Dearest gentle reader,

It is this author's solemn duty—and greatest pleasure—to report on a romance that began not beneath crystal chandeliers nor amid whispered introductions, but upon the curious modern courting grounds known as Bumble. On the sixteenth of April, 2020, Dion and Lauren exchanged their very first words.

Circumstances, however, intervened. A global pandemic swept across society, forcing these two hopefuls to wait an entire month before meeting in person. Yet rather than dull their interest, the delay only deepened it. Each day brought conversations without end, as Dion and Lauren came to know one another with remarkable devotion—proof, perhaps, that anticipation is the most powerful flirtation of all.

At last, on May 14th—most intriguingly, the eve of Lauren's birthday—the pair met at Burnaby Mountain Park. A location already steeped in quiet romance, for Dion had spent many solitary walks there while speaking to Lauren, the two imagining themselves side by side long before fate allowed it. And when they finally met? They did precisely what any sensible couple would do: they promised. From dusk until dawn they walked, talked, and laughed, ending the evening with homemade chicken burgers enjoyed beneath a most obliging sunset. One suspects neither wished the night to end.

Indeed, this author can confirm it did not. Plans were made to meet again a mere two days later—and then again two days after that. By their third official rendezvous, on May 18th, Dion and Lauren accomplished a feat few couples manage with such swiftness or certainty: they became Facebook official. A bold declaration, if ever there was one.

Since that fateful decision, their courtship has flourished beyond even the most hopeful expectations. Together, they endured the trials of a teaching program, wandered through Italy and countless other destinations, built a home, and forged a life rooted in partnership and laughter. And on December 23rd, 2024, Dion formally secured Lauren's future—and his own—with a proposal that left no doubt as to his intentions.

It seems, dear reader, that even in times of uncertainty, love has a way of arriving precisely when it is meant to. One can only applaud such steadfast devotion—and eagerly anticipate the celebration soon to follow.

Yours truly,
Lady Whistledown