It all started at the Topaz House, a lively little spot Jay lived at during our undergrads, where our love story truly began. Although we’d met briefly through friends a year earlier, it wasn’t until a house party at Topaz that sparks flew—helped along by a spirited game of Dodge-Beer and a kiss under the stars that same night.

Jay was immediately taken by Jess’s vibrant energy, not to mention her freshly dyed red hair and adorable (if slightly spilly) white shirt moment with orange soda. Jess, on the other hand, was charmed by Jay’s sense of adventure and humor, especially when he brought her up to the roof to stargaze.

It wasn’t long before we made it official—Jess asked out Jay on a quiet park bench in the Victoria Inner Harbor. A romantic getaway to Tofino shortly after made it clear that we found something special when we said “I love you” for the first time.

Over the years, our relationship has been an adventure in every sense of the word. We’ve explored the world together, from family trips to Nova Scotia and Ottawa to magical days at Disneyworld and thrilling rocket launches at Cape Canaveral. We love spending time on our paddleboards on the water around Victoria or out at the family cabin in the Kootenays! More recently, we wandered through the streets of Portugal and Germany, dreaming of all the places we’ll travel to next.

Through it all, we’ve built a life full of love, laughter, and little traditions. Sunday Formula One races are a staple, where we cheer on our favorite teams (decked out in matching hats and shirts) with our two pets by our side. Jess rolls her eyes each time she hears a "Jay-story" and we’ve even got a few long-running jokes, like Jay’s insistence that food expiration dates don’t matter—“They take that shit to space!”

Adding to the Jay and Jess alliteration, our two fur babies June and Joy, keep us plenty busy and fill our home with love. Joy is always ready to play or for a cozy cuddle, while June brings a playful spirit and the perfect amount of sass to our days. Whether it's June’s wagging tail greeting us at the door or Joy curling up in her favorite sunny spot, they make every moment at home feel special and complete. We can’t imagine our lives without their snuggly company!

The proposal was nothing short of magical. On a quiet evening in Victoria’s Inner Harbor, Jay led Jess to that very same bench where it all started, now beautifully decorated with candles, flowers, and music filling the air. With the help of friends to capture the moment and hold back a growing crowd, Jay knelt down with a custom wooden box and a hand-designed ring, and Jess said yes! We ended the night surrounded with friends and listening to our song dedicated to us by a close friend, and knew we were on our way to forever.

Our story is one of constant evolution, filled with support, love, and a whole lot of fun. We can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you!

Registry