January 2021

After having patiently waited a year following his second brain surgery to be medically cleared of Epilepsy, Alex got the green light! He felt ready and confident to start dating and asked his family and friends for some dating advice. Everyone pitched in to help him set up a dating profile. The week before our first date, Alex passed his N test - he was set to go on his first post-op date!

Tiana downloaded Hinge, a dating app, and set her radius to the smallest possible distance from her home, which was automatically set to 5km. Alex was only 0.9km away, so she started with this fella!

January 11, 2021

It was a match!

As we started dating in the midst of Covid-19, our first few dates involved FaceTime calls, texting, and Netflix Parties. However, if this was going to work, we figured we’d have to meet face-to-face.

1st "real" date

A stroll around Lafarge Lake (we lost track of time, and circled the lake 6 times!)

2nd date

A drive-in movie theatre (where Alex had driven the previous night, to ensure he wouldn’t get lost on our date.)

3rd date

A ramen dinner date downtown (where Tiana shamelessly ordered two extra scoops of spicy garlic in her bowl and yet didn’t ward Alex off.)

The first time Alex hinted that he wanted to become official, he asked “do you want to be my -“ but Tiana cut him off. Alex would retry for a few weeks, but was continuously interrupted and shut down. At one instance, Tiana interrupted and responded “I’m not ready to be your girlfriend, but I do see us being together long term.” Not wanting to be official but seeing a future together was confusing for Alex.

What did she want?

March 14, 2021

After many attempts, when Alex asked the next time, he was more persistent: “do you want to be my - “ and even though she interrupted here, as expected, Alex finished his full question, “girlfriend?” which Tiana responded with a nonchalant “fine” matched with blushing cheeks and an eye roll.

Tiana had a few "I'm falling in love with you" moments.

On one particular date, Alex took Tiana skating and was so incredibly kind and patient, while Tiana skated slowly along the boards. Alex supported Tiana without any pressure for her to go any faster than she was comfortable with. It really showed Tiana the type of person Alex was. In another instance, because Covid-19 had caused a lot of impatience and irritability against Chinese people, an anti-Asian-hate rally had been organized, which Alex had invited Tiana to. Tiana started feeling overwhelmed, thinking about her grandma. Alex comforted Tiana and suggested that they stay home, if that's what she wanted. He only wanted her to be comfortable. This was another one of those "I'm falling for you" moments for Tiana. Overwhelmed, Tiana began blabbing her feelings for Alex and told him she loved him.

Alex responded with "I'm not ready," which, in hindsight, was probably him just getting payback for when Tiana didn't want to be official with him.

Alex also had a few "I'm falling in love with you" moments.

After Tiana declared her love for him and he left her high and dry, the following weekend, Alex took Tiana to his family's cabin, where Tiana begrudgingly agreed to watch Lord of the Rings. Once all 6 Blu-Rays were completely watched and credits began rolling, that was it, Alex was in love. This was one of Alex's "I'm falling for you" moments. To this day, when we say we love each other, Alex will say "I love you" and Tiana will respond "I love you one week more" since Alex took an extra week to come to his senses. In all seriousness, Alex had many other "I'm falling for you" moments, but this was the nail in the coffin for him.

Another moment for Alex must have been when Tiana, again begrudgingly, watched all 9 Star Wars movies (a true fan will know there are more than 9, but that's besides the point) because only a few weeks later, he proposed.

Year 1

- We traveled to 108 Mile House, B.C.

- We traveled to Shuswap Lake, B.C.

- We traveled to Edmonton, A.B.

- We went camping at Golden Ears, B.C.

- Alex completed the B.C.I.T. Discovery Trades Program and immediately started working in HVAC

- We traveled to Tofino, Ucluelet, and Victoria, B.C.

- We traveled to Osoyoos, B.C. and visited the Second Breakfast Hideaway (Hobbit Hole) for our 1st year anniversary

Year 1 Video

https://youtu.be/lkhmfSCRrr8 (right click to open in new tab)

Year 2

- We traveled to Whistler, B.C.

