A Celtic Wedding on the Beach in British Columbia

About the couple

Bride: Michael Lee Marks

Groom: Jesse Christopher Joseph Fraser

How they met: “We first met at a first aid course we were both attending through our separate workplaces,” explains Michael. “During one of the lunch breaks we discovered we both had a love of interesting and unique music. Email addresses were exchanged, which began an ongoing correspondence swapping favourite songs and musical tastes. Emails progressed to phone calls and texting, which progressed into music nights where once a week we would meet and listen to various records. The meetings began to include dinner and movies and soon we both realized it wasn’t just music drawing us together. Our relationship began in March of 2007, and was then followed by Jesse moving in six months later.”

Engagement story: “In March 2008 Jesse suggested we take a day and travel to his mother’s property on Cortes Island,” Michael recalls. “I found this odd, as Jesse is sort of a hermit by nature. I pointed out repeatedly that him suggesting we leave the house and go someplace was somewhat suspicious. The trip was odd again as Jesse passed off his nervous breathing and sighing as sea sickness, and constantly removing my hand away from his leg when it strayed too close to a certain pocket. Once there however, the day couldn’t have gone better. Standing on a clifftop, overlooking the ocean with the sun shining brilliantly, I turned around to discover Jesse on one knee. Jesse likes to point out that I was too overcome with emotion I forgot to say ‘yes’ at first, leaving Jesse awkwardly asking ‘It’s a yes… right?’ I happily and readily agreed.”