To our loved ones, At this time we are still hopeful that the August 1, 2020 celebration of our marriage will take place. We realize a lot is going on in the world right now but we are trying to stay optimistic our special day will go on as planned. As we do not know how events will unfold during the next two months, we will provide updates on this site as decisions are made. Our priority is the health of our loved ones. We understand any decision you make with regard to travel but are hopeful we will all be together celebrating our wedding and the ending of this trying time. Love to you all! Stay safe Thomas and Danielle

It was right before Thanksgiving in 2014. Danielle was home from Harding on break and she was taking her brothers to wrestling practice. Thomas was coaching. Danielle noticed Thomas from across the room. The way he held himself and how he was interacting with the kids caught her eye. (Tommy insists it was his charm, too.) Plus, Danielle noticed that Tommy was pretty cute! Tommy noticed Danielle was a new person in the room that he hadn't seen before (plus, he noticed that she was pretty cute, too!). Tommy thought Danielle was crazy because she let her five-year-old brother sit in the front seat of the car. In the car, Shawn and his friends made fun of Coach Tommy and told Danielle that Tommy had a crush on her. Danielle then started “stalking” Tommy on social media by adding him on Instagram. During Christmas break, Danielle came back, added him on FB. One of the wrestling moms told Danielle that Tommy liked her and that she should try to get a date out of him. Danielle messaged Tommy on February 17, 2015, on FB, and the rest was history! The first time they hung out, Tommy came over to hang out at Danielle’s family home. Aaron was surprised to see Tommy at the door - he was confused why he was there. Shawn ended up crashing their first “date” and went to iHop with them. After a few months over summer break, Danielle and Tommy became official and began 1.5 years of long-distance. After one semester of being apart, Tommy gave Danielle a promise ring, along with flowers, when he picked her up from the airport. (Shawn was there too!) Tommy sold his speakers to buy a plane ticket to Arkansas to accompany Danielle to her Phi Kappa Delta spring formal. He came to Danielle’s graduation and they drove back to VA together in the Grannymobile. In May 2017, Danielle and Tommy moved into their first home together. Danielle told Tommy that he had a year from then to propose, which didn’t happen…but Tommy always told Danielle to trust him because he had a plan.

Tommy did have a plan! Eight months prior to proposing, in September 2018, Tommy started working on the perfect way to propose. It took forever to find the perfect ring. (It took calling four different stores to find the actual band!) The incorporation of the infinity band design in Danielle’s engagement ring was came from the original promise ring Tommy gave her. Tommy wanted the ring to be exactly what he and Danielle wanted. He hid the ring in his fishing bag for over a month, because he knew it was the one place where Danielle wouldn’t move his stuff. He showed it off to everyone and his mother. After finding the ring, Tommy asked for Danielle’s father’s blessing. Tommy wanted to propose in Hawaii, but Danielle was unable to go. Because Shawn knew how important family was to Danielle, he offered for Tommy to propose at his graduation party. The day of the proposal, family photos were being taken for Shawn’s graduation party. Danielle wanted her and Tommy to dress up nicely for the photos. Tommy wanted to wear his cargo shorts so he could hide the ring in his pocket. (Danielle even got mad at Tommy for wearing the cargo shorts!) Tommy waited until the last picture was taken, of just the two of them, when he dropped down on one knee. Danielle could feel his heart racing and was surprised at the request, since Tommy did not often want to take pictures with just the two of them. While down on one knee, Tommy said, “Danielle Mitsuki Nonaka, will you marry me?”