The Christmas season will forever be an extra special time of year for Corey Akerman and Diane Thiessen, who are set to tie the knot after winning an all expenses paid wedding at Historic O91裸聊视频橩eefe Ranch that will take place Dec. 30.
It91裸聊视频檚 even more special since their grandson will have his first birthday a few days earlier, on Christmas Day.
Dee Cristante, wedding specialist of Okanagan Hospitality, partnered with the ranch to put on a contest to provide the free wedding to the couple with the most moving story, and selected Akerman and Thiessen91裸聊视频檚 story out of the many written submissions she received from couples willing to have their big day be a shotgun wedding in front of a live audience.
91裸聊视频淏oth of us were a little bit in shock when Dee said we91裸聊视频檙e the chosen couple, and I think we both started crying,91裸聊视频� Thiessen said at the ranch on Wednesday, shortly after the couple found out their dream wedding would take place in little over a month.
At the ranch, as Cristante gave the couple an early tour of the wedding venue, a positively good omen arose, like an unexpected marriage blessing from above 91裸聊视频� or rather, below. As the couple were walking from the old church on the ranch where they are to be married, Akerman noticed something on the ground and kicked it with his boot. He picked it up and showed it to his fiance. It was an old diamond engagement ring.
Cristante said she might know who the ring belongs to and will try to return it to its owner.
It wasn91裸聊视频檛 the first sign of things happening 91裸聊视频渇or a reason91裸聊视频� that day, as Akerman said. That morning the couple91裸聊视频檚 song (God Whispered Your Name by Keith Urban) played on the country TV station they listen to for the first time in months.
It91裸聊视频檚 been a series of coincidences that have brought Akerman and Thiessen together. She grew up in Armstrong, he grew up in Lumby. They knew many of the same people and they may well have crossed paths many times before meeting. When they did meet it was through work at Kal Tire, Akerman working in the store and Thiessen in the administrative office across town. They would talk over the phone as Thiessen trained Akerman how to manage payroll or other tasks at the store.
One day Akerman told her his marriage was falling apart; she told him her91裸聊视频檚 was also on the rocks. A few months later they were out of their previous relationships and started dating.
It wasn91裸聊视频檛 their first professional interaction. When Akerman was 17 he went into a job interview at Bluenotes clothing store, and lo and behold, his future wife (who is 13 years his senior) was the interviewer.
91裸聊视频淪he denied me the job,91裸聊视频� Akerman laughed. 91裸聊视频淏ut when we started dating I recognized her (from the interview).91裸聊视频� Thiessen, on the other hand, didn91裸聊视频檛 recall the interview.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e realized all these connections,91裸聊视频� said Akerman. 91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 turned into absolutely the best friend I91裸聊视频檝e ever had in my life.91裸聊视频�
Together since 2016, the two got engaged in June of 2020 and with a pandemic emerging, their future wedding was out of sight.
91裸聊视频淲e didn91裸聊视频檛 really have a plan in place so (the contest) kind of presented an opportunity to get to the finish line,91裸聊视频� Akerman said.
They91裸聊视频檙e both grateful to be where they are now. Their coming marriage may never have happened at all had tragedy struck.
91裸聊视频淲e both had health issues,91裸聊视频� Akerman said, explaining he had his appendix burst in 2017 and almost died. A year later Thiessen had a major stomach issue and had surgery, and that too was a near fatal experience.
91裸聊视频淲e both almost died, I thought I91裸聊视频檓 not waiting any longer, so I asked her to marry me,91裸聊视频� Akerman said.
Asked what they like most about each other, both have the same answer: 91裸聊视频渆verything.91裸聊视频�
They also share a sense of humour.
91裸聊视频淭he biggest thing is that he makes me laugh, he makes me laugh all the time, he91裸聊视频檚 incredibly sweet and kind,91裸聊视频� said Thiessen.
91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 the only woman that91裸聊视频檚 ever made me laugh out loud,91裸聊视频� her fiance returned.
The kicker to the contest is that the couple has to be willing to get married in front of a live audience, but Akerman and Thiessen don91裸聊视频檛 mind that one bit. The more the merrier, they say.
The Dec. 30 New Years Eve Weekend Wedding Party Extravaganza is a wedding crasher91裸聊视频檚 dream. Anyone can buy tickets at for $89.99 (family members get a discounted rate) and enjoy welcome bubbles, wedding cake, a 91裸聊视频渓ate night slice,91裸聊视频� DJ party music, a cash bar and more.
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