We're getting married!

Our story began in 2016, on the first day of freshman year at UC San Diego. Ella had just moved across the country from Maryland, and was settling into her dorm room on the second floor of Asia Hall. Daniel was on the floor below, fresh from a gap year. Both feeling the pull to connect, Ella ventured downstairs where she found Daniel at a picnic table outside their residence hall. Something just clicked in that moment, we were immediately drawn to each other. That first evening, we found ourselves part of a group of students who would become lifelong friends. All together, we made our way to the Torrey Pines Gliderport to watch the sunset over the Pacific, beginning what would become our treasured tradition. Our friendship deepened through fall quarter, and by spring we knew we had found something special. Through four beautiful years of college, we supported each others dreams - Daniel pursuing History and Political Science, while Ella focused on Cognitive Science and Math. In each other, we found our perfect compliment. Daniel's thoughtful moral compass and emotional intelligence grounding Ella's boundless drive and determination, while Ella's warmth and gift for bringing people together beautifully balances Daniel's reflective nature. Together we explored the West Coast, caught countless sunsets at Gliderport, and created memories from the beaches of La Jolla to weekend adventures in Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and beyond. Our senior year brought an extraordinary chapter when we decided to spend a quarter living together in a 300-square-foot studio in Florence, Italy. The experience only brought us closer and confirmed how perfectly we worked as a team, even in the smallest of spaces. After graduating in 2020, we moved in with Daniel's family, where Ella was warmly welcomed and found a second home. When Daniel pursued his master's degree at the University of San Diego, we returned to the city where our story began, signing our first lease together in Pacific Beach and adopting two sweet kitties, Kiwi and Miles. We discovered the joy of building a life together - hosting friends, exploring our new neighborhood, and creating traditions that would carry us forward. When career opportunities called us to Los Angeles, we embraced the adventure together, settling in Eagle Rock while continuing to nurture the love and partnership that had carried us through every chapter. Last July, during a family trip to Malaysia, a destination close to the Mellor family's heart, Daniel had something special planned. On a remote island at sunset on July 7, 2024, Daniel asked Ella to marry him. In that perfect moment, surrounded by the natural beauty that had always brought us peace, everything felt exactly right. As we prepare to begin this new chapter as husband and wife, we're filled with gratitude for the family and friends who have supported our love story. To our parents, who nurtured our dreams and welcomed us into each other's families with open arms. To our siblings, who became best friends to us both. And to all of you, our cherished friends, who have witnessed and celebrated our journey. Sharing this moment with you is the greatest gift of all, and we couldn't be more excited for everything that lies ahead.