It was late in 2019 when Rachel first saw a picture of Dan standing in front of a house he had designed. Thinking he was cute, she messaged him. Less than a week later, they went out for a drink, and one drink turned into dinner at their now favorite restaurant, Masago Sushi. When Rachel talked about the date to her friends the next day, she said that she thought Dan was "the one." Dan found Rachel equally intriguing and soon thereafter asked her to spend New Year's Eve with him. Within a short time, they were spending a lot of time together. A trip to Clearwater Beach, Florida in February 2020 allowed them to get to know each other better and solidified their relationship. They then met each other's friends and family members. After that, the coronavirus pandemic and a surgery led to Rachel spending a great deal of time with her family in Vienna, VA. and Dan traveling long distance to see her. It was clear from the start that they always prioritized spending time with each other. Two and a half years after their first meeting, in August 2022, they vacationed in the breath-taking isle of Santorini, Greece. One afternoon there, Dan tore Rachel away from shopping by suggesting that they watch the sunset from their hotel room balcony and have cocktails before dinner. While Rachel put her bags in their room, Dan quickly got down on one knee, his heart beating in anticipation. When Rachel turned around, with the Santorini sunset behind him, Dan asked Rachel to marry him. With all her heart, she said yes!