We met at a moment when both of us were close to giving up on relationships. Mike had recently become single, and Shannon was joking that she was “finalizing her application for the nunnery“, when she stumbled across his profile and thought “this guy looks almost normal“. We met for wine and appetizers, stayed for conversation, and what started as a second date turned into a third and then many more. Soon our blended family began to take shape: Shannon and Nico (her rescued toy poodle) alongside Mike and his kids, Jude and Chase. Mike grew tired of Shannon‘s West Kelowna commute and promised to keep the toilet seat down and grill hamburger patties for the dog on bbq nights if she’d stay – she said yes, and life fell into place. On a crisp Thanksgiving Day hike up Knox Mountain, Mike bent the knee and asked Shannon to marry him. She said yes again, and now we can’t wait to celebrate our wedding day with you in Kelowna on July 25, 2026.