Two things we never thought would happen... 1. Danielle never thought she'd meet the love of her life at a dive bar. 2. Phoenix never thought the love of his life would walk into his favorite bar. But on December 26, 2015, whether it was fate, the stars aligning, or God's providence, the unthinkable happened, and Danielle and Phoenix met at a local dive bar called "31". Danielle's brother Dillon wanted to cheer her up after she had a tough week and asked her to come out with him and his friends. Sitting at the bar, gazing across the room at the door, Danielle spotted Phoenix first. She kept looking over at him to try and get him to come over and talk to her to no avail. She chalked it up to him not being interested and mentioned it to Dillon. Finally, after a couple of hours, Dillon stepped in and introduced them. When Danielle and Phoenix finally started talking, he admitted to having seen her earlier in the evening, but never though she'd be interested in him. After dancing and having some drinks, Phoenix put his number in Danielle's phone and walked her out to make sure she got in the car safely. She messaged him that night to let him know she got home safely but didn't get a response. When Phoenix got home that night, he told his mom and aunt that he had met the girl he was going to marry but thought that he gave her the wrong number! The next day, curiosity got the best of her and led Danielle to find Phoenix on Facebook. She wanted to see if maybe he had given her the wrong number by accident. Thankfully she found him, they arranged their first date at Bak'n and the rest is history!

On December 24, 2017, Phoenix asked Danielle to dress up and get ready for a date day in town. She was so happy to finally get a date with her man. They attended the Grinch That Stole Christmas Play at the Benedum Center which followed by a drive to Market Square with the promise of tacos at their favorite spot... Las Velas. When they got there, they realized Las Velas was closed but that Starbucks was open. Danielle insisted on stopping in to get a drink (after all, it was cold and she is a fiend for Starbucks.) Phoenix allowed her indulgence but then said, "Hey why don't we walk around?" Market Square was dressed up for Christmas and right next door was PPG Ice Rink. As soon as they turned the corner to the ice rink, they spotted her brother, Dillon and his then-girlfriend, now-fiancee, Janelle. They asked if we could take their photo and we obliged, then Dillon offered to take ours. As soon as we positioned ourselves, Phoenix bent down to tie his shoes and said, "Hey Sweetheart, Will you marry me?" and pulled out the most amazing ring that he had spent hours choosing, and weeks working for. Of course she said YES! and there were many happy tears from both the couple and the surrounding standers-by, It was the most magical Christmas :)