Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/171645
T he first time Ray Leung laid eyes on Jinny Chiu, he couldn't help but notice her height. "Yes, Jinny's a little bit taller than me," laughs 36-year-old Ray. He thanks mutual friends for making that first, fateful introduction to Jinny eight years ago at a Greek restaurant on downtown Vancouver's Denman Street. Though he noticed her height, he also noticed something about her. "The more I got to know her, the more I knew it was just….right," he says. So right, in fact, that when Ray left to work overseas in Tokyo and Shanghai several years later, he and Jinny promised to do whatever it took to make their long-distance relationship last. And though she describes the four years that ensued as tough, with phone calls often consisting of one saying good night while the other said good morning, Jinny, now 28, agrees it was worth it. Knowing, too, that practical, level-headed Jinny was the yin to his yang, Ray could hardly contain his excitement when he finally returned home for good and started making plans to pop the question. "It's hard to keep a secret from Jinny," he Top: While the men got ready at Ray's house, says, "but I was determined to make this one a Jinny and her bridesmaids surprise." dressed at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, starting A self-professed prankster, Ray figured the at 7:30 am. best place to ambush his bride-to-be was where Middle: The Vancouver Trolley Company transshe'd least expect it. And ambush her he did. ported the bridal party Waiting for just the right moment, after a downtown by 10:30 am. Bottom left: Kelly Ip romantic dinner out when Jinny made a trip officiated. The couple had to the ladies' room, he barged his way into her had the pleasure of seeing bathroom stall, got down on one knee and Kelly in action and his energy and humour were asked her to marry him. just what they wanted for "She looked at me and said, 'Now? You're their wedding. RW21_part 1.indd 36 9/19/11 3:02:09 PM