It was all happen-stance, really. In September of 2000, Heng Chai came accross an old Yahoo! profile I had posted online from when I was in grad school. The profile included a picture of one of my best friends Tammy, and I. I guess he thought I was cute, so he contacted me on Yahoo! Messenger. We started chatting and found that we had a connection. For the next 10 or so months, he and I spoke online or on the phone, everyday. In June 2001, I invited Heng Chai to visit me here so we could spend a couple weeks together. I'll never forget how nervous I was picking him up at the airport that night. We had chatted about everything, everyday, for months and months, but then...seeing him face to face was different. He was so handsome! During the next two weeks, we spent time hitting all the local Orlando tourist spots...you know, the theme parks, etc. We had such a great time that even before Heng Chai left to go back to Malaysia, I had invited him to come live with me, and finish his studies here. He said that he wanted that, and the planning began. Unfortunately, that September 11th changed most of the world...including the ease of immigration to the US. We fought, faxed, submitted, pleaded, and finally, Heng Chai was granted his student visa and was accepted to college here and on December 3, 2001, he arrived to his new home. It's difficult to believe that it's been seven years since that day in 2001, and to think back on all we have been through. It's amazing to me to think how this all began, and how it has developed. It's a miracle how Heng Chai and I compliment each other. Where I have been strong, Heng Chai has been weak...and when I have been on the weak side, Heng Chai has been my warrior. It's the best thing that could have ever happened.
On November 25, 2007, during our 8-day cruise to Central America, Heng Chai proposed to me. He had always wanted to wait until he was independent and had completed school so he could call himself a permanent resident before taking that final plunge. I'm so glad that he did! Now, we can't wait till our wedding day, so that we can share our committment to each other and with our friends and loved ones.
Seeing that we are legally unable to be wed in the State of Florida, we decided on a destination wedding in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada...where same-sex marrages are legal. In the sixties and seventies, Niagara Falls was known as the honeymoon capital of the world. In the eighties, places like Las Vegas, Orlando, and the Caribbean became more popular. Although fewer weddings and honeymoons take place there now, Niagara Falls has one thing the others don't....one of the seven natural wonders of the world...the falls.
We are so excited that our very closest friends (our family) will be joining us in Niagara from September first through the fourth. We are also very excited that we have been able to get the wedding chapel at the Konica Minolta Tower...525 feet above the falls. Our ceremony is planned for September 2, at 3:30 pm. You can check it out here (copy and paste): http://www.niagara-fallsview-weddings.com/Ceremony/minolta.htm . After the ceremony, our photographer will follow us down to the park, just overlooking the falls so that we can have group photos taken. Look here: http://www.bvphotog.com/index2.php?v=v1 .
During out stay in Niagara, our group will be staying at the only boutique hotel in town...the Sterling Inn & Spa. Check it out here (cut and paste): http://www.sterlingniagara.com/ . During free-time, we hope to spend great times together getting a closer look at the falls on the Maid of the Mist: http://www.maidofthemist.com/en/ or maybe taking a limo tour of the Niagara wine country....one of North America's finest areas for wine production. A lot of the travel guides name the Niagara countryside as Canada's most beautiful area.
Whether we're spending time alone, or with friends, we are so excited to go "north of the border" for our nuptuals.
We really wish that everyone one of our friends and family could join us for our special day. There have been many of you who have been beside us through these past seven years and we sometimes wonder if we'd be here without you. We put so much value on your support. We believe the community is a huge part of a marriage's success. Please know that we appreciate all your best wishes, and even though the courts here may not yet recognize our union, we treasure knowing we have your blessings. We love you all! Todd & Heng Chai
