Please find the Ceremony ZOOM streaming link under the "Events" Tab

Where it all began! A few months of chatting eventually culminated in an impromptu meetup for a drink on South Broadway (she asked him, naturally). Never the shy one, Natalie unabashedly asked to order the heaping plate of fries to snack on. Always the scavenger, Dave scraped the dregs of cheese and chiles off the plate with a fork. If you feel this comfortable on your first date, there must be something good happening!

Dave mentioned on one of the early dates that he was not a fan of butternut squash. Most new girlfriends would make a mental note to stay away from this food. Natalie instead took this as a challenge. Her first home-cooked meal for Dave featured butternut squash as the star of the dish. Granted, she did hedge her bets and made a beer chicken recipe just in case. Willing to be adventurous on behalf of this budding relationship, Dave opted for the pasta – and lo and behold, he enjoyed it! This was particularly fortunate, as the chicken turned out to be inedible. The first of many “try this with me!” experiences for the happy couple.

Well-aware of the risk she was taking, for the first Valentine’s Day as a couple, Natalie went all out, visiting not one but TWO different fast food places to accumulate the perfect assortment of fried food – nuggets from Chik-Fil-A and Sweet n’ Sour sauce from McDonalds. She arranged this food on skewers in a vase (filled with Reeses cups for dessert) to create an incredible Nugget Bouquet. Somehow, she convinced her brother Patrick to hand deliver her creation to Dave at work as a surprise. A uniquely romantic gesture!

In an attempt to impress, Dave looked up “romantic recipes” to cook his first meal for Natalie at his apartment. Unfortunately, successful recipes typically require ingredients, of which Dave had almost none. A brief look at his Google searches from that evening: “Substitute for garlic” || “Substitute for balsamic vinegar” ||“Substitute for brown sugar” …Some call it “culinary improvisation;” others call it “the byproduct of your spice cabinet resembling a New York pizza counter.” The end result was the same – a heroic attempt and a mediocre meal. It’s the effort that counts!

A strong partnership is all about balance – and Dave and Natalie’s trip to The Big Easy revealed this strength in the couple. Debaucherous drinks on Bourbon street followed by a tour of the historic Battle of New Orleans site? Check! Random “test tube shots” at a sketchy jazz club followed by a reflective visit to the old Destrehan Plantation? Check! Late-night fried chicken in the hotel room followed by a 30th birthday dinner at the world famous Commander’s Palace? Check! Dave and Natalie both know their lives are enriched by balancing their passions and interests together, and this trip remains a highlight of their numerous travels.

COVID brought significant changes to the world, as well as to Dave and Natalie’s lives. Natalie’s sudden hospital exposure on the front lines of nursing forced the “moving-in together” timeline up a bit. Despite the apocalyptic stress all around, the experience was a blessing. The two stopped being just “boyfriend/girlfriend” and instead became “partners.” Natalie introduced throw pillows and curtains into Dave’s life (still leaving prominent space for the Abraham Lincoln bust), while Dave committed to actually cooking for flavor and not just sustenance. The pair alternate between the roles of sous chef and head chef, and nothing highlights the strength of their communication and patience like the Tikka Masala recipe. If they can cook this well together with only one single working burner and a forever-leaking-faucet, they can tackle anything!

A 28 hour road trip each way to see family in New York for the holidays? Natalie and Dave know how to prepare: one 17 hour playlist of sing-along bangers (have you ever heard them harmonize a Pink song together? It’s electric); one 7 part podcast series about the Waco shootout; several bags of car snacks and energy drinks (along with some vegetables and hummus “to be healthy” that were eventually tossed in a rest stop garbage); and endless conversations about life, love and everything in between. It went so well for Natalie that she decided she would do it again if he asked. It went so well for Dave that he decided to buy a ring.

A random hiker (who was peeing in a bush) turned photographer for a picturesque engagement in Rocky Mountain National Park. A couple celebrating a 30 year anniversary turned benefactors for a recently engaged Dave and Natalie (“This round is on us! Congrats!”). A 5 year anniversary trip turned “Rest of Our Lives” Celebration. A day of evolutions all around, and one that Dave and Natalie will remember forever! Shoutout to the random hiker for the incredible photos!

When one partner takes on a challenge that requires long periods of focus and low communication (like nursing school), the other partner will happily step in and support. When both partners take on that kind of challenge at the same time (like nursing school and a new job), it really is all about the little things. A surprise handful of Reese's tucked into a lunch box here. A surprise pre-packaged children’s charcuterie board in the fridge there. Both know what little things will help make the other smile – and not everything needs to be a grand gesture. Sometimes just knowing you are supported is all you need.

An intimate ceremony to celebrate a lifetime of love. Still unsure what the menu will be (ever the procrastinators), but you can be sure they will be laughing together through it all!