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 Historic O害羞草研究所橩eefe Ranch that will take place Dec. 30.
It害羞草研究所檚 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 Thiessen害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淏oth of us were a little bit in shock when Dee said we害羞草研究所檙e the chosen couple, and I think we both started crying,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所� 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 wasn害羞草研究所檛 the first sign of things happening 害羞草研究所渇or a reason害羞草研究所� that day, as Akerman said. That morning the couple害羞草研究所檚 song (God Whispered Your Name by Keith Urban) played on the country TV station they listen to for the first time in months.
It害羞草研究所檚 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 her害羞草研究所檚 was also on the rocks. A few months later they were out of their previous relationships and started dating.
It wasn害羞草研究所檛 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.
害羞草研究所淪he denied me the job,害羞草研究所� Akerman laughed. 害羞草研究所淏ut when we started dating I recognized her (from the interview).害羞草研究所� Thiessen, on the other hand, didn害羞草研究所檛 recall the interview.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e realized all these connections,害羞草研究所� said Akerman. 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 turned into absolutely the best friend I害羞草研究所檝e ever had in my life.害羞草研究所�
Together since 2016, the two got engaged in June of 2020 and with a pandemic emerging, their future wedding was out of sight.
害羞草研究所淲e didn害羞草研究所檛 really have a plan in place so (the contest) kind of presented an opportunity to get to the finish line,害羞草研究所� Akerman said.
They害羞草研究所檙e both grateful to be where they are now. Their coming marriage may never have happened at all had tragedy struck.
害羞草研究所淲e both had health issues,害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淲e both almost died, I thought I害羞草研究所檓 not waiting any longer, so I asked her to marry me,害羞草研究所� Akerman said.
Asked what they like most about each other, both have the same answer: 害羞草研究所渆verything.害羞草研究所�
They also share a sense of humour.
害羞草研究所淭he biggest thing is that he makes me laugh, he makes me laugh all the time, he害羞草研究所檚 incredibly sweet and kind,害羞草研究所� said Thiessen.
害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 the only woman that害羞草研究所檚 ever made me laugh out loud,害羞草研究所� 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 don害羞草研究所檛 mind that one bit. The more the merrier, they say.
The Dec. 30 New Years Eve Weekend Wedding Party Extravaganza is a wedding crasher害羞草研究所檚 dream. Anyone can buy tickets at for $89.99 (family members get a discounted rate) and enjoy welcome bubbles, wedding cake, a 害羞草研究所渓ate night slice,害羞草研究所� DJ party music, a cash bar and more.
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