We're getting married!

Dakota and Hannah were placed in the same 8th grade English class. They had a few classes together, but this specific class is where they became friends. They met here and were placed in the same small reading group. The first words Dakota spoke to Hannah were, "I hate reading", and she told him she did too, and they sadly became best friends over that. They both had a big crush on each other ever since. Little did they know they had a long future ahead of them.

So long ago, we could barely remember. We started dating on 09.05.2012, but our first date was a weekend later. We went to the movies to see the new Finding Nemo in 3d. Probably nervous as ever, at 7:00 that night was the beginning of something new.

I was constantly telling Dakota I knew when he would propose to me, because I know him far too well. He refused. He started to tell me we should start taking day trips here and there so I wouldn't really expect anything when he planned on doing it. The first place he suggested...New York. So, oblivious as I am, I was like, "Sure! That sounds so fun!" Mainly, because we have taken New York trips together every so often since we were in high school. We got to New York and things were weird. He wouldn't let me walk behind him, (it was in his back pocket), he wasn't as bubbly and excited as he normally was, (being that we were in the NBA store), and I was frustrated because I know when something's off with him. He kept reminding me that we should go to the LOVE sign that stands in New York so we could get a picture. We went there after the NBA store, and I had asked a random girl to take our picture. This is when I hear everyone who was standing outside start "awhing", so I turn around and he's knelt down. The girl switched it to video as soon as she saw him start to kneel, so she's the real mvp here. Definitely one of my favorite memories and the best day of my life.

I knew I had to propose at a location important to and loved by her. Since Disney was far too expensive (and already taken by Emily and Nate) I thought she would be equally as happy getting engaged in New York. I knew that I wanted a picture of the proposal, but I did not want any family there, which was going to be tough. I had been planning the proposal and paying off the ring since November 2016 (almost two years before the engagement). When I finally got the ring in September of 2018, I had to find a way to get us to New York without causing any red flags in her mind. So I convinced her we were just going to start taking "day trips"...somehow that worked. Thankfully when we got to the giant "LOVE" statue in New York City there were many people standing around that were able to take our picture with one of our phones, when I dropped down on one knee (Shoutout to the lady that switched over to the video camera and recorded the whole proposal). Definitely one of the best days and favorite memories in my entire life.