We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy amidst this crazy endemic. In such an unprecedented time, planning a wedding has been interesting to say the least. We plan to enforce vaccines for all guests and vendors at our wedding so that we can be worry-free without masks in our outdoor venue. Please help us and do your part by getting vaccinated. We further ask that if you happen to catch covid in the 10 days prior, you follow CDC guidelines for quarantining and masking (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html). We'll do our best to keep you updated on any changes to the plan.

Well we didn't exactly meet at band camp, but we definitely bonded together through many adventures in the Husky Marching Band. We actually met through mutual friends only to later find out we were both in the band and the greek system together. We quickly became friends and spent more and more time with each other. We started off as study buddies even though we didn't share any classes together, to sprint triathlon partners even though neither of us were strong swimmers, to finally asking Amanda out. As you'd expect from any good love story, she said "no" so we stayed friends. Undeterred, I knew she was a special one so I let my unmatched charm continue to work its magic. This next part is highly contested on who asked who, but I still argue that I asked her out on an ice cream date which marked our first date.

November 2020; we’ve now been through the thick of the lockdown. The novelty of WFH soon wore off and we started replacing it with lots of Netflix, spending sprees, and new hobbies. Our wanderlust wanted more. To spice things up, Daniel suggested that we do weekly date nights. We had a "The Bachelor" themed date, a Hawaiian luau, a laid back pizza party, and finally a tapas and salsa night. With only one week left in the year, Daniel mentioned it would have to be the best one yet! On date night, Daniel took the day off to prepare, confining me to the office as he set the stage for our date. At the end of my work day he brought me a dress and accessories to get dolled up. Once I was ready, he led me to the living room, dressed to the nines, explaining that since we can’t travel, he had prepared an around the world food and wine tasting for the evening. Each room represented a different country with a corresponding playlist, food, and wine. We started out in Spain with a charcuterie board, moved to Mexico for short rib tacos, then jumped over to Morocco for a Moroccan salad. Next we “flew” to Japan for karaage at our homemade standing bar (our standing desk). We then voyaged to Italy to enjoy individual lasagnas before our final destination of France. Performing to "Be Our Guest", Daniel made us delicious strawberry crepes with whipped cream. Finally, Daniel led me back “home” to our bedroom which was full of lit candles and rose petals. He took a pause and then gave a heartfelt speech that professed his love and adoration for me before he got down on a knee and popped the question. I was so surprised I said, “NOOOO!??” in disbelief. Thank goodness Daniel knows me so well because he calmly waited for me to process things allowing me to add an, “of course!” We popped champagne and spent the rest of the evening celebrating virtually with close friends and family.