a real-life wedding PROPOSAL — PLAN B An organized kind of guy, Adam had been planning his proposal move for a while. He had bought the ring but was waiting for an upcoming vacation to celebrate Melissa’s birthday in The Dominican Republic to execute his master plan of a romantic dinner-on-thebeach proposal. The week before Melissa and Adam were scheduled to jet to the island, she got the news that her good friend had just become engaged, on a beach in the Caribbean. Although he was dismayed that what he had in the works might now seem like a copycat proposal, Adam remained undaunted, scheduling their romantic dinner for the actual date of her birthday, to mislead his fiancée. Now picture the perfect moment: Melissa thought they were only going for dinner, but Adam took her hand and guided her towards the beach, leading her down a boardwalk lit with torches to a draped canopy filled with candlelight by the beautiful ocean. Suddenly there was an off-key moment. The personal DJ service Adam had set up had translated badly, and began playing “Here Comes the Bride” for the couple, thinking that they were on their honeymoon. Adam quickly substituted his iPod music with the DJ before Melissa noticed the gaffe. After dinner Adam excused himself again. Suddenly “their song” was playing in the background and he had come up behind her chair to place the ring in front of Melissa, whose recollection after that is faulty. “I was so shocked and overwhelmed that I don’t remember a lot more than Adam being down on one knee — but obviously I said yes!” BASILICA CEREMONY Melissa and Adam wanted to marry in the breathtakingly-beautiful St. Paul’s Basilica in Toronto. Msgr. Brad Massman married the couple. They regard him as one of the kindest and most inspiring individuals they have ever met. His words had always resonated deeply with them. In an elegant ceremony, under soaring ceilings, surrounded by magnificent paintings and stained glass windows letting in natural light, the journey to the marriage altar was complete. Strains of “Pachelbel’s Canon in D”, performed by Duo d’Amore, enhanced Melissa’s walk down the aisle to meet Adam. Jeremiah Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary” sounded triumphantly as they made the return trip together, as wife and husband. 38 Wedding Essentials 2013