We're getting married!

The year is 2023, and it’s springtime in the Nation’s capital. The cherry blossoms are budding, tourists are flocking to the monuments, and George Santos (R-NY) is being investigated for paying for puppies with fraudulent checks. But Rep. Santos wasn’t the only New Yorker in DC feeling the blues that year. Daniela decided at the beginning of the school year that it would be her last in DC. She missed quality Italian food, playing Left Right Center with her family, and selling her organs to pay for rent. Yet as the year dragged on, she began to regret her decision. She built a wonderful community in DC, and had grown accustomed to zipping around in her Toyota Corolla that she had just learned how to drive earlier that year. With congestion pricing on the horizon, the Big Apple looked a little less appetizing. So, Daniela asked her principal if she could stay for another year, who eagerly obliged. Two weeks later, Daniela met Zachary. Zachary had lived in DC for the last five years as an environmental lawyer working for one of the Nation’s oldest law firms. Daniela found this impressive and interesting when they first met, but between us, it’s like, really boring. It’s nothing like How I Met Your Mother. Or Suits. None of Zachary’s co-workers are hot. (Sorry, coworkers). Daniela and Zachary met on Bumble. Zachary was attracted to Daniela’s profile because she was well traveled, read Vonnegut, and was a teacher like his mom and sister. Daniela liked Zachary because he had a picture of himself at Planet Word (A DC-insider classic), made Scrubs references, and was honestly listed as 5'8". Fast forward two weeks due to scheduling conflicts (and serious hesitation on Daniela’s part due to Zachary’s green Android texts), they met up for dinner and drinks at Bar Chinois. Zachary knew Daniela was special immediately. He had told her earlier that he was soon traveling to South Africa with his sister, and Daniela, who studied abroad in Cape Town, came to the first date with a hand-drawn map of the city with notes of her favorite restaurants, bars, and safari animal facts. Zachary was smitten by the thoughtful gesture and impressive zoology skills. (And yes, we still have that beer-stained map!) Daniela also felt sparks early. After admitting that she loved magic, Zachary, who had learned in college not to perform magic tricks for women as it had the opposite of its intended effect, eagerly revealed a deck of cards and began to show off what he learned at magic camp when he was nine. Cupid’s arrows had struck, and the rest as they say, is history. The magic has grown since that first date. Daniela and Zachary traveled the world together. They swam with sharks in the Galapagos Islands, donned kimonos in the rolling hills of Japan, and watched what Daniela thinks was a football game in Cleveland, Ohio by Zachary's beloved Browns. They’ve bonded over their love of trying new foods, making up funny bits, and playing board games (which has also tested their relationship). Exactly 800 days after their first date, and to Daniela’s complete surprise, Zachary proposed to Daniela at the Inn at Little Washington – an exceptional restaurant they had always dreamed of going to. It was the most perfect moment of their lives: Zachary opening the ring box the wrong way; Daniela excitedly forgetting to say "yes” in response to Zachary’s proposal... Nevertheless, a question was asked, an answer was given, and now a wedding is in order. The only thing left to do now is to celebrate with our most beloved family and friends! Thank you for taking the time to read our story – we're beyond excited to share this incredible milestone with all of you and can't wait to celebrate together!