"Good things come to those who wait" | Steve + Shalan

Over 8 years ago Steve’s sister decided to play matchmaker with her co-worker whom she had been meaning to set up with Steve for over three years. One late summer evening Steve got the call to go over to his parents’ place to meet this co-worker at a graduation party they were hosting. Stereotypical Steve threatened his sister that this gal better be worth the 20 minute drive to West Vancouver or else! Little did Steve know what was about to happen – he walked in, grabbed a beer then “scanned the room” looking for this “hot dolly”. He saw Shalan sitting on the couch chatting with friends – he waited with bated breath for the right moment to swoop in and start breaking the ice! His moment came and they chatted for over an hour with an instant connection – so much so, she gave him her phone number and the first date took place a week later!

That fateful first date began like most with drinks & dinner at a popular restaurant – Steve always made sure Shalans drink was topped up whenever she left the table. The date didn’t end after dinner, Steve felt it was going exceptionally well he decided to put Shalan to the test by bringing her to a local watering hole where the Man Zone (name for Steve’s tight knit group of friends) was on a night out.

Apparently Steve’s friends also thought very highly of Shalan, as one of them tried to pick her up! 

Shalan managed to survive being thrown to the wolves den of guys and her and Steve’s relationship started to bloom.

Steve received bittersweet news not long after meeting Shalan – that he had been accepted into a Master’s program… in South Africa… that started two months later! They stayed in touch and he invited her to visit him so eleven months later Shalan took the plunge and made the long journey to South Africa for a month long vacation! It was that month of amazing memories that solidified their relationship and gave them enough motivation to continue the long distance relationship for another two years.

Some of their fondest memories were on further travel adventures like when they went to Poland in the dead of winter on cheap $1 flights totally unprepared and froze the entire trip while eating cheese perogies and bacon. Or an exhaustive 12 hour climbing day to the top of the highest volcano in Central America which involved shimming along the edge of a sandy sheer cliff face in 60 knot winds with over a 1000 foot drop behind them. It was these times that revealed characteristics which continued to fuel their relationship.

While on vacation in Nicaragua (October 2011) after a day on a boating expedition to visit a local baby-leatherback sanctuary, and a scrumptious seafood dinner on the beach,

Steve secretly placed the engagement ring in a sea shell he collected earlier in the day. 

He then suggested that they go for a walk to watch the amazing sunset, leaving the non-English waiter confused and wondering what was happening. As they strolled along the beach Steve reached down into the sand and said “Hey check this seashell out!” – Shalan came over to take a look, staying on one knee; he showed Shalan the seashell and started to cry as he proposed. They walked back to the restaurant pretending nothing had happened – they thought it would be easier that way instead of playing charades with the waiter!