Wedding Date on Nov 1, 2021

THE PROPOSAL WAS A LOT OF FUN, AND TOOK PLACE IN ASH’S HOMETOWN OF VICTORIA, BC, CANADA. I HAD KNOWN FOR A WHILE THAT I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE BUT I WAS WAITING FOR THE EXACT RIGHT TIME. I HAD ASKED HER FATHER MIKE FOR PERMISSION ABOUT 6 WEEKS PRIOR. SINCE MIKE WAS IN VICTORIA AND TRAVEL WAS DIFFICULT DUE TO COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS I HAD TO DO IT OVER A ZOOM CALL. I SENT HIM A NICE BOTTLE OF SCOTCH AND SHARED A TOAST WITH HIM WHILE WE DISCUSSED OUR LOVE FOR ASH, AND I WAS GRANTED PERMISSION. I HAD SEVERAL POTENTIAL MOMENTS PLANNED OVER THE COMING WEEKS, BUT ULTIMATELY COULDN’T TURN DOWN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT IN HER HOMETOWN ON THE OCEAN. WHILST VISITING VICTORIA ASH IS IN VERY HIGH DEMAND WITH OLD FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND OF COURSE SHE HAD NO CLUE THAT I HAD ALTERNATIVE MOTIVES WHILE WE WERE THERE, SO IT WAS TOUGH TO NOT SPOIL THE SURPRISE WHILE TRYING TO GET SOME ALONE TIME. FINALLY, I WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE HER THAT I WANTED TO DO SOME EXPLORING ON A HIKE WITH HER PARENTS. IT WAS A RAINY DAY AND WE WENT FOR A DRIVE ALONG THE OCEAN DRIVE IN VICTORIA, FINALLY COMING TO A POINT ON THE SHORE THAT HAD A BEAUTIFUL LOOKOUT AND WHERE WE COULD HIKE OUT. I WAS VERY NERVOUS AND SWEATING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHILE WE PULLED UP. I WAS SO HAPPY TO HAVE ASH’S PARENTS THERE WITH US. IT WORKED VERY WELL TO ASK THEM TO TAKE A PHOTO OF US ON THE BEAUTIFUL LOOK OUT, AND I SEIZED MY OPPORTUNITY. SHE WAS VERY EXCITED AND CAUGHT OFF GUARD, LOL. I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SPEECH PLANNED AND LUCKILY FOR ME (BECAUSE I WAS CHOKED UP), SHE WAS FREAKING OUT AND SO EXCITED THAT SHE WAS YELLING “YES!”, AND I WAS THRILLED. WE WERE SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE AND TELL HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY, NAMELY HER GRANDPARENTS, IN PERSON!