Megs: We met in late August 2014, during the orientation weekend of our freshman year at Westmont College. After getting our dorm room set up, my roommate Jords and I decided to explore the other sections in Clark Hall, hoping to make new friends and get decoration ideas. We happened to wander into Daniel and his roommate Noah's section and I started talking to someone about majors, hometowns, etc. Jords tapped on my shoulder to tell me that someone was going to do a magic trick, and I apologized for ending this conversation short. I turned to this tall, quiet, intriguing man and knew I wanted to get to know him better. After the trick wowed us, Daniel and Noah invited us to go rock climbing with them sometime, since they were Santa Barbara locals and had a car on campus. The next day, they knocked on our door to invite us and we spontaneously decided to join them! Since then, our friend group grew and we slowly got to know each other.
Megs: I noticed his kind and gentle eyes and his quick sense of humor. He was so respectful and genuine, never making jokes at someone else's expense. He was a really good listener and spoke thoughtfully and kindly. The more I learned about him, the more I wanted to grow closer to him. Daniel: I thought she was charming and unique. I’d never seen anyone like her before, her gentleness, kindness, goofiness, beauty, and depth were immediately apparent, and I knew I wanted to get to know her better.
Although we don't remember what our official first date was, we think that one of our first dates was going stargazing in the Santa Barbara hills, overlooking the city. Pretty romantic!
Megs: I love how selfless, honest, and kind he is towards everyone, not just me. He is always willing to help someone in need with a smile. He knows how to make me laugh and how to comfort me when I’m feeling anxious or sad. He’s willing to work hard and do what’s right, even when it’s not easy. Daniel: I love Megs's warmth and friendliness towards strangers, her artistic and creative mind, her honesty and trustworthiness, her humor and laughter, her love and care, and her thoughtfulness in every act.
Daniel proposed at the spot just outside our dorm buildings where we would spend many late nights talking and learning more about each other in freshman year of college. Since guys and girls had separate dorms and they had open hours for guys and girls to be in the opposite dorm end at midnight (and 1am on weekends), when we wanted to continue talking we had to go outside our dorms and hang out in the little courtyard between our dorms. It became the spot where Daniel first said “I love you” and it seemed fitting to start our lives as an engaged couple where our relationship grew deeper and stronger.
Filled with family tradition, the ring features a center stone from Daniel’s grandmother’s engagement ring, with the family blessing. The setting itself is from the same jeweler that his father went to in Los Angeles to buy the ring for Daniel’s mother. When Daniel gave Megs the ring he said, “Welcome to the family!”