Some love stories begin with fireworks. Others begin quietly, with a gesture so small it could almost be missed – until it changes the course of everything. For Weddings by Gurus Editor-In-Chief Ashley Foster (now Kane), it began with a handsome stranger’s simple gesture on a pier and a choice to say yes to serendipity over a computer screen. What followed wasn’t a whirlwind fairytale, but something far more meaningful: a love built on patience, intention and ultimately, a wedding that honored authenticity above all else.
The Beginning: A Pier, A Gentleman, and a Choice
When the world was emerging from COVID lockdown, Ashley had joined a friend for happy hour on the Pier, not expecting much beyond a casual night. Among the surprisingly large crowd, a handsome stranger named Rich offered to order their drinks, and with that simple act, the course of her life shifted. What began as a courteous gesture evolved into hours of effortless conversation, laughter and undeniable chemistry. By evening’s end, Rich asked Ashley to dinner, but there was a complication—she was dating someone online whom she’d never met.
Rich’s response cut through the noise: “Are you really going to choose a computer over a real-life person?”
It was the kind of moment that required a leap of faith. Ashley chose real life. She chose Rich. She chose to say yes—on the condition they go dutch on the bill. The next day, Rich, ever the gentleman, refused to let her pay. By their third date the following week, they found themselves dining across the street from what would, just three months later, become their first apartment. That night, Rich looked across the table and told Ashley he knew she was the one. What she would later learn made that moment even more poignant: Rich had spent his last savings on that third dinner. A gamble that paid off beautifully.
Manifesting Love: The Power of Intention
Ashley’s approach to finding love wasn’t passive—it was deliberate. “We are huge believers in manifestation,” she explains. “I manifested the love of my life. I prayed for my soul mate and began to move accordingly.”
Her process was tangible and intentional: she emptied closet space for his belongings, slept on one side of the bed to make physical room for him, went on dates she’d want to share with him, and journaled about his qualities. “I literally began to walk, breathe, and live the life I wanted, and my prayers were answered.”
Rich had his own clear intentions. He prayed for three things: marriage, children, and building the largest privately held company in America. The latter, Ashley notes, is already taking shape. Together, the couple are now co-founders of two companies – Bevrly, Inc, an on- demand cannabis delivery service, and BudBags, a line of eco-friendly and secure courier bags. “Our love isn’t just personal, it’s also entrepreneurial,” Ashley reflects. “We’ve built a partnership rooted in trust, shared vision, and the belief that anything is possible when you move with intention.”
Her advice for those seeking a life partner? “STOP. RELEASE. TRUST. Stop overthinking. Let go of the need to control the outcome and trust the process.”
Authenticity Over Expectations
When it came to planning their wedding, Rich and Ashley discovered that authenticity meant letting go of what others wanted. “I felt the most authentic as a bride when we, one, decided to elope a month prior. Secondly, when I found ‘the dress’ and added slight details—white satin buttons—to really personalize it,” she shares. “On my wedding day, I chose to embrace my curls and wear my hair in its natural state – it felt like a risk but one rooted in self-love. My husband adores my curly hair. Deep down I knew he/we would feel more like home if I looked like me.”
This commitment to authenticity extended beyond aesthetics. In a private courtroom ceremony, Ashley and Rich got married with two childhood friends and Rich’s godson as their witnesses. “Afterwards, we went to the diner to celebrate,” expresses Ashley. “It was everything we could’ve hoped for – knowing one month later we would surprise our closest friends and family with an elopement celebration.” Hence their strong belief that couples should abandon the pressure to marry according to others’ expectations. “Stop inviting and settling based on societal expectations. Invite who you love and who loves you! Sometimes that’s not blood relatives and that’s okay. Do yourselves a favor, start living life on your terms and stop the internal turmoil of pleasing people.”
Lessons in Letting Go
The wedding planning taught Ashley the art of release. “There comes a point in the journey where you just have to trust the process,” she reflects. “More importantly, be in the moment. Obsessing over details or what could have been or should have been doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, the energy and love in the room is all that matters.”
Her advice for couples beginning their wedding journey emphasizes grace and partnership: “Be patient with one another. Give each other grace as this can be a highly stressful moment in your life. You each have a voice and want and need to be represented. This is your day—a celebration of your union. Listen to your inner voice, mute outside noise and opinions.”
Defining True Love
For Ashley & Rich, true love is both simple and profound. “Love is a universal language that comes in many forms. To me, it’s the greatest gift the Universe can give us – aside from life itself,” she reflects. “At its core, true love means the person beside you will do anything to see you happy, and your happiness genuinely and unequivocally becomes their happiness. It’s an undeniable compatibility, a partnership where joy is shared equally.”
From a chance meeting on a pier to a wedding defined by authenticity, Ashley and Rich’s story reminds us that true love begins when we make space for it—literally and figuratively—and have the courage to choose what’s real over what’s expected.
