TLDR: We’ve been together for a long time. Mark and Paige met in 2014 at a music festival in central California. We began the night dancing with friends, but ended up getting separated from the group. It felt like we left the whole world behind as we talked about our values, and our hopes and dreams. We were surprised to form a connection so quickly, especially since we both went to the event on a whim and lived in different areas of California. At the end of the weekend Mark asked Paige about a long distance relationship, something neither of us were really ready for but committed to all the same. Mark was going to school at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and Paige went to Cal Poly Humboldt. Over the next three years our relationship grew despite the ten hour drive that separated us. But we made it work by finishing our school work early and forgoing parties to spend more time together. We would spend weekends exploring the old growth forests in Humboldt, going to the beach at Montaña de Oro in SLO, buying vinyls of Grover Washington Jr. at record shops, and grabbing breakfast and coffee at our favorite bagel place. After graduating, we both moved into Mark's parents’ house (the location of the wedding) where we tried to figure out our next steps. Mark was set to move to DC to start a government research job while Paige prepared to enter grad school in California. But before moving, we went on a trip that took us all over Asia and Europe. By this time, we were long distance pros. After two more years, Mark entered a graduate program in California and we moved in together! It was a long time coming for sure. Mark proposed in a forested area of a local botanical garden in SoCal. We are both so excited to celebrate our relationship and reconnect with all the people who are most important to us, see you there!