we're getting married!

Our story didn’t begin in a classroom, at a bar, or even on a dating app. It started in the summer of 2015, in a way that was uniquely ours. We met on an old livestreaming website called YouNow. Daniele was having a sleepover with her best friend Kara (now her Maid of Honor), and on a whim, they decided to join a random stream. That’s where our paths first crossed. Strange how something so small – just a brief moment online – would change everything. Within days, our connection continued to grow. What started as a casual conversation online became sleepless nights on the phone, even though we were over 1,000 miles apart, and hadn't yet met in person. Still, it felt effortless – safe, familiar, like we had known each other forever, and it didn’t take long before the first “I love you” slipped. It was young love – real, but ahead of its time. Life had a lot in store for both of us, and we ultimately decided to stay friends. Over the years, that friendship would grow into something we had only dreamed of. Though there were times we drifted apart, and life had its own lessons to teach us, we were there for each other through different chapters and life's tribulations. We watched each other grow, supported from afar, and always held space for one another – even when we didn't realize how much it meant. Now, a decade after that first online conversation, and after five incredible years together in Illinois, we’re finally stepping into our next chapter – and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate it with you. Thank you for being part of our journey. We can’t wait to see you in May 2026!