Jessie and Troy’s story began in 2016. For their very first date, Troy took Jessie for sushi and a movie (Suicide Squad...peak teenage romance). At the end of the night, he went in for the goodnight kiss… and immediately had to face Jessie’s dad pulling up in a fancy car, clearly trying to scare him. Troy just smiled, shook his hand, and survived the moment like an absolute pro... not bad for an 18-year-old. A few more dates followed: bowling, mini-golf, arcade games... each one ending in a tie, which became the perfect excuse for another date. Then, over sushi (again) on September 3rd, 2016, Troy officially asked Jessie to be his girlfriend. Six months later, he gave her a promise ring and told her she was the girl he would marry someday.....Turns out, he was right! In 2018, they both decided to pursue their Bachelor's in Visual Arts (BFA) at the Alberta University of the Arts (AUARTS), spending long nights painting, cramming for exams, working at the garden centre (Green Gate) and sneaking in boba runs together. Until they finally graduated side by side in 2022. But their journey didn’t stop there. Both applied to the MFA program at the University of British Columbia (UBC), and to their surprise, both were accepted. They moved to Kelowna, BC, for two years, where they worked as graduate teaching assistants and mural painters. After completing their thesis exhibitions together, they proudly graduated with their Master of Fine Arts degrees in 2024. That same year, on New Year’s Eve leading into January 1st, 2024, Jessie ate 12 grapes under a table at midnight... in less than a minute... in the hopes that Troy would finally propose that year. (A Spanish tradition for good luck, and maybe a little nudge for fate!) As if the grapes really did work, in August 2024, while on a “boys trip” to San Francisco, Troy secretly picked up the engagement ring Jessie had designed years earlier... a drawing he’d saved... and smuggled it back to Canada, where he then asked Jessie’s dad, Jeff, for permission to marry his daughter. What a true gentleman. Jeff and Allison (Jessie's dad and stepmom) gifted the couple with a three-month backpacking trip across Europe as a celebration of their hard work and achievements. In September 2024, they set off, staying in hostels, exploring famous art galleries, museums, and indulging in amazing food and wine across seven countries and 13 cities, including Edinburgh, Oxford, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Venice, Florence, Rome, Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Granada, and Seville. In the early morning of September 5th, 2024, in the enchanting cobblestoned streets of Dean Village in Edinburgh, Scotland, Troy asked Jessie to marry him by the Water of Leith. Jessie said YES!, and that evening they celebrated with a magical engagement dinner at The Witchery, one of Edinburgh’s most romantic restaurants. What began with silly teenage butterflies has grown into a strong, passionate love...filled with art, laughter, and devotion. Jessie and Troy are ready to say their ‘I do’s’ and paint the rest of their story together. The couple is excited to invite their closest family and friends to celebrate with them on their wedding day, on October 4th, 2026, at The Valley Weddings!