We feel so lucky to have met the way we did. Danny’s family rented a dock from the neighbors of Grandma Karen and Grandpa Steve Dille. For years, Danny and his family walked past the Dilles’ lawn, never knowing that one day their granddaughter would join their family. Rachel and Danny were set up by Karen, Steve, and their neighbor, Jen Novak, on a blind date. The plan was to go out on the Sutter pontoon from Jen’s dock. Danny arrived early to set everything up. Danny was described as shy, kind, and caring, and someone who would be perfect for Rachel. When Rachel walked up to the boat, Danny’s immediate reaction was, “Oh gosh, she is so beautiful and way out of my league.” We went for a boat cruise, and the conversation flowed naturally. We had so much in common and had grown up living very similar lives. Our love for the lake carried the conversation even further. We grew up loving the same lake, restaurants, and boating. Rachel quickly found out that Danny is definitely not quiet, but he is kind and exactly the person she had been looking for. After several dates, we were excited to meet each other’s families. We both fell in love with each other’s siblings and parents, which grew the relationship even further. The first hurdle Rachel had to conquer was skiing. Everyone, from Danny’s family to friends, always asked, “Do you ski?” Rachel had skied before, but she was nervous, especially since Danny is such an avid skier. What Danny quickly realized was that Rachel’s love for him won out. She was determined not only to relearn skiing, but to excel at it. For the first two years, weekends were spent at Welch Village, always finishing the day at their favorite restaurant, Kings Bar and Grille. This became a beloved tradition leading up to their magical day. On January 11, 2025, Danny had a special weekend planned. They were to spend the weekend at Welch Village, staying at a historic hotel in Red Wing, Minnesota. January 11th was a magical day. We arrived at the ski hill early for a fun start to the weekend. Little did Rachel know that Danny’s large ski coat pockets were filled with a fun surprise. With Danny’s brother and sister-in-law hiding in the bushes, Danny took Rachel down “Rachel’s Run” for a photo in front of the sign. Danny had Rachel take her skis off, got down on one knee, and the rest is why you are reading this today. We are so excited to celebrate our love with all our family and friends, and we cannot wait to see you all on our special day.