JOHN + COURTNEY

The Back-Story
By Courtney

July 27, 2023 – It’s a Thursday. A Bumble notification lights up my phone. I’m messaging John. We FaceTime, and the conversation flows effortlessly. By the end of the call, we’ve set our first date for Sunday.

July 30, 2023 – We meet at Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park for a walk. We wander off the beaten path, and I impress John with my agility. Later that night, he sends me a meme that ends with, “Goodnight... I love you.” (He still claims it was accidental.)

September 11, 2023 – I call John after a weekend away for a friend’s bachelorette. During that conversation, he asked me to be his girlfriend.

April 6, 2024 – We’re off on a road trip. This time, all the way to the Northern Bruce Peninsula... to return car parts. What can I say? He’s a romantic.

The Proposal
By John

Planning a surprise proposal for someone who catches on quickly isn't an easy task. I picked a smart one, so I needed Patty’s help to pull it off. With the farm animals cared for, I was able to book a hotel and turn our road trip into a surprise weekend getaway!

Courtney and I spent the weekend hiking and exploring everything Tobermory had to offer until we made our way to the Grotto. We walked to the highest point, where we took selfies and joked about how it would be the perfect place to propose. Was she onto my plan? Thankfully, she didn’t notice the ring box bulging from my pocket.

As we set up for our final photo, I hit record, counted down from ten, dropped to one knee on what felt like the sharpest rock in existence, and asked her to marry me. She jumped with excitement and said yes. We celebrated all the way back to the farm, ready to share the news.

Thanks to Monica Healy for the best photos <3

monicahealy.com

The Back-Story By Courtney

The Back-Story
By Courtney