… two sweet honeybees flitted from bloom to bloom until they Bumbled into each other and found their forever love.

Ashley Louise Morgan and Christopher William Kinley shared their first date at a San Diego café favorite, Lestat's on Park. Chris arrived early, and Ashley ran 10 minutes late, which, unbeknownst to them at the time, would become a running motif in their relationship. When Ashley saw Christopher's smiling face, her first thought was that he looked very kind. When he saw her, he thought, “She’s as pretty as her pictures. I hope she doesn’t mind looking up.” They grabbed drinks to-go and walked down to Old Trolley Barn Park. Just like two old friends, they sat comfortably in the sun and enjoyed their tea (Chris) and coffee (Ashley) relaxing on a park bench.

They shared boisterous laughs, silly stories, and tender moments for hours before realizing it had gotten dark, and the dog walkers had all gone home. What was meant to be a simple meet-cute had become a glimmer of hope that two souls had found their mate. In the still of the night, they walked back to her car with their voices a little softer and the conversation filled with anticipation of what the future might hold. They could tell they had a special connection, and before long, they were inseparable, spending more time together than pages in a book. It might spoil the tale, but they were falling deeply and madly in love.

After a few adventures, both harrowing and relaxing, were written into their love story the couple was poised for a trip to Canada. Ashley had known from the start that dating a Canadian meant she would have to brave the Great White North, but she didn’t know everything that was in store for her. The big plan was to go up to Calgary, Alberta, for Chris’s grandmother’s 90th birthday bash and enjoy time with his extended family.

Since it was Ashley’s first trip up North, they decided to spend a few days in Banff National Park before heading back to Calgary. Ashley was told they would be staying in the cabins near Lake Louise. Chris paused in the parking lot of the Paradise Bungalows for a quick look but said they needed to see the lake before settling in. They drove up further, but Chris turned up the road to the Fairmont Château instead of the lake’s parking lot. Knowing he had made a mistake, Ashley ushered him to tell the valet they wanted to turn around, but he smirked and instead remarked, “Checking in under Kinley.”

They both shared the beauty of Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier for the first time looking out from their balcony, and already Ashley was entertaining the idea of moving to Canada. With that surprise out of the way, the happy honeybee couple readied their hiking gear for the next morning when they would trek up Little Beehive Mountain.

Luckily, it was early June, so the snow covered only a third of the trail.

The pair had trained with smaller hikes beforehand, but this was their first large hike together, and Ashley was overjoyed to be back in action following her long-COVID health journey. She saw many tall trees, pikas, birds, squirrels, waterfalls, lakes, and majestic vistas that more closely resembled watercolor fantasy paintings than reality. Despite all this, her favorite sight ended up being a rock. Chris, having no prior experience with this mountain, confidently but incorrectly estimated they’d be up and back in less than 4 hours, with plenty of time for other outdoor activities. About 100 meters (330 feet) from the summit and about 4 hours into the hike, Chris pointed out a small rock outcropping a short distance below the main trail. He convinced Ashley they needed to sit down and take a picture of their feet dangling over the Lake Louise landscape. While Ashley was getting up, he double-checked his pocket for the 35th time that day, took a deep breath, and got down on one knee.

Fortuitously, a friendly stranger photographed the proposal moments where you can see the pure joy, laughter, and tears that had Ashley jumping a little too close to the edge. Thankfully, they made it to the summit and back down the mountain mostly unscathed. They skipped their kayak ride in favor of cleaning up and getting ready for the photoshoot Chris arranged by the lake. The back of your invitation encapsulates a moment of that day’s happiness the newly engaged couple shared.

Today, our couple continues to lean on, laugh with, and make loving memories that enrich each other’s lives. They are excited to continue this adventure together, hand in hand, and can’t wait to see what forever holds. Thank you for being a part of their story.