On Top of the World
One romantic contributor recounts the story of the best day of his life—his wedding day.
On July 28, 2016, my fiancée Christina and I arrived in Tobermory, Ont., after a long three- hour drive. The first thing she did was find her room and the first thing I did was find my friends. I had three of my best friends waiting for us there— they were my groomsmen. Christina and I were getting married the next morning, but I was going out to eat and drink with my buddies that night. The evening was great. We watched the ferry come in and enjoyed a great dinner.
The next day, we all drove to Cyprus Lake Campground just 15 minutes south of Tobermory. After parking the cars, we walked the kilometer to the grotto, headed up to the highest cliff and prepared for the best day of my life.
Christina and I picked this cliff as our spot to get married as I had taken her here to watch the sunset when we first started dating. A year later, I gave her a diamond promise ring. When I was ready to propose, I set up an elaborate plan to surprise her. I went to Tobermory a week before the proposal to set up a scavenger hunt that was a mix between geocaching and The Amazing Race. I had many of the local townspeople in on it. It began at 9 a.m. when she received the coordinates to the first clue. From clue to clue, she had to ask people for envelopes and then find hidden containers with new coordinates and candles. It took all day and into the evening—she said yes. So, there I was on July 29, 2016, at 1 p. m., standing with my back to Georgian Bay, and my best friends and future brother- in- law by my side. My good friend and mentor Matt Delaney stood in front of me, ready to marry Christina and me. The sun was shining and the clouds were few. I wasn’t even nervous. I couldn’t have been more excited to marry my best friend. Christina’s mother Donna was there and as I saw her walk up the steep hill, I knew that the love of my life wasn’t far behind. For a brief moment, I felt like it was just me and her on top of this cliff. Seeing her hike up that cliff in a wedding dress was a special sight. She looked beautiful. I knew I was doing the right thing. Christina is my everything and I am blessed and thrilled to be her husband. ■