Our Love Story
Jen Sawrenko and Matt Gellis
August 17, 2008
Photos by Synchronicity Photography
How we met
Our meeting was somewhat unconventional. Matt and I met at a gay bar in Vancouver’s West End where they have a ‘straight’ night on Fridays. After a number of furtive glances across the room, he introduced himself to me at the end of a night saying “I have to leave, but I wanted you to know that you are the prettiest girl in here.” I said thanks and gave him my phone number.
A few weeks later we met at a Herbalizer concert that we happened to have tickets for, discovered that we played ultimate Frisbee in the same league, and had several friends in common. It was amazing that we hadn’t met earlier.
On our first date we went mountain biking, ate sushi, took a walk around the Stanley Park seawall (where we had our first kiss), and drank milkshakes at Hamburger Mary’s - places and pastimes that continue to be some of our favorites.
OUR ENGAGEMENT
Matt and I regularly go on ‘date nights,’ and one day in early September Matt asked me out on a date. On one of those autumn evenings that still feel like summer, we set off on our cruiser bikes down to the beach for dinner at a very nice restaurant in Stanley Park. After dinner we rode through the park, arriving back at the bench where we had our very first kiss. We sat on the bench for awhile admiring the sunset over the water and then before I knew it, Matt was down on one knee asking me to marry him.
After I said yes, we got back on our bikes for what I thought was the ride home but Matt had arranged for us to spend the night at a beautiful hotel overlooking the water. The next morning on our way home, my bike basket was filled with roses and we stopped for breakfast at our favorite place, Hamburger Mary’s.
MOST MEMORABLE DETAILS
When planning on a place to have our wedding, we both immediately thought of Matt’s parents’ home in St. Albans. Matt has so many memories of summers at the lake with his family; it’s probably his favorite place in the world. The first time I visited St. Albans I knew instantly why he loved it so much; it’s a beautiful place where sunsets last for hours and thunderstorms roll across the lake in a matter of minutes and a person can easily lose track of time swinging in a hammock with a good book.
Photo by Synchronicity Photography
