Our Story
How We Met
We first met in 2022, though it wasn't exactly a storybook beginning. Our first meeting was pretty unremarkable, and it took about a year before we truly connected. Looking back, we're glad it happened that way — it made the timing feel just right when it finally did.
A New Beginning
In September 2023, we went on a trip to Seattle with friends. That's when things shifted — after that trip, we started spending much more time together. Our relationship had a bit of a slow and challenging start, but we kept choosing each other, and that made us stronger.
Adventures Together
By 2024, we had found our rhythm and leaned into the things we loved most: skiing, hiking parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, and exploring the outdoors whenever we could. Nature became not just our playground but the backdrop to so many of our favorite memories.
The Proposal
During a backpacking trip along the Continental Divide Trail, Oleksandr proposed at 12,500 feet — literally on top of a mountain. Surrounded by nothing but alpine peaks and endless sky, it was raw, beautiful, and unforgettable. Catherine said "yes" without hesitation (though Oleks might argue she was just dizzy from the altitude).
Our Wedding Day
Now, we can't wait to gather with our family and friends in Montana to celebrate the next chapter. The mountains have been part of our story from the beginning, so it feels only fitting to start our married life among them.
