Summer engagement // Stanley Park // Vancouver, Canada

SWIPING RIGHT AND SWAPPING I DO’S

It all started with a swipe to the right. One swipe brought us to a beautiful Stanley Park summer engagement session. 

Before the proposal, before the nearly three years of being together as a couple, before the first date, there were two strangers named Ange and Ray. Among all the singles in Metro Vancouver, destiny allowed them to find each other and realize that regardless of what manner, love truly finds a way.

Like most dates, the boy picks up the girl and brings her to a nice place to talk and get to know each other better. Ray, after picking up Ange from work, drove her to Stanley Park to watch the fireworks at English Bay. It was the first time they met in person, after finding each other on a popular dating app. The two both saw something special on that first date in Stanley Park and continued to see each other, resulting in a happy long-term relationship.

Fast forward to years later, Ray proposed to Ange at Canada Place by the waterfront. In an utterly sweet and romantic gesture, he made a bunch of signs similar to that from the movie Love Actually. Then Ray, with the help of his friend, surprised Ange by the big Christmas tree and sang a Bruno Mars song to her.

To anyone who’s reading this, it sounds very much like a modern-day fairytale come true. It may be hard to imagine that it all started with one flick of a finger, but as bride-to-be Ange says, “It’s not about HOW you met. It’s that you met.”

When asked more about their love story, their answers couldn’t be any cuter!

Here’s a sneak peek into this couple’s journey of finding each other:

What made you swipe right for each other?

Ange – He had this really good lighting picture, which he apparently took four years ago. He had a nice smile!

Ray – I swiped right because I found Angeline very beautiful.  She also had lots of pictures of her doing outdoor activities which I liked.

What were your first impressions of each other?

Ange – He was very energetic and bubbly, and I felt like he’s had a lot of practice with first dates. He held my hand in a span of 10 minutes hahaha.

Ray – My first impression of Angeline was that she was very pretty.  As a person, I realized in the first hour that she was smart, thoughtful and can hold a conversation.  I also found out that she had a great sense of humor.

What was most memorable for you during the first date that made you think, “Hey there can be something here…” 

Ange – We were playing the 21 questions game where we get to ask each other personal questions without repeating each other’s questions, and for me family was important. So I asked him what his relationship with his mom was like, and he said he was absolutely super close to his mom and he loves her very much. In fact, he said he’ll probably tell his mom about this date. I found out just five days after when I met his mom that this wasn’t just a line!

Ray – After the fireworks, I made her walk 1.5 hours in the dark on the seawall with me while still in her work clothes.  She never once complained.

During the proposal, was Ange caught by surprise? Or did she get prior hints?

Ange – Got absolute hints! Snapping himself in jewelry stores. He wanted to make sure I was on board with this.

Ray – She had hints that I was about to propose but the proposal event itself was a surprise.

As a Vancouver Wedding Photographer, it never fails to make me smile when I hear love stories like that of Ange and Ray. The couple admits that there have been ups and down throughout their relationship, but through it all, love has kept them together. Now, the two former strangers find themselves counting down the days till they become husband and wife. In honor of their first date, they decided to have a Stanley Park summer engagement session. The couple looked so gloriously in love as they strolled the park under the springtime sun.

From swiping right, they will soon swap their “I do’s” this June. It will certainly be a summer of love for these two, and I look forward to being a part of it.

Best wishes to Ange and Ray!