Dave and Cassandra met on Hinge in October 2021. David made a great impression, proposing the Michelin-reviewed Chloe for their first dinner. Over cocktails and mocktails, they realized their social spheres had overlapped for some time but somehow their paths never crossed. In a twist worthy of a rom-com, it turned out Cassandra’s real estate agent in 2008 was one of David’s exes! They shared a great laugh about that and appreciated that fate finally brought them together. Over the next few months, traveling together revealed a shared love for outdoor showers, soaking tubs, and waterside views, not just as luxuries but as small moments that connected them to each other. That spring, Cassandra met David’s daughter, Jade, and they bonded over show tunes and anime. Dave continued to test the compatibility waters and introduced Cassandra to one of his favorite hobbies: video games. While she failed hilariously at Call of Duty, she did a bit better at It Takes Two, a co-op game about navigating life’s twists together. With the wise words of Dr. Hakim guiding them—“You must learn to collaborate, or the relationship will fail!”—Cassandra proved herself more than game for this shared journey. Dave gave up his 5-minute walk to work and moved into Cassandra’s townhouse after Thanksgiving of 2022. Getting to know each other’s families took a priority and Cassandra will always be grateful they were able to make several trips to Myrtle Beach to support David’s mother, Joyce before she lost her battle with cancer in July 2023. Dave got the opportunity to be vetted by—I mean meet!—both the Spratt and Zabel clans at several family weddings (he passed all the tests). In January 2024, they traveled to Dubai to see Jade perform in her first school musical. When Cassandra came down with Covid, David had to scrap his original Istanbul balcony proposal and carried the ring with him for the duration of the trip, waiting for a new “right moment” to materialize. On their last day, standing on their balcony overlooking the glittering Dubai Marina, David knelt down. It took a few long seconds for Cassandra to understand what was happening. It was certainly a surprise, but she was ready to say yes to continuing their lifelong adventure together. We are excited to have our closest friends and family around us for our Hot Springs wedding adventure in July 2025!