Love by Chef Boyardee! Kidding, kinda. Danny and Margaret met on a work trip in Chicago in April 2018. Both were competing in a corporate entrepreneurship contest. While neither Danny nor Margaret won, they met at an after party over one of their favorite things (cocktails!), and that meeting was a FAR better win for both of them. In the months following, they would work together on a cross-functional project at work, combining Food Science Research and Development with Purchasing, their respective business functions. Through blood, sweat, and Orville Redenbacher's tears, the project wrapped in October. Danny just couldn't stop interacting with Margaret, so he asked her out for drinks to celebrate the end of a successful project. Margaret, not knowing if it was a date or a group celebration, was pleasantly surprised to find only Danny at the speakeasy that night. The rest is, ever-so-cliche-ly, history.

It was weeks in the making to facilitate a proposal worthy of making Nicholas Sparks blush. From getting a master key to the condo building (still unsure if the HOA approved this), to taking friends out for drinks to bribe them for help, Danny spent over a month planning. The poor chap had to not only ask Jerry for his last daughter's hand in marriage, which was given away quite readily (rude), but he also had to ask Jeanne for her late mother's wedding ring, by Margaret's request. Both were thankfully granted. A Saturday date night started, in typical fashion, with a cocktail making competition (they challenged each other to pair tequila with coffee). The food scientist won, as is not surprising, but all can agree that he has the upper hand via his technical training (one guess as to who wins the pork-buying contests, right?). They went to dinner, followed by cocktails at Osteria Segreto where they had their first date nine months earlier. Upon leaving, Danny asked if they should have one last drink on the rooftop of her condo building downtown, as it was a warm weather evening and one of the last times they would be able to enjoy the rooftop before she moved out. She hesitated, feigning exhaustion, but ultimately (and thankfully) didn't put up a fight. They opened the door to the rooftop and turned a corner down the long pathway to the patio, immediately seeing an enormous display of twinkle lights, rose petals, and candles (abnormal for said rooftop). Immediately, Margaret stopped and said "OMG I think we're interrupting someone's wedding proposal! We have to leave!" It took a nudge, but she caught on and started walking, jaw on the floor. Awaiting them was a gorgeous array of roses, champagne, our favorite music, a Conagra branded cookie cake (true story) and a handmade (by Danny) wooden ring box. Danny got down on one knee, popped the question, and many hugs and tears later they came up for air and shared the news! #engaged