Daniel and Megan first met during the Summer of 2012 at the Coast Guard Academy. Megan was just checking in and Daniel, a year ahead, was helping to in-process the new class. By chance, Megan was assigned to the same company and, like Daniel, decided to join the sailing team. That first year they spent a decent amount of time together often being assigned to the same boat during practice. Living two rooms apart, Megan and Daniel frequently crossed paths. It wasn't until the Fall of Megan's second year that they really became friends and things took off from there. They spent every weekend racing in various regattas on the East Coast. By the end of September, they decided to give this dating thing a chance. From then on, Megan and Daniel were inseparable. They traveled together often and were fortunate enough to share in some amazing experiences. Upon graduation, they were assigned to different duty stations (Daniel to St. Pete and Pensacola and Megan to Miami and Wilmington) but always found time to reunite.

Daniel fought hard to get his leave approved so that he could come to New York for Thanksgiving. He arrived Thanksgiving morning just in time to spend the day with family. On Friday, Megan, Mom, and Bryana headed out for shopping (couldn't break from tradition), but cut it short due to Daniels limited time to visit. Megan recalls Daniel being unusually nervous that morning, but Daniel strongly denies this. After breakfast, the two decided to go for a walk around the lake. When they were about a third of the way around the lake Daniel slowed, dropped to his knee, and in front of an audience of geese, asked Megan to marry him. Megan, without hesitation, gleefully agreed.