THE CHAPTERS THAT BROUGHT US HERE
Our Love Story
From an Unexpected Swipe to a Lifetime of Choosing Each Other
They say love finds you when you least expect it. For us, apparently, it decided to show up during a lunch break.
Our story began in the most unexpected, and admittedly modern, way.
It was an ordinary workday when Hazel found herself swiping through Tinder during her lunch break, with a little help from a colleague who decided to play Cupid. Meanwhile, Ed had just returned to Singapore from a vacation in the Philippines, completely unaware that a simple conversation would soon change both our lives.
After chatting online, we finally met on February 24, 2024, at Sentosa. And no, it wasn't your typical romantic first date. Instead of candlelit dinners and flowers, we had a picnic by the beach with Ed's housemates.
Was it love at first sight? Not exactly.
Ed wasn't quite what Hazel had expected, although she had to admit he was pretty cute. As for figuring out what he thought of her? Well, that was a mystery. He was, and still is, a man of very few words.
Despite our busy schedules and only managing to see each other once a week, things moved surprisingly quickly. On February 28, Ed casually dropped a question neither of us had quite prepared for:
"So, what does this make us?"
There was no grand confession, no elaborate plan, and certainly no dramatic declaration of love. Somehow, somewhere between conversations and stolen moments together, we had simply become us.
And if there's one thing you should know about us, it's that we're complete opposites when it comes to expressing affection.
Hazel is the clingy, affectionate, occasionally overdramatic one who loves attention, reassurance, and a little more texting and calling than Ed would probably prefer.
Ed? He's the calm, patient, wonderfully nonchalant one who isn't particularly fond of endless messages or wearing his heart on his sleeve.
One of us could write an entire essay about missing the other.
The other could probably reply with three words.
We'll let you guess who's who.
Of course, our relationship wasn't always sunshine and butterflies. Our first few months came with misunderstandings, disagreements, and moments when we almost went our separate ways.
But even after the hardest arguments, Ed would eventually find his way back, offering comfort and reassurance in his own quiet, gentle way.
We learned that love isn't always about grand gestures or saying the perfect words. Sometimes, it's about patience, understanding, learning to meet halfway, and choosing each other even when things get difficult.
Looking back, perhaps our story began long before that first swipe.
One Sunday at church, Hazel had quietly prayed for someone who would love her for who she truly was and accept her wholeheartedly.
Little did she know that God's answer might come in the form of a nonchalant guy on a dating app.
As our relationship grew, so did our dreams of a future together. During a trip to Bali, there was no elaborate proposal or grand surprise. Just a simple, meaningful conversation about the life we wanted to build together.
And sometimes, a quiet promise means more than a thousand carefully rehearsed words.
In 2025, we officially became husband and wife through our civil marriage in Singapore.
But there was still one dream waiting to come true.
For Hazel, walking down the aisle in a Catholic church had been a dream since she was a little girl. More than the beautiful dress, the flowers, or the celebration, it was about standing before God and having our marriage blessed by the Church.
And in 2027, that dream will finally become a reality.
Surrounded by the people we love, we'll stand together before God, grateful for every unexpected turn, every lesson, every challenge, and every moment that brought us here.
Our story isn't a perfect fairy tale. It began with an unexpected swipe, grew through differences and disagreements, and became stronger through patience, forgiveness, and faith.
She's the storm. He's the calm.
She's the endless conversation. He's the comfortable silence.
And somehow, through all our differences, we've found a love that feels like home.
From strangers to friends, from a quiet promise to forever — our greatest adventure is still unfolding.
And this time, we're walking toward the altar together.
♡
