B.C. love story blossoms with fish funeral and a series of surveys

Curiosity, efficiency and technology came together to create a love story like no other in East Vancouver.

VANCOUVER — If Graham McCarthy was asked to answer a multiple-choice question about the best beginning for a love story, he likely wouldn’t have picked “officiate a fish funeral.”

Yet, that’s what the pastor was doing when he met a friend of a friend for the first time named Katrina Froese.

“It was fun that he showed up and he did the whole eulogy,” Katrina recalls with a laugh. “And I’m like, alright I can get behind this.”

So, when he eventually asked her out, Katrina said yes. But then Graham sent her a survey about her first-day preferences.

“I thought it was a joke. I didn’t think he was serious,” Katrina smiles. “But then he really wanted me to answer the questions. So, I was like, OK, I guess this is real.”

The mostly multiple-choice questions ranged from what kind of food she wanted to eat, to her preference level of “fancy-shmanciness” ranging from “basically pyjamas” to “a dress, suit and tie.”

“Purely efficiency,” Graham explains. “I had a lot of questions. I didn’t want to send a lot of texts.”

Graham also hoped his questionnaire would be funny and charming. And after they went to dinner and a movie (and he presented her with a post-date survey), Katrina agreed it was.

And then she posted it on her social media. “After a couple hours, it blew up,” Katrina says.

While the post earned more than 10 million views, the couple learned they were compatible in countless ways. And after dating for a few years, Graham asked Katrina to stop in the middle of a hike to look at her phone and fill out another form.

“Basically, a survey of how he’s been doing in our relationship,” Katrina says.

After answering all the questions positively, Katrina read the final one: Will you marry me?

A video of the proposal shows she repeatedly answered, yes. A few months later, they both declared, ‘I do.’

“It was awesome,” Katrina says of the ceremony. “Super sweet!”

“It was incredible,” Graham smiles. “The best wedding I’ve ever been to!”

Although Graham hasn’t sent any other surveys since, both he and Katrina are committed to always consider each other’s preferences moving forward.

“Don’t seek your needs. Seek the other person’s needs,” Graham smiles. “And if you both do that, everybody’s needs will be met.”