It all started on a random November night in 2015. I was a senior in high school and staying over at a friend’s house—who just so happened to be the principal’s daughter. That night, she decided to sneak a few college guys into her basement (as one does), and in walked Daniel. The moment I saw him, I jokingly called “dibs!” Not knowing that someday, I’d actually end up calling him my forever. After that night, we became great friends and stayed in each other’s lives for over five years. We always had a soft spot for each other—and so did our friends and family, who constantly rooted for us to get together. But timing is everything. Sometimes, the best things take a little longer to find their way. Then came 2020. We were at a friend’s house, like we always were, when Daniel knocked on the door. I opened it, and something shifted. It was like the universe tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, “It’s time.” Suddenly, I saw him in a completely new light. Thanks to COVID, we never got an official first date—but we dove into something even better: a deep love rooted in years of knowing, respecting, and truly seeing each other. Over the past 10 years, we've built a lifetime’s worth of memories—from high school and college to grad-school, careers and everything in between. We’ve been together for 4 amazing years now, share a cozy home, and raise two very spoiled cats who may or may not run the household. As for the proposal—Daniel planned a trip to one of our favorite spots on the coast. After a day of shopping and wine tasting, he took me to the beach and proposed at sunset. It was perfectly quaint, low-key, and completely us. Now, we can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you. Thank you for being part of our story.