We're so excited to Celebrate (at the bay) with you!

It was a Tuesday after work, Megan had just started working in DC but was still commuting from Baltimore, Dan had been working in DC since graduating and was about to move across the city. Luckily, their offices were close to each other, and many happy hours were in the area. Dan selected one he had never been to before, a seafood restaurant- not knowing that Megan is quite a picky eater. When Megan indicated that she wasn't interested in any of the appetizers, Dan took that signal to mean "ah, she's a vegetarian," and ordered a portobello mushroom that neither of them wanted. Dan ate half of it, and Megan had none. Nevertheless, the sparks were flying and conversation (and wine) was flowing. Megan asked a classic first date question "Hey Dan, what are your childhood traumas?" to which Dan replied, "that's more of a second date question" (which it was).

Our first road trip (about 4 months into dating) was taking a 6 hour drive down to Charlotte to visit Megan's best friend and see Pitt play in the ACC championship. When Dan started his road trip DJing duties out with Good Charlotte, Megan knew that it was going to be a fun ride. The music and the conversation made that 6 hour drive feel like it flew by- and it was a great sign of things to come. Dan also learned what a pivotal role Taylor Swift would play in the remainder of his life when he was treated to a full concert of not one, but two TS albums performed with choreography by Megan and Amy. There was one month where we traveled every weekend (would not recommend), but got to see some cool places. Megan took Dan to visit his almost college campus in Pittsburgh when they went to surprise his brother. Dan introduced Megan to a close college friend in Kentucky as they explored Lexington. Most importantly, Megan and Dan went back to Megan's favorite city (and former home) in Chicago to celebrate St. Patrick's Day- and this is where we said "I Love You" for the first time.

Does this date sound familiar? Back then, everyone thought we had two weeks at home to ride it out. Megan planned to "move in" to Dan's apartment and hang out for the couple of weeks. And then, she never left.

Finally! After a light move-in to Dan's apartment and a few months spent at the beach, we decided it was time to find a home that would be OUR home (so Megan could stop living out of a suitcase). Turns out moving from two separate apartments into one is no small feat, but we luckily got everything to fit and love our cozy space.

Megan mostly knew what her ring would look like, because who would leave a thing like that to chance? We did the initial shopping together so that Dan had 90% of the guidance he needed to get it right. But finalizing the design and organizing the proposal were solely his job. Propose on our anniversary trip to Chicago? Nice try, but the ring wasn't ready yet. Dan warned Megan at their first meal, so that she could relax and enjoy the trip. What about a few weeks later, when Megan's closest college friends would all be in DC to celebrate Rachel Rosenberg's birthday? Risky, as it would require the friend group's blessing to avoid spoiling anyone's weekend. The upshot is that Megan had let her guard down, certain this wouldn't be the weekend. With blessing secured, Dan artfully maneuvered the group to Meridian Hill Park, site of his and Megan's second date. It helps being friends with a professional photographer, who impeccably captured the magical moment and the ensuing celebrations.

Surprise! Why should Megan be the only one that gets a nice accessory to celebrate their love? Megan not-so-sneakily found out which watch Dan would want (he literally sent her the link), and waited. Megan had this watch MONTHS before Dan had the ring, and Dan knew she had the watch. Her only goal: make him wait long enough that he would absolutely forget about it. Any trip we took in the interim, that watch was there, but Dan had no idea. Months go by, Dan has proposed, a wedding date has been selected, vendors have been booked, and a moment of brilliance stuck Megan. We were getting our engagement photos taken by the water in Annapolis at sunset the day before Thanksgiving - the perfect setting. Megan reached out to our wonderful photographer and set the whole thing up. Dan and Megan were on the docks, taking photos back to back, and when he turned around, there was Megan on one knee, with that near-forgotten watch.