About the couple

Bride: Shannon Krystal Novak

Groom: Henry Verne Plantinga

How they met: Shannon begins the story. “We met through a mutual friend, Carolyn. During the autumn of 2008 Carolyn was having a night out with friends when she ran into Henry having a good time with some of his friends at a Grande Prairie nightclub. Carolyn and Henry had met through mutual friends during their college days years back and naturally began a conversation. Henry mentioned to Carolyn that he had recently been awarded a promotion and had relocated to Peace River. Carolyn had matchmaking on her mind! She told Henry that she had a “wife” for him in Peace River, her good friend Shannon had recently moved back to her hometown and she was convinced they would be a perfect match. I guess she was right!”

Engagement story: “We got engaged on March 5, 2010,” says Shannon. “No smoke and mirrors here, although the time and place were truly a surprise because it was such a regular day. I didn’t suspect a thing that Friday afternoon when I came home from work. However, Henry was acting a little unusual –- very on edge and nervous. Suddenly, he came running up to me and got down on one knee. At first I thought that maybe he was just bending down to pick something up…and then…he pulled out a ring and said “I love you, will you marry me?” It was amazing surprise –- the wedding planning started right then and there!”