiting for Derek to arrive, I was already in the danger-zone of really feeling connected to this guy who I technically have never met. I’m not generally one to get nervous waiting for a first date because it’s pretty low stakes business, but man, I was SWEATING on that bench, drenched in the light of a September golden hour sun. I, not so silently, prayed “Our Father, who art in heaven, please have him look like his pictures and not reek of Axe body spray...” Experience had given me no choice but to expect disappointment; this guy had already set the bar so high with his text game, there was NO WAY he was going to match that in real life.
 

Oh how I was wrong.
 

You know how some moments in your life are etched into your memories, and remain timeless, like a sentimental wood carving? I will always remember when Derek approached me on that bench and I saw him in person for the first time. I felt like I was hit by a train as the sheer impact and force of relief and excitement nearly took me down. The energy that surrounded us, as we introduced ourselves and easily breezed through the usually awkward pleasantries, was magnetic and overwhelmingly positive. It felt like colours were a little brighter, the air smelled a little sweeter, and everything in the world was set back on the right axis.
 

Within the first 5 minutes of meeting, Derek and I were in tears laughing. 30 mins in, my cheeks burned with the exhaustion of smiling so hard. At the hour mark, conversation turned to more personal and deep topics, things most couples take months, even years, to unearth. Halfway through the date, I turned to this perfect stranger, and said “you know, this is going really, really well, eh? Like super well. Like ‘I can’t even believe it’ well!” Derek, with some relief in his voice and thankfulness in his tone, happily agreed. By the end of the date, I knew he was the one.
 

I’ve always secretly believed in love at first sight, but I didn’t think it would happen to me. It actually took me a while to even realise that is what happened on that day. I fell in love with Derek at first sight. Walking East down Dundas Street, with the tail-end of midweek rush hour traffic as his backdrop, in a casual shirt and with a lazy gait, I saw for the first time -  and fell hard for - the man who would eventually become the father of my child and my beloved husband.
 

Our first date, at the Art Gallery of Ontario, was one of the best days of my life (I have a kid now, so I’m not allowed to actually say it WAS the best day of my life, but to be honest, that kid would not exist if this day didn’t happen so… you be the judge). Derek proved to me that fairy tales are real. That soulmates do exist. That when you know, you know. He has brought so much love and joy and laughter into my life, there is not enough gratitude in the world to express the depth of appreciation I hold for him.

So almost 4 years (to the day!) later, I am incredibly honoured to be celebrating our big day with you this September. Most importantly though, I’m excited to just be married to Derek. I’m excited to build a life together and spend the rest of it enjoying each other. And, lastly, I’m excited to raise Alice in a house filled to the brim with life, laughter, and love (yes, yes, I know what I did there, and I don’t care #canttakethesuburbouttathegirl).