Dana & Cristian
Our Story
How We Met
In the Heights
Our story begins on a hot summer day in Washington Heights, August 6th, 2019 to be exact. She was a dental student, he was afraid of dentists. Our first conversation, we discussed squishy faced dogs. He told her that his favorite breed is an English Bulldog, and to prove it, he wore his patterned English Bulldog shirt (see above) to the pre-orientation salsa outing that first week of orientation. She told him that her sister had a young English Bulldog, a stout little menace named McLovin… an odd name for a dog. We danced that night, he was impressed with her rhythm, she was impressed by his moves. He developed a crush on her but kept it to himself. We decided to be friends, dancing partners, and study buddies.
The Proposal
Reeve's Reed Arboretum
Cristian proposed to Dana on Christmas Day, 2023. He lost the element of surprise almost immediately, when he asked Dana if she wanted to go on an early morning stroll through the couple's favorite arboretum, Reeve's Read in Summit, New Jersey. Cristian did not plan on proposing on Christmas Day, but he already had the ring and couldn't wait a day longer to start the rest of his life with Dana. The couple walked hand-in-hand down the quiet trodden path, the winter sun gleaming, he spotted a large willow tree in the center of the arboretum that felt right. He then got down on one knee and asked the famous question. She said yes. The moment was a blur. They celebrated afterward at the Knicks game, watching their hometown team take down Yannis and the Bucks, a Christmas miracle.
Our First Kiss
The Bowery Electric
I would love to tell you that our first kiss was at some landmark location in New York City, in a quiet nook in Central Park, or on a quaint street in the West Village during sunset perhaps, but that would be a bold-faced lie. We shared our first kiss in the sweaty basement of the Bowery Electric on the Lower East Side. One may even say we found love in a hopeless place. Those who know, know.
