We met the modern way - online - on May 20th, and finally face-to-face on June 6th. From the start, we spent hours on FaceTime each day, sharing life, laughter, and the growing realization that something truly special was unfolding. When Ben made the 6.5-hour drive from Canada to Montana to meet Kaitlin in person, she had grand plans: a home-cooked dinner of steak from the butcher, glazed Brussels sprouts with bacon, and fresh bread. But as it turns out, her cooking skills are more “survival mode” than gourmet... especially when compared to Ben’s chef-level expertise. So after a long drive and a half day of work, he ended up cooking for her. (And it was delicious.) That first weekend together was full of adventure, laughter, and a little rain. They shared huckleberry margaritas at Kaitlin’s favorite local restaurant, where she told Ben she loved him for the first time. Later, they borrowed a friend’s truck to drive into the mountains for a DIY “drive-in” movie night on an iPad under the stars. The only problem? No stars. Just clouds, and then rain. Still, it was perfect in its own way. From snow-covered hikes (yes, even in June!) to paddleboarding on the lake, those first few days were packed with the kind of memories you never forget. And they were just the beginning. After the wedding, Kaitlin will be moving to Alberta, Canada to join Ben near the Canadian Armed Forces base where he’s currently posted. It’s the next big step in a journey that started with a swipe, grew through countless hours of conversation, and quickly became something worth building a life around.