Five years ago, Yael Woodward planned a barbecue, hoping that it would ignite a romance between her friends Jillian Wiebe and Todd Ambachtsheer, who were until then only fleetingly acquainted. Unwilling to be undone by high-rise fire regulations, a resourceful Mrs. Woodward dragged home "a contraption that looked like a giant garbage can" and smoked a turkey all day in honour of the occasion.

Tickets to Romeo and Juliet, a later gesture, also thrilled Ms. Wiebe, who had been a dancer for 14 years. The surprise bore additional fruit when Mr. Ambachtsheer developed a passion for ballet as a result.

The turnabout wasn't as successful when she joined a group of his friends in Killarney Provincial Park for her first --and so far, only -- camping experience. "I'd never canoed to camp and we were on our own, canoeing into the wind," Mr. Ambachtsheer recalls. "It was a bit of a baptism by fire." His admiration for his girlfriend, who never complained despite non-stop pelting rain, increased still more.

A refreshing change from "neurotic, artsy" suitors Ms. Wiebe had previously encountered, Mr. Ambachtsheer made her feel "safe and secure." But for the honours BA graduate of the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business, who is presently a manager of transaction advisory services for Ernst & Young, a definitive commitment wasn't immediately on his balance sheet.

In September, 2004, a European holiday made Ms. Wiebe optimistic. "Every day that passed, momentous things happened. We were on top of the Eiffel Tower, and I thought -- now!" Nuptials unmentioned, the trip ended, and so she embraced the adage "expect nothing and you won't be disappointed." But by New Year's, when three other couples they knew had all announced their engagements, she drew the line.

"I rehearsed a calm, succinct speech," she recalls, and two days later she asked him about his intentions, including a request for a time frame. Little did she know that his cryptic "within the year" response was tied to another surprise he was working on.

Inadvertently, she set the scene by suggesting a Centre Island picnic, and as they basked on the grass, a sunny April 16 became memorable. "I want to look at you -- you make me very happy," said Mr. Ambachtsheer, who is now 31. Sensing an unfamiliar tone in his voice, she stared as he proffered a ring. Giddy with happiness, the two then tore off to play Frisbee.

A year later, on April 15, 2006, at the University of Toronto's Victoria College chapel, the two exchanged their vows before Rev. Tina Gabriel and received guests at Biagio Ristorante.

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