We want to be as honest with you all as we can be. We wanted everyone to be there with us. Grandparents and friends from every facet of our lives celebrating loudly and with so much bad dancing. Unfortunately, it just wasn't realistic to have everyone in one place. Many people in our lives have been hurt by COVID while many others have compromised immunity that could lead to a more violent case. The last thing we want is our wedding to be written about in news articles as a "super spreader event." We do not want anyone to feel hurt by our decisions to keep the wedding intimate (fewer than 30 people). We know that it is hard to see the last Zilz and the last Boyer be wed and not be in attendance but both Daniel and I promise that as soon as it's safe, we're going to have get togethers with everyone we couldn't invite. I want to express my gratitude to everyone on Daniel's side of the family for the amazing man they have raised and seen grow through hardships. I want all of you to know that I am so glad to have such a big family coming into mine. From all the little cousins to his grandparents who fill every room with love, thank you. I hope I can provide the same love and support to him as all of you have. – Erika It didn't take long for me to realize Erika's love has been nourished by generations of friends and family. Her familial stubbornness keeps me in check, and she's got a heart of gold when I'm struggling through stressful situations. Her creativity is inspiring and has patience with my antics. She wouldn't have been this great if y'all hadn't intervened, so thank you for the love shown and life shared. – Daniel

Erika & Daniel decided to try online dating. Erika wasn't all that hopeful that she would find anything more than a laugh in the online dating world. Neither was Daniel and he was even more hesitant because of his one year old son. Daniel noticed Erika's cat looked lame compared to Castor, and decided to tell her about it to pique her interest and inform her of Castor's greatness. Erika was eager to respond to his first message about how his cat because of course, Naruto was and remains so much cooler. For two weeks, they texted & talked on the phone numerous times. Erika hated calling, but for every day those two weeks, they talked on the phone for hours. They met for lunch & went to the Renaissance Festival. After 8 hours together, they were both left wanting a second date. Erika & Daniel quickly became inseparable.

COVID-19 has taken many hopes & dreams from many people but that didn't stop Daniel from beginning the process to have Erika's ring made. Erika pestered Daniel about updates on the ring. She wanted any & all details which were far & few between. Until she asked if he had the ring in mid-May, & Daniel couldn't lie to her face. Erika had dreams of big fancy rings, diamonds visible from the top of the Eiffel Tower they were so shiny. But in reality, all she wanted was something that represented her Daniel, the love she'd been so lucky & blessed to find. He opened the box for her to take one look, a brief glimpse at what lay inside. For the next few days, she kept asking to take a look at it. It wasn't like she had much else to focus on anyway. Daniel was also eager to see the ring on Erika's finger. So he let her see it. Then wear it. Then he let her take it home if she promised to work on writing her book. Then it was a surprise to his family—will anyone notice the ring on Erika's finger if they don't mention anything? Low & behold, half of the family didn't. In order to bring everyone in on the green & white gold secret on Erika's finger, Daniel knelt on one knee in front his parents, brother, sister-in-law, their kids & Daniel's own son, & he asked Erika to be his wife. She said duh.