let's get married!

Our mutual friends (thanks, Mac & Elise!) set us up after Dana saw Kevin playing basketball at a Pepperdine pep rally. Kevin texted Dana asking if she wanted to get "lunch or donuts." Although Dana was confused by these choices, she agreed to go! Our date ended up being on a hot Malibu day so we opted to get frozen yogurt instead. Kevin picked Dana up at her apartment in Malibu, when she got in his car she complemented his Ford Escape—Kevin was hooked from that moment on! We talked easily for a long time then said our goodbyes. Dana went home and talked to her roomate (now bridesmaid, Summer!) about the date and how Kevin was such a nice guy, but she wasn't sure if he wanted to go out again. It took him 8 days to text about a second date, but the rest is history!

Dana was driving to Davenport to visit Kevin one Friday night and Kevin suggested that we go to Dubuque on Saturday to visit the arboretum. Dana thought this was a strange suggestion and complained that she didn't want to drive that far. Kevin persisted that we should check it out and Dana started to suspect Kevin might be wanting to propose there so she agreed to the drive. Halfway to Dubuque, Kevin abruptly turned off the highway towards Camp Shalom, Dana's old summer camp. The gate was unlocked, and Kevin led us to a overlook of the Maquoketa River, where he had set up a blanket, flowers, and boxes filled with important memories and a sweet letter he had written to Dana a few years before. Kevin got down on one knee and Dana said yes, of course! Kevin told Dana he planned to go to dinner and then eat cake at her parents' house. To Dana's surprise, when we got to the restaurant there were friends and family members waiting with a surprise celebration! It will forever be a fun and special memory!