It was Zach and Megan's graduation from law school. The Mulholland's had a beautiful outdoor party overlooking the Great South Bay in Bayport, NY. Cassandra and Gregory were both in attendance, Cassandra, Megan's best friend, and Gregory, Zach's brother. They found themselves sitting around the fire amongst others, and ended up...arguing. If you know them, this was pretty on brand for their passionate and spicy personalities. Cassandra will be the first person to tell you, Gregory was right. Come to Cassandra for the full story though, as it's a bit blurred for Gregory ;)

A few years and some individual growth later, Cassandra and Gregory found themselves together again at the wedding weekend of Zach and Megan. Conversations were easy amongst the two. There were no expectations, they were both able to be exactly who they were. They danced, went swimming, and talked for hours. Gregory asked for her number, Cassandra asked, "Why?" as she was living in Boston and Gregory in Montreal. Not to mention the 5 year age difference... However, despite all the reasons it should have been difficult and maybe even pointless, it wasn't. It was easy and something just felt right. They began talking every single day from then on. They proceeded to plan visits to get to know each other. They planned to meet in the middle in New Hampshire, spent weekends in Montreal and Boston, took trips to Nantucket, Lantier, Toronto, Upstate New York, and Zec Lavigne. They would have movie nights when they couldn't be together, where they'd pick out a movie and press play at the same time, and FaceTime after. And while you may have guessed it, they fell in love. Things were certainly not always rainbows and butterflies. They experienced hardships and crossroads where important decisions needed to be made, but they chose each other, and they continue to choose each other every single day.

The distance was becoming difficult to bear. Initially Cassandra thought she'd try to get a job and move to Vermont to be closer. However, it wasn't long until Gregory accepted an opportunity he had been dreaming about for a while. Working up at a diamond mine in the Northwest Territories. Cassandra was looking for a change from her career and decided "...if not now, when?" so they were off to Canmore, AB together! The first few months were extremely difficult to say the least. While they considered themselves so lucky to finally be together and in a location as beautiful as the Canadian Rockies, they knew no one, and they had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Cassandra was having a difficult time finding work to provide a work permit and legal status in Canada. All the while Gregory was gone 2 weeks of every month surrounded by the NWT tundra. They had to show up for each other in ways they never expected. They became true partners throughout such a difficult time. However, fast forward a few more months and they finally made Canmore their home, found themselves in an amazing community and friend group, and are experiencing all the West has to offer.

When someone decides to move to another country, there's some extra obstacles that are added. For Cassandra and Gregory it was no different. While they were in love with each other and wanting to spend the rest of their lives together, finding work and legal status to remain in Canada was not looking up for Cassandra. They reached a point where she was possibly going to have to return to the US and they would have to reevaluate. However, after knowing what the long distance was like, that was not something they were willing to sacrifice. They decided they'd have the wedding of their dreams instead. An intimate ceremony exchanging their own personal vows, and including all the values and little details they hold dear. They will treasure that day and those memories forever, but now it's time to celebrate with ALL of the amazing people in their lives!