A young power couple run a successful global speed-dating business while navigating the ups and downs of their new lives as man and wife. That’s the premise behind Slice’s newest docu-soap, Love Incorporated. Filmed entirely in Toronto, the show follows Annabelle and Justin Parfitt, whose journey toward the altar seems just as TV worthy as their lives are today. Annabelle and Justin tell their story:
How they met
I’d just arrived in Australia to study for an MBA and was at a bar. I saw Annabelle across the room and decided I had to meet her. I went up to her and asked her if I could buy her a drink. She replied that she’d like a bottle of champagne! I found her chutzpah very attractive.
The first date
Our first date was back in February 2002. Justin was new to Sydney, so he asked me to choose a restaurant. I went with a classic suggestion and recommended a romantic French bistro that I knew did great steak frites.
The courtship
It could have gone either way. We didn’t discuss age on our first couple of dates. When we found out that there was a 14-year age difference, we both freaked out a bit. That wasn’t what either of us was looking for, but fortunately, we came to our senses and put it to one side because, ultimately, we were incredibly compatible. I honestly couldn’t imagine life without her.
The proposal
Justin proposed to me on June 6, 2003, at Neilson Park in Sydney. When we arrived, we sat down to have a coffee in the sunshine and happened upon a couple getting married. It was the simplest and most honest marriage either of us had ever seen. The bride and groom were joined by their children and another couple, who acted as their witnesses, along with the celebrant. After they said their vows, they popped a bottle of champagne and celebrated by the sea. We both looked at each other with tears in our eyes, having been spellbound by the magic of watching this loving couple, and Justin asked me if I’d marry him. Of course I said yes, and that was without question the best decision I’ve ever made. Life can be complicated sometimes, but love is simple, and Justin’s proposal was the most romantic and sincere proposal I could possibly imagine.
The wedding
We were planning on getting married in France, and we were all set to leave Sydney when we realized that the legal requirements to get married in France involved living there for 40 days before the wedding. Since this wasn’t possible, we had an impromptu civil ceremony on a cliff looking over Sydney Harbour a couple of days before we left Australia. The eventual ceremony in France was amazing, and we went to Morocco for our honeymoon, which was incredible.
Kids
No we don’t have any children, but we’re both looking forward to starting a family.
Their lives today
Since our FastLife Speed Dating business went global, we divide our time between our new company office in Toronto (where we filmed the first season of Love Incorporated) and our existing office in Sydney. We love Toronto, as Canadians are probably the nicest people in the world. We’ve made lots of friends here, so it’s starting to feel like home. And we absolutely love the restaurants in this amazing city.