The Wedding Of

Everything began in August 2019, when Matas and Žiema, both active members of the Lithuanian Folk Dance community, attended the Dainava dance camp—a gathering for Lithuanian dancers and teachers. After long hours of dancing, the evenings were filled with laughter and camaraderie as friends gathered to socialize and meet new faces. It was during this time that Matas and Žiema officially crossed paths. Surrounded by friends, they quickly grew close. Both were not positive about how the other felt, but Matas decided to make sure his intentions were clear. In a moment of honesty, he asked Žiema, "You know I'm flirting with you, right?" And this started a future full of laughter. After camp, the future was uncertain. Would this be merely a fleeting camp romance, or something deeper? As days turned into weeks filled with text messages and video calls, their connection deepened, leading them to take the leap and officially commit to each other. Navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship proved difficult at first, but Matas and Žiema made it work, finding opportunities to visit and grow their relationship. Then the world was struck by the Covid-19 pandemic, halting travel and complicating their lives even further. For this long-distance couple, uncertainty loomed once more. Yet, Matas and Žiema were determined to persevere. For over 650 days, they remained at home, unable to see each other in person. However, their love continued to grow. Countless hours of video calls, shared movie nights, and heartfelt messages solidified their commitment to one another, proving that distance could not diminish their connection. When borders finally reopened and travel restrictions eased, Matas and Žiema seized every opportunity to reunite. Coordinating Matas's limited time off with Žiema's educator schedule was no easy feat, but each reunion was filled with joy and love. Fast forward four years to August 2023, when Matas and Žiema returned to Dainava for another Lithuanian Dance Camp, this time as a devoted couple, dancing together through every moment - and on the serene dock by the lake, with the sun setting behind them, Žiema and Matas said YES to being dance partners for life.