Laura and Mark met on the Freedom of the Seas in January of 2017. After months of being friends, they decided to take their friendship to the next step level. They went on their first date June 18th, 2017 - a picnic in Barcelona. The rest is history! That summer they continued to explore Europe together, from traipsing the streets of Rome, to laying on the sunny beaches of Nice, France, to discovering the BEST places to eat pizza in Naples. They do realize that they were spoiled on those first few dates! After that contract together, they visited each others homes in Ontario and New Hampshire. While back "on land", they were able to do the "normal" dating activities! Going to the movies, bowling, hiking and visiting with family and friends. In October of 2017, while Mark was visiting Laura in Canada, he received a phone call that would forever change the trajectory of their lives. He was offered the saxophone position at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He moved there in January of 2018 and Laura went back on a ship. And so started a long two years of long-distance romance. They saw each other as often as they could and had countless Facetimes! After a year of long distance, Laura (with Mark's help, love and support!) started the lengthy and difficult process of applying for an American work visa to allow her to also work at the theatre. Many months and many stressful phone calls to one another passed and eventually they got word that the visa had been approved! And what they realized a few months later - the timing couldn't have been more perfect! January of 2020 marked the start of their new life together. Laura and Mark packed as much as they could into his 2011 Hyundai Sonata and made the drive from Caledon, Ontario to Myrtle Beach, S.C.! You all know what happened in the world only a few short months after that. Mark and Laura feel so fortunate that they were together throughout COVID and not separated by travel restrictions or anything of that sort. Fast forward to December 13th, 2020, they were decorating their Christmas tree when Mark popped the question - right there in their kitchen! Of course, Laura said YES! They decided to get married "on paper" on February 23rd, 2021, knowing that they would celebrate with family and friends after the risk of COVID had subsided and after travel restrictions had eased. So here it is, halfway through 2022 and it is getting close to the time to celebrate the special day with loved ones from near and far!