What started as a friendship soon blossomed into a romance as Frausto would encourage Rodriguez to sing in the online chat, something she was nervous about. Rodriguez frequented the app, talking to online friends and occasionally singing along to songs, when Frausto came across her broadcast one day. Their relationship began two years ago on a live-streaming app called Periscope. Like many cross-border couples, Elizabeth Rodriguez of Maple Ridge, B.C., and Daniel Frausto of San Diego, met online. They have also had many people from King and Snohomish counties apply for marriage licenses since those counties have not reopened their licensing offices. While the number of marriage licenses issued by the auditor’s office at the beginning of the summer was down from previous years, Hawthorn said the number of licenses issued in August was up four percent from last year.

Records and licensing supervisor for the auditor’s office Stacy Hawthorn said although the auditor’s office doesn’t track citizenship of marriage license applicants, they have had many people with Canadian addresses contacting the office about marriage licenses. Since the park is in Whatcom County, most couples apply for their marriage license with the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office. He strongly recommends couples have a small wedding in the park and plan for a bigger celebration after the pandemic is over and border reopens. He said large stakes have caused problems with the underground irrigation lines and the glitter and confetti cause a big mess for the rangers to clean up. While he is happy there are weddings in the park, Blank said he hopes people will stick to the park guidelines: 10 wedding guests, groups of five spaced six feet apart, 10 foot by 10 foot canopies that do not require large stakes in the ground and no balloons with glitter or confetti. Blank said the majority of weddings he’s seen at the park are following proper social distancing rules. Park ranger Rick Blank estimated that there have been about 20 weddings per week at the park this summer. Some Saturdays and Sundays see five weddings a day, sometimes more.

It’s unclear how many cross-border couples have been married at the park this summer. Some proposed at the park, and all were married there. side of Peace Arch Park, so they began meeting there. Then they heard from friends, family members and social media groups, for couples separated by the pandemic, that Canadians were allowed into the U.S. Those living close enough to the border began meeting at 0 Avenue, across a ditch from their loved one. Others began making plans during the pandemic. Some had plans to wed before the pandemic that were ruined. Others, soon after meeting in person, began talking about marriage. Many of them, as years passed, closed that distance down to less than an hour travel time and a border crossing. Each started their relationship hundreds of miles apart from each other.

They all met online, through dating apps, live-streaming platforms, chat rooms and online forums.

The Northern Light spoke with several couples that married at the park, and they all shared similar stories. But since the United States and Canada border closed on March 21, Peace Arch Park has become a popular wedding destination for cross-border couples from all over looking for a way to reunite. Some may have thought this year’s wedding season was canceled too, especially for cross-border couples. The coronavirus pandemic has canceled events large and small this summer, from the Tokyo Olympics to family reunions.

Peace arch park