Our Story
How We Met
We first met in 2022. Our first meeting wasn't great. Long story short, Oleks thought Cathy was Russian. Cathy had just come back from the Poland-Ukraine border, where she'd been helping people from eastern Ukraine who were forced to leave their homes because of the war. She said something in Russian to Oleks, and he was already overwhelmed by everything going on and didn't know how to react. Not exactly the best start for either of us.
Big Sky
A New Beginning
Fast forward to September 2023. We took a trip to Seattle with friends — or, as a few in the group liked to say, “You crashed our girls’ trip.” That’s when things started to shift. After that trip, we began spending a lot more time together. Our relationship had a slow and sometimes challenging start, but it didn’t take long for us to grow close.
Seattle adventure that changed everything
Adventures Together
By 2024, we had found our rhythm and fully embraced the things we love most: skiing, hiking, random adventures, and getting outside whenever we could. Nature became more than just a playground; it became the backdrop to many of our favorite memories.
Finding our rhythm in the mountains
The Proposal
During our backpacking trip on the Continental Divide Trail, Oleksandr proposed at 12,500 feet on a mountain pass at the start of Colorado, symbolizing a new beginning as we entered a new state. He had prepared an entire speech but got nervous and forgot it, so all he managed to say was, “You know I love you very much… will you marry me?” Catherine responded with, “OMG, yes I will!” Right before that, Catherine had been happily munching on her cookies and didn’t want to get up to “take a photo” with Oleksandr.
12,500 feet - She said yes!
Our Wedding Day
Now, we can't wait to gather with our family and friends in Montana to celebrate the next chapter of our lives. The mountains have been part of our story from the very beginning, so it feels only fitting to begin our married life surrounded by them.
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