We met at a football game, which was sponsored by the company where I work. As an employee, we are given the opportunity to volunteer at the game by unfurling the flag during the National Anthem. This is something my dad and I enjoyed doing together in the past. When it came time to sign up to volunteer, my friend/co-worker Samantha said that she was going to sign up and bring her friend in an effort to set me up with him. I didn't take her seriously (because when does a blind date set up ever work??) and signed up to volunteer with my Dad. Well...fast forward to the game and Dan and I hit it off! Dan spent most of the game talking to my dad, while I spent most of the game trying to figure out how to talk to him without it being weird in front of my dad! Our first official date was a little over a week later and we have been together ever since.

After about a month of dating, Dan pulled out all the stops and created the most epic "Create Your Own Adventure" date around Alexandria, VA. We both loved those books as kids. He mailed me a handwritten note with 3 little cards with pictures on them and told me to bring 2 different outfits (one fancy/one casual). His note said to bring one of the 3 cards with me and present it to him in person. It turned out that he made reservations at 3 different restaurants and the first set of cards represented the 3 possible restaurants where we could have had dinner. Once I picked a card (not knowing what it meant), he called the two other restaurants to cancel the reservation and off we went! The date cards dictated where we went to eat, how we walked to/from the restaurant, what we got for dessert, and more. Dan considers this date our anniversary even though he didn't ask me to officially be his girlfriend until a week later. :)

Almost exactly a year after "The Big Date", Dan planned another "Create Your Own Adventure" date around Annapolis, MD. The date cards dictated how we would drive to Annapolis, where we would park, where we would walk around after dinner, what we would eat for dessert, and more. Little did I know, I was basically picking out the place where Dan would propose. Of course, I got a very messy s'mores crepe not knowing what was about to happen. The final adventure card brought us to the Naval Academy Chapel, where my parents got married. The original plan (which I found out later) was to propose on the steps...but when we got there, there was a wedding! We walked around in the freezing cold for a bit, and when I started walking back to the car, Dan called my name. When I turned around, he was holding the ring and proposed! It was a complete surprise!

Since the proposal, we both switched jobs, the pandemic hit, and we got a puppy! In between all the changes, we have spent our time planning this wedding and getting excited to celebrate with all of our friends and family.