Although they were in different classes, Cassie first met Dustin in the fourth grade at Loma Vista Elementary. Dustin lived on the street across from the school and often walked home with classmates. Cassie’s friend, Brianna, also lived nearby, so some afternoons Cassie would tag along with Dustin and her classmate, Robyn, before heading over to Brianna’s house. The following year, fate brought Cassie and Dustin into the same fifth-grade classroom with Mrs. Mansir. Neither of them were particularly fond of her. Mrs. Mansir had a reputation for trying to hold back one or two students each year. Cassie was her first target, but her mom quickly put an end to that idea, ensuring Cassie moved on to sixth grade. Dustin wasn’t as lucky and was held back, sending him on a different path while Cassie advanced to middle school. Neither remembers crossing paths again in middle school. By high school, though, their friendship found new life. Cassie was thrilled to have Dustin in her French class, where she constantly joked around yet still managed to keep her “A” grade. They paired up often for projects, including a hilariously bad French remake of "Romeo and Juliet," calling it "Remy et Julie." Nearly every morning in the Foothill High School quad, Cassie would run and leap into Dustin’s arms for a hug. She secretly harbored a crush on him, though he had no idea. After graduation (Cassie a year before Dustin) the two stayed loosely connected. Sometimes Dustin showed up for bowling nights, birthday dinners, or parties when he could. For a while, he worked the graveyard shift at a donut shop in Newport Beach. Cassie, stuck in a rocky relationship, would often visit late at night to keep him company and escape her then-boyfriend’s house. Her crush never faded, though she kept it to herself.

Dustin recalls one memorable evening when a drunk woman wandered into the donut shop, took one look at Cassie, and blurted out to him, “You like her. You should tell her.” Dustin brushed it off, chalking it up to her inebriation, and the fact that Cassie was taken. Over the years, they drifted apart, reconnecting only occasionally when Cassie checked in. She invited him to her 30th birthday, where he arrived solo despite having a girlfriend at the time. Cassie took one look at him and thought, “Damn, Dustin got hot.” A couple years later, Cassie invited Dustin to join her friends at Trader Sam’s, the tiki bar at Disneyland. Over drinks, the topic of the brand-new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge came up. Dustin, a lifelong Star Wars fan, admitted he hadn’t seen it yet. Cassie’s friends signed him into Disneyland, and soon the group was sipping cocktails at Oga’s Cantina, flying the Millennium Falcon, and braving Rise of the Resistance together. The night was full of laughter, mild flirtation, and an undeniable spark. Weeks later, after a few too many drinks, Cassie finally confessed that she had always had a crush on him. To her delight, Dustin admitted he’d felt the same. Roughly six months later, Cassie and Dustin were officially dating. Their first date was simple and sweet: pizza by the Dana Point wharf, followed by sitting on the beach together watching the glowing bioluminescent waves. From there, everything fell into place. Since then, Cassie and Dustin have built countless memories together, from two unforgettable trips through the rolling hills of Scotland to sun-soaked cruises to Mexico. Whether traveling abroad, enjoying simple nights at home, or seeking new adventures, their relationship has been filled with joy, laughter, and love.

On July 30, 2025, after a nostalgic date night back at Trader Sam’s, where their story had truly begun, Dustin proposed. With the help of friends, he filled their apartment with candles and rose petals, and after a heartfelt speech, dropped to one knee in the center of their living room. Now, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate our engagement and upcoming wedding with the people we love most.