When Stray driver Chase recently started a story with, “Two young boys from England head down to the bar with a bus driver and some girls…” we thought she was setting us up for a good joke.
Turns out, Chase played Cupid and set up one of those boys with one of those girls, and this match made on a Stray bus turned into a marriage!
Here’s the story according to the bride, Zhwan Valerie Samal from the UK:
“I married Chris Woof on the 27 March 2015 and I have to say it would never have happened if it wasn’t for Stray. I boarded Chase’s bus in Queenstown on the 16th November 2011 and I remember as the people were getting on looking out the window to see Chris outside and I thought to myself ‘that kid is hot!’ As luck would have it he ended up sitting behind me on the bus. After staring at the poor boy for a few days I told Chase in Kaikoura (after a couple of drinks) that I thought he was cute and unbeknownst to me, Chase thought it would be a good idea to tell Chris and do some matchmaking (though what she exactly said was: “If you come out tonight, you’re in there with Zhwan!”).”
“Three and a half years later, that boy who sat behind me on that Stray bus became my husband and I can safely say that a) he is the best thing to have ever happened to me and b) it would have never have happened if it hadn’t been for Chase and Stray. Thank you Stray and especially Chase. We owe you big time! xxx”
Awww, doesn’t that just make you feel warm and fuzzy inside?
(It’s also worth mentioning that Chris’s mate Jon, who was travelling with him on that fateful Stray trip, served as the best man at their wedding!)
Congratulations, Zhwan and Chris! The Stray crew wish you a very happy future together!
Loved this story? It’s not the first Stray love story we’ve featured: Stray Passengers Find Love on the Bus
