We met as founder and marketer, working remotely to build a startup. When the company was accepted into a business accelerator, Erin finally had the reason she’d been hoping for to move back to California, and she took it. Our friendship deepened as we built something unique together, solved problems, learned how to build technology, and explored new places. We were driven by the same kind of curiosity: new ideas, new places, new food, new experiences. We did everything together. The first thing Erin loved about Daniel was how he saw people, connecting warmly with everyone he met and bringing out the best in others with a rare balance of empathy and challenge. Daniel loved Erin’s fearlessness when she dove headfirst into every adventure. It became clear we were perfect for each other, two people who would rather collect memories than anything else. Somewhere along the way, friendship turned into romance. Our first official date was a psychedelic light-and-sound experience that we are pretty sure was meant to be enjoyed on mushrooms. We were not. “Be here. Now.” became our accidental mantra and our favorite inside joke. From there, it was everything, everywhere, all at once: San Diego beer festivals and Padres games, Del Mar Derby opening days (three years running!), PGA tournaments at Torrey Pines, cooking classes, midnight cereal in bed, learning to garden together (Daniel saves nearly everything Erin tries to repot), coffee rituals with iced espressos, hiking in every state we visit, and trips to Tokyo, London, and Machu Picchu. We moved into our first apartment together in Carlsbad, where we grilled steaks at the community BBQ area, seasoned with rosemary from a nearby bush that Daniel officially declared our personal “7-Eleven.” We paired it with Trader Joe’s wine and Daniel-curated playlists filled with songs tied to adventures past and present. Daniel introduced Erin to his two amazing sons, Adam and Dylan, and we welcomed Sir Finnegan the Dorgi into our family. We ran 5Ks (Adam’s first), spent weekends playing soccer with picnics at the park, safari park and zoo adventures, and long sandy beach days. We went hunting (Erin’s first time), started a garden, and built a life that is equal parts intentional and wonderfully impulsive. Then came September 2025. After Erin’s parents gave us their blessing to skip a traditional wedding, Erin, true to form, convinced Daniel to elope immediately. The very next day, Daniel proposed in the car after picking out a ring together. We booked the San Diego courthouse for 8 a.m. on October 9th, called our best friend Carlos to be our witness (he conveniently came down with a case of “quite sick” to dodge a normal workday), and said our vows about thirty minutes after arriving. Two days later, we were on a plane to Japan. On Thanksgiving, we found out we were pregnant. We wouldn’t rewrite a single chapter. We fly by the seat of our pants, lead with curiosity over comfort, and choose adventure and memories over everything else. This reception is our chance to celebrate this wild, beautiful journey with the people we love most. Here’s to being here, now, together.