Jennifer & Paul
August 7, 2010

Paul and I met at the wedding of two friends. I was living in England and flew back to Canada for the wedding and he had flown to Ontario from Edmonton for the week. We started to talk at the wedding rehearsal about our travel experiences – both of us have traveled extensively and we both have a passion for outdoor adventures through our traveling. We each found that we couldn’t stop talking to each other during the evening despite the wedding festivities! The wedding came and went – I flew back to England the day after the wedding and Paul returned to Edmonton. No exchange of address had been made and I didn’t expect to ever see him again. However, I couldn’t get him off my mind! I even told one of my friends whilst recounting my trip to Canada that I had met a guy who I could marry, but likely will never see him again!

Three months later, I received an email from Paul – just hours before I was flying away for Christmas holidays traveling around Europe. I usually don’t check my emails over my holidays, but this time I couldn’t stop checking them! Paul mentioned that he had some holidays in February and he was interested in traveling around the UK. He asked if I could recommend any places that I had traveled. I also had holidays in February and within a week, Paul had booked a ticket to England and we were planning a hiking trip through Snowdonia National Park in Wales. Paul booked a beautiful country cottage and we spent each day exploring the mountains.

One evening we decided to explore an old castle, only to find it closed when we arrived. We walked around the outer grounds to the castle – admiring the views out to sea and the 12th century architecture of the village. Paul led me around the front of the castle; we seemed to be winding through walls and archways. All of the sudden, we realized that we were inside the castle! We had a castle to ourselves and could admire the sunset over the sea with a royal view! Paul and I continued our relationship, for a year, while being thousands of miles apart. We met up in Venice, Corsica, and Paris. A year since that initial adventure, I moved to Edmonton to start a life with Paul.

We regularly visit Jasper and stay at a small rustic cabin. One weekend, Paul and I set off for our weekend at the cabin and I noticed that we had been driving a lot longer than usual! We had actually passed the cabin and he had booked a weekend at Jasper Park Lodge saying he felt we needed to be spoiled for the weekend. The next day, we hiked up high over Maligne Lake. While admiring the views, Paul opened his pack and gave me a card. The card was from Wales. He had bought the card and written it during our first ‘date.’ Inside he wrote that he can’t wait for a lifetime of adventures. I looked up from the card to see Paul on one knee, asking me to marry him! We continue to look for adventure and are both so happy that after thinking we’d never see each other again after the wedding, we have found each other!

Here is an engagement story where a delectable dinner date turns into a precious night to remember . . .

Stephanie & Constantine
September 4, 2010

My finace called me one afternoon and said “get ready, we’re going out for dinner tonight.’ I really wasn’t feeling very well that day (we had gone out the night before) so I protested a bit, but he would not give in. He said he made reservations somewhere that I’ve always wanted to go to and he couldn’t cancel them. For some reason, we were going out a bit more than usual. He was planning different nights out for us over the past month or so and I was really getting exhausted. Although it was sweet of him to keep taking me out I just wished for a night in, to relax, but he seemed pretty excited about this restaurant we were going to, so in the shower I went to get ready for yet another night out.

We got to the restaurant and it was a newer steak house in town that was supposed to be really good. We sat down, ordered drinks, appetizers, main course, dessert, then coffee, then cognac, it was never-ending! Although it was a very nice night out and the best steak by far I’ve EVER had I was getting ready to call it a night. My fiancé had gotten up a couple of times to go to the washroom and I began to wonder if I wasn’t the only one who was feeling a little shaky from the night before.

After the waiter had come around for the 5th time asking if there was anything else he could get us, (I think we’d had almost everything on the menu!) my fiancé began talking about how much we’d been going out lately and why he’s been planning all these special nights out for us and how much he loves spending time with me and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me, and then “Will you marry me?” came out of his mouth and a little brown box appeared in his hands. I was so surprised to find the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen inside and at that moment it felt like time stood still. I remember looking at the fire place in the restaurant and it seemed as though it had stopped flickering and because we were pretty much the last people in there, there was no noise, no chatter, everything was just so quiet and serene.

It was the most amazing moment of my life and I think after a few seconds too long (poor guy) I finally said yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!! This was followed by a huge kiss, another long gaze at the sparkly ring in front of me, another huge kiss and then of coarse calls to my mom and his mom. I left that restaurant feeling like a different person, and at that moment I knew it was meant to be. This was total bliss, real love and by far the best night (and steak) of my life. What more could a girl ask for?!

Congratulations on your quickly approaching wedding day Stephanie & Constantine! Just remember to embrace and cherish every special moment of your special day! ;)

Since our last blog asking for couples to send us their engagement & weddings stories, we’ve literally recieved thousands of entries. We will be posting a series of particularly romantic, funny, unique, cute, sentimental stories. Here is the first of many to come, but this one was just so “meticulous” and perfectly planned by the Chris that we had to share with you their amazing engagement story:

Julie & Chris
September 5, 2010

Part 1: Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
We had an appetizer night planned one Wednesday evening. We do this every so often; just the two of us . . . a night in to relax, drink wine, eat at our leisure, and talk about life. Leading up to the day Chris was unusually excited but I thought nothing of it. That Wednesday night he handed me an envelope. Inside was a story book he had made. I flipped through and started reading. I was dumbstruck, I was confused, but I kept reading in anticipation. I started to realize that he was taking me somewhere. But where? When? I read on. The look on his face as he watched me is something I’ll always remember. I knew something good was coming. The end of the story finally came… We were leaving for Banff in less than 48 hours! (We live in Ontario). As you can imagine I had too many questions. What? How? What about work? What about our cottage plans for that weekend? He had answers for them all. Many people were in on it, including my boss. I was baffled.

Part 2: Monday, July 20, 2009.
Hiking in Banff National Park, Corey Pass to be exact. It was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect. After the long excruciating hike to the top, the pain and exhausting was all worth it and suddenly forgotten about. It was pure beauty! Alone enjoying a picnic lunch and staring down at mountains, lakes and valleys with my most favorite person in the world. What an experience! After a while, we decided it was time to depart for our journey down, but I wasn’t satisfied just yet; I wanted pictures of the two of us - our signature tri-pod and remote control setup, as we always do. In the midst of our goofing around with the camera, there suddenly came a mysterious pause. Again, I was puzzled with what was going on. Why was he suddenly acting strange, why did he stop taking pictures? Then, he dropped to one knee and I saw the ring in his fingers. I was marveled. My feelings at that time are indescribable. I was still trying to comprehend how it was that we were in Banff on so little notice, let alone that now I was about to be engaged! I grabbed his hands and they were shaking. He looked so happy, and I bet I did too. His planning, his thoughtfulness, the effort, the details . . . meticulous! I love him more than anything and was so honored to be the one he has chosen to spend the rest of his life with. I forgot to say ‘yes’ at that moment, but we just knew. Nothing had to be said. The picture uploaded was taken about 5 minutes after he proposed. I was still in shock!

Julie & Chris, we at Bridal Fantasy wish you all the best with your future together and we hope you have fun during your wedding adventure!

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! This is going to be one of the most exhilarating times in your life, so why not add to the excitement and enter our Bridal Fantasy Sweepstakes? Enter for your chance to win some awesome prizes, like a trip to Paris!

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