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 the OkanaganB次元官网网址檚 historic OB次元官网网址橩eefe Ranch that will take place Dec. 30.
ItB次元官网网址檚 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 ThiessenB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淏oth of us were a little bit in shock when Dee said weB次元官网网址檙e the chosen couple, and I think we both started crying,B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址� 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 wasnB次元官网网址檛 the first sign of things happening B次元官网网址渇or a reasonB次元官网网址� that day, as Akerman said. That morning the coupleB次元官网网址檚 song (God Whispered Your Name by Keith Urban) played on the country TV station they listen to for the first time in months.
ItB次元官网网址檚 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 herB次元官网网址檚 was also on the rocks. A few months later they were out of their previous relationships and started dating.
It wasnB次元官网网址檛 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.
B次元官网网址淪he denied me the job,B次元官网网址� Akerman laughed. B次元官网网址淏ut when we started dating I recognized her (from the interview).B次元官网网址� Thiessen, on the other hand, didnB次元官网网址檛 recall the interview.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e realized all these connections,B次元官网网址� said Akerman. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 turned into absolutely the best friend IB次元官网网址檝e ever had in my life.B次元官网网址�
Together since 2016, the two got engaged in June of 2020 and with a pandemic emerging, their future wedding was out of sight.
B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 really have a plan in place so (the contest) kind of presented an opportunity to get to the finish line,B次元官网网址� Akerman said.
TheyB次元官网网址檙e both grateful to be where they are now. Their coming marriage may never have happened at all had tragedy struck.
B次元官网网址淲e both had health issues,B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淲e both almost died, I thought IB次元官网网址檓 not waiting any longer, so I asked her to marry me,B次元官网网址� Akerman said.
Asked what they like most about each other, both have the same answer: B次元官网网址渆verything.B次元官网网址�
They also share a sense of humour.
B次元官网网址淭he biggest thing is that he makes me laugh, he makes me laugh all the time, heB次元官网网址檚 incredibly sweet and kind,B次元官网网址� said Thiessen.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 the only woman thatB次元官网网址檚 ever made me laugh out loud,B次元官网网址� 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 donB次元官网网址檛 mind that one bit. The more the merrier, they say.
The Dec. 30 New Years Eve Weekend Wedding Party Extravaganza is a wedding crasherB次元官网网址檚 dream. Anyone can buy tickets at for $89.99 (family members get a discounted rate) and enjoy welcome bubbles, wedding cake, a B次元官网网址渓ate night slice,B次元官网网址� DJ party music, a cash bar and more.
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