We're getting married

Danielle and Matt met the way most people do in the 2020s.... on a dating app. In August 2023, Danielle came across a Hinge profile that seemed just okay enough for her to start a chat. Matt's first question for Danielle was about her photo from the Tony Awards, so naturally she was smitten. They planned their first date, and an hour before the date, Matt cancelled because of work. He was very prompt to reschedule, so Danielle gave him the benefit of the doubt. When they finally went on their first date on September 8, 2023 at Buttermilk & Bourbon in Boston, they talked until the restaurant closed and were having such a good time they went to another bar to keep talking. At the end of the date, as they were walking home and kept walking in the same direction, Matt said "I'm not trying to walk you home, I just live this way" and they realized they live only a few blocks away from each other. They ended the night agreeing that they should go on another date. For the second date, Matt proposed a few options: a bar, live music, or a black tie gala. Danielle decided she might as well take the opportunity to wear the prettiest dress she owned, so to the black tie gala they went. They danced the night away and had a wonderful time. It was only a few months before they said I love you, and a few more when they realized they were each other's person. What can we say? When you know, you know.

Many months before an engagement was even discussed, Matt's dad Gary offered Matt and Danielle a photo shoot he won in a synagogue auction. They scheduled the photo shoot for September 29, 2024. Unbeknownst to Danielle, when they started ring shopping that summer Matt decided to reverse engineer the photo shoot into an engagement. He chose Borderland Park for the shoot and told Danielle he scheduled a tour of the mansion in the park as a "rain plan". Danielle picked out the perfect outfits for them to wear and finally the day arrived. Matt said even though it wasn't raining, they would still do the mansion tour and could take the photos outside afterward. A park ranger led them through a private tour of this beautiful mansion, ending in the library featured in several movies including Knives Out. Danielle loves books, and as she was exploring the library, Matt began rummaging in his bag. Danielle turned around to find Matt holding a book in his hand and suddenly realized what was happening. As he walked toward her to hand her the book, she was in a state of shock. The book was a picture book of their relationship. Though Matt had spent many hours making the book, Danielle flipped through at lightning speed as her brain couldn't process the words in anticipation of what she knew must be at the end. When she got to the final page, it said "Danielle, will you marry me?" Matt got down on one knee holding a ring box shaped like a book, and when he asked, she didn't say yes... she said "Of course!" The proceeded to take their engagement photos immediately after getting engaged! But wait, there's more! After Danielle's dad proposed to her mom, her mom got him an engagement ring so they would both have rings to wear. For many years, Danielle saw the ring her mom got for her dad and dreamed of someday getting her partner his own engagement ring. Though they picked out the ring together, after Matt's wonderful surprise proposal, Danielle naturally had to come up with an outstanding proposal of her own. Matt has always loved when Danielle sings, so she thought there could be no better proposal than to serenade him. One day in November 2024, Matt and Danielle got a text from Danielle's friend Jordan inviting them to see her perform at an open mic night at The Bebop, a bar near their apartment that Matt loves. Unbeknownst to him, Danielle had been plotting with Jordan for weeks. They arrived at the open mic night on November 21, 2024 and shared some food and drink while waiting for Jordan's turn on stage. When they finally called her name, Jordan got up on stage with her guitar, began strumming, and said into the mic "I can't perform this song alone... Danielle, will you come help me?" Danielle got on stage and sang Run Away With Me from the musical The Mad Ones with Jordan playing along and their friend Andrew in the crowd recording a video. This was a special song for them because it was the song that was playing when Danielle realized she was in love with Matt. At the end of the song, she called him up to the stage and asked him to marry her.