It all started online…

Where two lovable weirdos matched, messaged, and quickly realized, “Wait, you're weird too?” The connection was instant.

For their very first date, boy took girl to the arboretum... because nothing says romance like trees and educational plaques. As Stephen passionately explained the difference between a cedar and a spruce, the skies had their own plans. A thunderstorm rolled in out of nowhere, soaking them both to the bone. Did they run for cover? Absolutely not. They embraced the chaos, got delightfully drenched, and marched their soggy selves to Heart & Crown.

Then came the clam chowder.

Stephen ordered it. Paris was alarmed.

Who eats clam chowder on a first date?! Apparently, soulmates do.

They held hands. They shared their first kiss. And just like that... the two became forever inseparable.

In the days and weeks that followed, their bond grew like ivy on a trellis. Paris cheered Stephen on at softball games, he met the people she held closest, and their conversations covered everything under the sun including Paris’s undying love for Cher (yes, that Cher).

One week into their love story, Paris wound up at the hospital. Stephen stayed. He held her hand, made her laugh through the pain, and "the infamous photo" was captured (see below).

Soon after, Paris jetted off on a girls trip to Greece... because, Mamma Mia dreams must be lived.

While she was away, Stephen channeled his inner Bob Ross and painted her a portrait of Cher. Not just any painting; a heartfelt, thoughtful, wildly charming masterpiece that completely swept Paris off her feet. That painting now sits on a throne as her most prized possession.

Eight months in, the relationship hit a milestone wrapped in chaos and charm. During another educational date to the Rideau Locks (where Stephen would educate Paris and her friend Ariana about the biggest lock system in Ontario). Stephen nervously asked Paris’s friend if it was completely insane to move in. Ariana gave the green light. And just like that, toothbrushes were merged, shelves were shared, and a new chapter began.

They went on road trips with the windows down and music blaring Paradise by the Dashboard Light - by Meatloaf. They made memories with friends, Stephen would occasionally rip his pants from dancing, and when Halloween rolled around, Stephen got his first real taste of Paris’s spooky season obsession.

This wasn’t a story of opposites attracting. No, this was something else entirely.

This was a story of two souls who somehow already knew each other... who fit together like puzzle pieces with just enough quirks to keep things interesting.

Stephen’s kind, silly, and electric energy made Paris feel instantly at home... like she had found her forever place in the world.

While Paris’s creativity, warmth, and unapologetic “dare to be different” spirit lit Stephen’s world up in technicolor.

The rest is history.