Kassatex Couples 2021

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and love is in the air! We interviewed two of our favorite Kassatex couples on their romances and Valentine’s plans. From newlyweds, to seasoned vets with kids, these couples know how to celebrate.

Charissa Thompson and Kyle Thousand

• Kassatex: How did you and your husband meet:
• CT: We met on a plane. Sat next to each other and were engaged 3 months later. I remember telling my friend when I left the airport, I just met my husband. It was very serendipitous and annoying but in a cute rom-com way, I’m now that person! Ha

• Kassatex: First Valentine’s with your husband was:
• CT: This is our first Valentine’s Day married, last Valentine’s we just went to a dinner but looking forward to spending this one together newly married.

• Kassatex: How do you plan on celebrating this covid-centric year?
• CT: I will make dinner and surprise him with a few sweet gestures! And things, wink wink.

• Kassatex: Valentine’s Playlist: Top three songs on repeat in your home to get the mood on?
• CT: Let’s Get It On, Marvin Gaye. Kidding! Maybe not. Ha. I love Calum Scott, The Reason, that’s our wedding song and any Luke Combs country. I’m trying to convert Kyle to liking country. I think it’s working!

• Kassatex: At home dining: What’s on the menu for this Valentine’s?
• CT: Gluten Free Pasta and Chicken Parmesan!

• Kassatex: Favorite Valentine’s candy or sweet treat:
• CT: He loves brownies!

Sasha and Oliver Benz

• Kassatex: How did you and your husband meet:
• SB: This is a long very romantic story – but in short, Oliver and I met before we knew we met.

  One Halloween party, we were both dressed heavily in costumes, I was dressed as a bride from hell and him as Zorro – and we started chatting when another elder couple came up to us and asked if we were “together” – in a friendly drunken banter I replied, of course, we were actually married with two kids, and went on a rant explaining the fake kids names and our lives together. And then the conversation faded out and that was that.

  Fast forward, about two years, a mutual friend connected us when out one night, and we instantly connected. We started hooking up and probably about a year into dating, we had a silly fight and in Oliver’s usual witty banter, he said – never mind, I have already met the girl of my dreams at Halloween. She was my bride to be.

  I looked at him in shock and said, “Wait, you were my Zorro…” and the rest was history.

• Kassatex: First Valentine’s with your husband was:
• SB: I wish I was able to remember this, we met over 16 years ago, so its a vague memory.

  Oliver and I have a different way of being romantic, we are both not about being public, or gooey and mushy, we enjoy personal time together, private moments and honestly laughing and being together are some of our best moments.

  When we were in the early days of dating we liked to travel a lot, so spent a lot of time in Europe, Thailand, and Bali on our special moments together.

• Kassatex: How do you plan on celebrating this year?
• SB: This year we plan to be back in Aspen by Valentine’s Day, but with three little kids we value sleep these days with the little ones – so the plan is an early evening out followed by a sleep in the next morning. That means anything past 7 AM!

• Kassatex: Favorite Valentine’s tradition with the kids:
• SB: Making cards for everyone in the house – talking about love, romance, and cutting out pink hearts to hang around the house.

• Kassatex: Valentine’s Playlist: Top three songs on repeat in your home to get the mood on?
• SB: We are a little obsessed with the Madusa remix of John Legend’s Wild, a bit of love mixed in with party vibes (very much indicative of our family vibe.) Also Lovers in the Air remix is an old favorite, as well as Rhythm Romance by Oli Benz, always a good hit in our house.

• Kassatex: At home dining: What’s on the menu for this Valentine’s?
• SB: I love entertaining, but I am not the best cook in the kitchen haha – so the plan is to eat out! But when we eat out its mainly plant-based, and simple – tied with some good wine and tequila.

• Kassatex: Favorite Valentine’s candy or sweet treat:
• SB: Dark sea salt chocolate in bed with a movie.