We're getting married!

Derek and Nadia met in 8th grade, when Derek messaged Nadia on instagram asking for her phone number. They shared a short, but awkward FaceTime call and never talked again. Years later, they were in the same study hall class senior year and sat at the same table. At first, Derek wouldn’t talk to Nadia (he actually ignored her several times when she tried to talk to him!) but eventually they began talking and formed a great friendship. What started out as a friendship, quickly grew into something more when they realized just how compatible they were. On August 4, 2019, Derek took Nadia to the State Fair and Rick’s Boatyard, where he asked her to be his girlfriend.

Derek knows Nadia very well, that he knew she didn’t want to know when or how he was going to proposal. Derek recreated the date when he asked Nadia to be his girlfriend and took her to the State Fair and Rick’s Boatyard. On August 4th, 2024, Derek took Nadia to the gazebo by the water at Rick’s Boatyard and asked her to marry him. It was a complete surprise to Nadia, which is exactly how she wanted it!