How We Met We met on Bumble. Dan kicked things off with a perfectly timed Office meme, which felt like a solid enough foundation to agree to a first date. That date took place over dinner and drinks in West Chester, even though neither of us was particularly excited to go. At that point, we were both a little burned out on online dating, but we agreed to keep the commitment anyway. Ashley showed up dressed to impress. Dan showed up with a mop of hair and appeared far more interested in his food than the date, at least at first. Somewhere between the appetizers and conversation, Dan realized the date was actually going really well and had a quiet internal moment of panic that he definitely should have done his hair. The night went so well that we extended it for more drinks nearby. When Dan walked Ashley to her car, he gave her a quick, unexpected peck on the lips and then immediately ran away because it was cold. It was confusing, hilarious, and somehow very on brand. At the time, Ashley had a joking Google Docs “application to date me” linked on her Bumble profile. Dan remains the only person she actually went on a date with who flat-out refused to fill it out. From Dan’s perspective, this was less about rebellion and more about knowing he wanted to figure things out the normal way. Shortly after, Dan shared that he was quitting his corporate job to go on the road and pursue a career in professional disc golf, a phrase that was not yet part of Ashley’s vocabulary. When Dan left for tour about a month into dating, things quickly shifted from “this is fun” to “this is something real.” Wanting to understand and support this new world Dan was stepping into, Ashley joined disc golf leagues and started learning the sport making tons of friends along the way! She visited Dan across multiple states while he toured, making for a exciting and unconventional start to a new relationship. Saying “I Love You” About a year into dating, Ashley and Dan were standing at the kitchen counter of Ashley’s apartment, champagne in hand, sharing toasts to celebrate their one year anniversary. Ashley went first. Right before Dan had planned to say it himself, she said, “I love you.” As they both opened their arms to embrace, they knocked over the bottle of champagne, which fell onto its side and began spinning on the counter like a game of spin-the-bottle, spraying champagne all over the apartment. Perfect chaos. The Proposal Dan proposed on Oak Island Beach in North Carolina during the annual Brooks family vacation. Although Ashley and Dan had picked out the ring together in advance, making it clear that an engagement was coming at some point, Ashley had no idea it would happen on the beach with family nearby. Dan had quietly enlisted help from his sister, sister-in-law, and cousin, who helped turn an ordinary morning bike ride into a plan. The idea was simple. Ride down to a more remote part of the beach, walk toward the water, and propose. Right before Dan was ready to pop the question, Ashley found herself running for her life from a bee that chased her all around the beach for what felt like minutes but was probably closer to thirty or forty seconds. Once the bee situation was finally resolved, Dan, now nervous, forgot everything he had planned to say. As Ashley turned back from the water, she was completely surprised to see Dan smiling on one knee. Words unnecessary. We celebrated with hugs, laughter, and lots of smiles among the five of us before heading back to the beach house to share the news. The rest of the day was spent calling family and friends, a fun trivia night in town and soaking in the joy of our moment. We’re so excited to welcome you to share in this joy with us on September 19th, 2026. :)