Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/171645
"We wanted a very natural, wildflower look, and we wanted getting there to be part of the experience." But Kelvin never gave up asking, and finally Paige accepted the invitation to go out with the persistent bartender who she found so charming and respectful. Soon it was clear to everyone this was a match from heaven. "My heart just always kept going back to her," Kelvin says. "I knew this felt different." Still, it was October 21, 2009, over two months after their first summer picnic, before Paige considered them "boyfriend and girlfriend." The turning point was a coincidence so unlikely, she says she had no question it was the sign she'd been waiting for. "We were visiting my parents so Kelvin could get to know them," she explains. "My dad was talking about the day he'd been moving some lumber earlier in August, right in the heat of the summer. He has a heart problem, and when the load shifted, he became stuck. Suddenly a red pickup pulled over, and in no time the driver had dad's lumber reloaded safely. But he was back in his truck and gone so fast, dad couldn't even say thank you. Kelvin thought that was just the kind of thing his father would do, his dad's always believed in random acts of kindness, so he phoned to ask him. Sure enough, it was Kelvin's father who'd been driving the pickup and stopped." A month and a half later, Paige did make her trip to Africa, 39 days that was the first test of their relationship. "Telephone contact and even Internet was sketchy, so we had minimal contact," Kelvin says. Three terms at the University of San Diego plus an unexpected opportunity to study for a month in Turkey followed in quick succession, but at least email and phone was more readily available. "Plus we got really, really good at finding cheap flights," Kelvin says. Then, on August 11th, one year to the day after their first lakeside date, Kelvin suggested getting dressed up for a fancy dinner out. "I blindfolded her first (she was not impressed), then I drove around for a while to get her disoriented," he says while Paige rolls her eyes and gives a good-natured shrug. They arrived at Okanagan Mountain Park just as the sun set to discover a "fine Top: Knowing they had a dining experience." It had been prepared by backdrop of spring greenery, the wedding colours were friends from the restaurant and left for Kelvin inspired by wildflowers. to cook al fresco. That night they dined on The bridesmaids wore pink wild green salad with goat cheese, salmon with gowns by Jim Hjelm from After Five, with yellow cardirisotto and roast baby squash plus wine pairing gans to keep away the chill. with each course. As the light faded completely, Middle: The flower girls—all seven of them—each wore a Kelvin proposed. different color to represent The following day was a whirlwind of activa posy of wildflowers. Bottom: Guests sat on ity. "I have a lot of family in Kelowna, and we hand-hewn benches carried didn't want to just call," Kelvin says. "So we to the site. DJ Haymaker, who did the music for the spent the entire day visiting everyone who was ceremony and reception, important to us. Paige and her mom started brought power cells and set planning the next day." up behind the guests. 60 RW21_part 1.indd 60 r ea l weddings 9/19/11 3:25:07 PM