We tied the knot!

Daniel and Julia met seven years ago (yup, seven years ago!) on Dan's birthday when he turned 25. Jul had just turned 25 a week before then, and they matched on a dating app called Coffee Meets Bagel sometime in the week between their birthdays. After just a few exchanges on the the app, they set up a first date to meet in the next week. They must have been eager to see one another in person because they decided to meet up a few days ahead of schedule while they were both around Wrigley Field. Daniel didn't tell Julia it was his birthday at first, and Jul definitely didn't dress for a first date. They talked, they laughed, they watched playoff hockey at Murphy's Bleachers, and they took the first step of starting their lives together. It was very apparent that Dan and Jul had quite a few things in common while also being opposites - He played hockey, she figure skated. He likes hot coffee, but she likes cold coffee. He takes the isle seat, she prefers the window seat. He only eats the drums and she only eats the flats. They quickly discovered the similarities in their values, upbringing, goals, and immediate attraction to each other's character. Like all good things, love takes time and these two have kept a steady pace as they've nurtured their love for each other over the last seven years. They share a home, a love of travel, an Amazon Prime account, and a passion for live music. They also share mutual love for their cat, Geno, whom they adopted during the pandemic. Their journey has taken them to ten US states, one Canadian providence, and across some water to one of the US Virgin Islands, leading them to the middle of the desert in Nevada in August of 2023 for their first Burning Man festival. Just after midnight on the night of a full moon, Dan and Jul came across a 20ft sign in the middle of the playa that said NO DANCING written in massive red letters. Naturally, they went closer to the sign with every intention of dancing under it together. As they approach, they began to recognize the emotional undertone of the art installation by Looking Up Arts, as each red letter revealed a story of oppression from anonymous individuals who weren't allowed to dance. Both Dan and Jul were swept away with the emotional impact of the art, and the moment seemed right for Dan to drop to one knee and present the ring he had been carrying in his pocket. Of course Jul said yes, and they danced the night away together as a newly engaged couple. The story of their engagement holds special meaning for Julia because of her grandmother, Sylvia. Many years ago, when Julia told her grandma that things with her boyfriend were getting serious, Sylvia adamantly asked if Daniel danced with her. This led to a piece of grandmotherly advice that resonated with Julia - "make sure he dances with you, and never stop dancing together." Dan and Jul had a lot of ideas on how to make celebrate making Team Dul (Dan+Jul=Dul) official. After much thought and consideration about the countless ways to get married, they decided to "elope" in Detroit, Michigan with only immediate family members present. The intimate ceremony took place on Saturday, May 4, 2024 on Belle Isle by the beautiful Scott Memorial Fountain. The small affair was accompanied by a dinner to celebrate their union and Grandma Sylvia's 90th birthday. Team Dul will have a belated celebration with their closest friends in the mountains of Woodland Park, Colorado in October 2024. Team Dul feels blessed to have so many wonderful people in their lives who support their love. They are thrilled to be taking the next step in their journey together through marriage, and hopefully into a new home together soon! Thank you for taking the time to read their origin story!