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August 3, 2019
Mcminnville, OR
#GinestfortheNguyen

Donavan and Lani

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Welcome to our Happily Ever After

Donavan Ginest

and

Lani Nguyen

#GinestfortheNguyen

August 3, 2019

Mcminnville, OR

Our story

First comes school then comes marriage

Our story begins summer 2011 when we met in Corvallis, Oregon. For years, we both lived across the street from each other in our sorority and fraternity houses, yet our paths never crossed. One day my friend invited me to join a group at the Willamette River. Little did I know at the time, this casual river float would eventually change my life forever. It just so happened that Donavan was the one who coordinated this whole event, and this is where our adventures first began. Donavan asked for my number that day, but left me guessing for weeks without a text. At the time, I was transitioning from sorority life to living in a townhouse for my senior year. Desperate to find a truck for moving, I posted a Facebook status for help. Donavan, who still barely knew me beyond that float trip, came to the rescue. With a truck and some friends to help, he managed to save this damsel in distress. I was thoroughly impressed with their ability to play furniture Tetris to move the couch under the sweltering summer heat. How did we decide to cool off? We floated down the river again that same day. You could say our relationship was unconventional. We spent 4 years, over 2,000 miles apart. We maintained a long distance relationship while I finished up my degree in occupational therapy in Omaha, NE and he was finishing his medical degree in Orlando, FL. Many hours spent on Skype and several flights across the country, we had our relationship down to a science. 6 years later, he sealed the deal when he proposed during my graduation weekend. Fast forward to now. We bought a home and moved to Gainesville, FL. Donavan is finishing residency in emergency medicine, and I am loving my job as a practicing OT. We anticipate moving back to Oregon after 3 years in Gainesville, with our puppy Toby!

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For all the days along the way
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