It all began back in July of 2022. Cassie was just starting her research years and couldn't quite figure out how to use Excel. Dan was taking a well deserved "fun-employment" sabbatical and traveling around visiting friends. The first meeting was to be July 4, 2022 - they are weird, but just go with it (it's not a MAJOR holiday), until Cassie was struck by a GI illness. Dan thought this was a convenient excuse she was using to get out of their date, and assumed he would never hear from her again. BUT WAIT - she miraculously recovered from her close brush with death (to prove Dan wrong) and reached back out to him. Luckily, he was still available- so 10 days later on July 12 - they went on their first date. They talked the night away about normal things like how much Cassie enjoys removing colons, and how otters are truly vicious creatures. They shut down not one but two different restaurants. It was magic. The two managed only to see each other every 1-2 weeks on random weekdays when Dan was in town for the next month. Which is when they decided to make it official. From then on it was off to the races. Cassie and Dan not only found partners in each other but new friends in each other's friends. Their lives enriched each other. They began traveling together - first to NYC, then skiing, then to Mexico and then Sicily and Mexico City and skiing again and New Zealand and...well you get the point. If you ask Cassie, she would tell you that Dan is the light of her life, she loves doing everything with him, from far flung adventures to sitting on the couch with a great home cooked meal (a la Cassie pasta or Dan's chicken tacos) and watching New Girl or Band of Brothers for the 17th time. He makes her feel at home always, and he loves her even at her spiciest (or her hungriest). He is smart, kind and patient and caring. He makes her laugh harder than ever, every single day. Every day with him feels like a new adventure and yet, being with him is the most at peace she has ever felt. She could not imagine spending her life with anyone else and she is so lucky and excited to marry him! If you ask Dan, he would tell you that he is the luckiest man who has ever lived to have found someone as truly awesome, fun, and goofy (just like him) as Cassie. She's the best travel buddy, or a "sit at home and relax with some sushi and watch a movie" buddy. She lights up the room with her smile, and she' the #1 reason he's excited to wake up each and every morning, even when the cats are causing trouble and that's why he woke up. She has probably the coolest job out there. She knows how to throw an amazing party (or Dan-warming) or plan for their next big trip. But most of all, she's the love of his life, his best friend, and he can't wait to marry her!