- We traveled to Seattle, WA

- We traveled to Edmonton, A.B.

- We traveled to Seattle, WA

- We traveled to Shuswap Lake, B.C.

- We went on a week-long cruise through Alaska to celebrate Tiana’s graduation from her graduate master program

- We traveled to Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA

Year 2 Video

https://youtu.be/uxFZLiSBwBk (right click to open in new tab)

Year 3

- We bought our first apartment

- Tiana studied French in Quebec City, while Alex worked on cleaning, prepping, and painting the apartment with his in-laws

- We moved into our apartment

- We went camping at Golden Ears, B.C.

- We traveled to Whistler, B.C.

- We traveled to Sapporo, Hakodate, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka in Japan with Tiana’s family

- We got engaged at Mount Fuji in Japan

Year 3 Video

https://youtu.be/4ucbuiHmFik (right click to open in new tab)

Before our trip to Japan in December, we had already talked about marriage, and a ring had already been purchased in May. Tiana had hinted that she hoped for a picturesque and memorable proposal, - "maybe somewhere on our upcoming trip to Japan? Like Mount Fuji?" so Alex need not rush. Tiana also wanted a quiet, intimate, and private proposal.

However, when we arrived at Mount Fuji, Alex realized a quiet, intimate, and private proposal would be more than a challenge as the lookout was packed with tourists. We started climbing up the hill to different lookout spots, and once the mid-point came, Tiana started hinting to Alex, “Wow, the view is so nice,” and the next, “It’s so beautiful,” and at another spot, “We’re so lucky to be here together.” But Alex wasn’t proposing, and at each climb, Tiana felt a bit more anxious that Alex had changed his mind. At one point, after having stopped several times, Tiana blatantly said something like, “This is the perfect spot, right Alex?” but still no proposal. For sure, Tiana thought, Alex had gotten cold feet. This was the perfect spot, and if there was ever a moment, it would have been now because they were at the top, and it was picturesque and memorable, just as she had hoped.

Once they started descending, that’s when Tiana knew that Alex had changed his mind...but Alex had a plan. He was going to propose but he wanted it to be perfect. Tiana had also wanted a quiet, intimate, and private proposal and Alex was determined to make it all happen for her.

Back, alllllllllllllll the way to the bottom of the mountain way at the beginning of the route, near the entrance, there was an empty winding ramp used for wheelchair access. This was it. This was the picturesque, yet also private spot Alex was going to propose to Tiana at.

As we prepared to leave, everyone headed to the bathrooms before our hour-long trip back to the city. That’s when Alex pulled Tiana aside and asked how she had been enjoying the trip so far. Tiana, facing Fuji, her back to Alex, and keeping her answers short because she didn’t want to give off any bad energy, responded, “It’s pretty good.” Alex then asked, “Should we make it a lifetime of good?” Tiana turned around to face Alex, who was on his knee. This was it.

Alex made it all happen. Picturesque. Memorable. Quiet. Intimate. Private…even Megan, his photographer for the engagement, was absent.

Perfect.

Alex shared some intimate words, then officially proposed, and Tiana said "yes!"

Once engaged, we caught up with the family, who realized that Alex had just proposed. Megan came back with us to the spot and Alex proposed a second time so Megan could get some pictures.

There isn't a better analogy for our relationship: Tiana stressing out to make sure everything carries out perfectly and thinking she has everything figured out, and Alex quietly carrying out a plan, always making sure to make Tiana 100% happy.

Year 4

- We rescued a 1-year-old Chihuahua-terrier, and named him Fuji

- We traveled to New Orleans, LA to celebrate our joint 30th birthday year

- We traveled to 108 Mile House, B.C.

- We went on a sibcation (sibling + vacation) to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA

- More happy memories to come...

Year 4 Video

In production