Bride Says She 'Never Prayed for Someone Tall,' Then Married a Man Who's 4' (Exclusive)

"If you’re still waiting for your person⁠… they may not look like what you pictured⁠ and that might be the best part," says bride Anita Wing Lee

NEED TO KNOW

• Anita Wing Lee and Tim Muttoo got married on June 21 in Canada. Afterward, their wedding photos and love story quickly went viral
• Although Tim wasn't what Anita originally "envisioned" in a partner, she realized that "it’s the internal — the heart, the soul, the kindness, the way they treat you and others — that truly matters"
• "We are glad to see people are realizing that love isn’t just about looks or money, it can be about seeing, choosing and knowing someone else’s heart," Tim tells PEOPLE

A bride and groom have gone viral for their love story.

Anita Wing Lee and Tim Muttoo tied the knot on June 21 at St. Andrew's Church in Canada. The eight wedding posts they've shared on Instagram showcasing their marriage and juxtaposing their respective 5'4" and 4' statures have collectively received more than 100 million views, with some people even speculating they were "AI-generated images."

The newlyweds tell PEOPLE they first shared their love story online "just for our wedding guests," but after seeing how deeply it "made them cry and gave them hope," they were encouraged to share their story "more widely" to teach others that "love is about seeing and choosing someone’s heart."

"I have always believed in the power of media and stories to spread light and hope for society. When I find a good story, I want to share it," Anita tells PEOPLE. "Also, as a couple, we want to build something through our marriage that uplifts and inspires others. Sharing our story felt like the natural first step as we start a new chapter together."

Tim adds: "As a humanitarian who’s spent years working around the world and connecting with people from all walks of life, I’ve come to see that love is truly universal. Sharing something so meaningful to us felt natural because I believe that stories like ours can resonate far beyond borders."

Despite them both working in East Africa in 2012, the duo wouldn't meet until nine years later in 2021 at a mutual friend's birthday party in Toronto, according to their website. Anita remembered "noticing that Tim’s feet dangled off the edge of his chair," but "didn't think much of it at the time," and assumed he had to be "a good person" if he was friends with her friends.

Although the pair bonded over their love for travel and humanitarian work after reconnecting in Ontario later that year, Anita was admittedly hesitant about pursuing a romantic relationship with a man shorter than her.

"I had always envisioned myself looking up into my partner’s eyes, but with Tim, that wasn’t possible," she wrote online.

Over time, Tim's feelings "grew stronger" for Anita, and he hoped their friendship would "blossom into something more." He "prayed often, asking, 'God, show me what to do.' "

Meanwhile, Anita was praying too. She explained in a July 25 Instagram post that she "trusted that God had someone out there who could hold it all," but she "never prayed for someone tall.⁠"

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"You know how people write out lists of what they’re hoping for in a partner? I never actually wrote down 'tall' because I just assumed God would bring me someone tall," Anita shared. "Ideally, someone 5 inches taller than me so I could wear heels and they’d still be taller.⁠"

She "never actually added" height to her list because there were other factors that mattered more to her, such as substance, character and faith. As she got to know Tim, she realized that⁠ he was everything she was looking for in a partner. "But… he wasn’t tall⁠," she noted.

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"And when I asked God about it, He said,⁠ 'Well, it wasn’t on your list,' " she said.

While in California together for Tim's H2O4all work in 2023, Tim expressed his romantic feelings for Anita. At the time, she didn't feel the same. However, Anita was later inspired to pursue a romantic relationship with Tim.

"Because the external of a person is just that, external," Anita wrote. "It’s the internal — the heart, the soul, the kindness, the way they treat you and others — that truly matters.⁠"

In November 2023, Anita told Tim that she liked him as more than a friend. On Sept. 30, 2024, the two got engaged.

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The couple decided to share their story with the world "to inspire others to live with open hands and open hearts."

"We’ve also been encouraged from some very heartfelt messages and comments we’ve received. It’s made us realize just how many people might have lost hope in true love, and we’re glad that we can help them believe that they are worthy of love — no matter what they look like," Tim tells PEOPLE.

He continues: "Overall, we are thrilled to see our story go all around the world. We are glad to see people are realizing that love isn’t just about looks or money; it can be about seeing, choosing and knowing someone else’s heart. We are happy that we have helped people to initiate conversations about how they view and approach love."

Anita advises single people: "If you’re still waiting for your person⁠… they may not look like what you pictured⁠ and that might be the best part."