From the Bride: Our journey started during an epic basketball game final between the Warriors and the Raptors which we both watched at our mutual friend, Clayton Neider’s, college house in June 2019. This is where we first met and Daniel was intrigued by this South African with a big bright smile. After our first meeting, a lot of racket ball games were played (Daniel learned how competitive I really was) and many more dates happened even though we did not know it at first. Some racket ball games led to fun milkshake dates and walks around Baylor’s campus. I was also intrigued with Daniel’s love of the outdoors and the ranch life, but his kind, compassionate personality and dashing looks caught my eye and made me wonder. I grew up in the Kalahari in South Africa where my parents have a sheep farm and did not think I would meet someone who loves the ranch life as much as I do. We both grew up in two different worlds, yet our love for the outdoors and the peacefulness it brings brought us closer. It was only September 19th, 2019, when Daniel found the courage to ask me out and we officially started dating. We got to know each other really well and graduated from Baylor in December 2019. Our love grew stronger when Daniel invited me to come work from home for a week on the Hart ranch with him and his grandmother during the outbreak of Covid. Never did we know or could even imagine that one week would turn into a year and a half. It was during this time where our love grew for one another. A special year for us that made our relationship stronger. We went on many “ranch” dates. From 4-wheeler drives, dove hunting, duck hunting with beautiful sunrises, gardening, to sundowners on the hills overlooking the fields with a cold beer and lots of ranching. We found each other and our love kept growing every single day and still does today. Our journey is special as we are from from two different worlds (America and Africa) yet we found each other and fell in love.

From the Groom: A surprise proposal on one of the Hart ranch hills over looking the fields. I was hoping she had no idea it was coming and that I would completely take her by surprise. I had the perfect spot in mind and worked late hours to cut down Cedar tree posts and build an altar from scratch where I could hang our favorite memories of our adventures. I had a plan in mind but how could I build this when we see each other so frequently during the day? I decided to tell Theresa that I was going pig hunting late at night, but it was a cover story to build the Cedar tree altar and clear the area for a great view. I was hoping she did not pick up on anything. It was Friday, August 6th, when I casually took her on a late afternoon 4-wheeler ride while the ring was in my pocket and the biggest question I was going to ask was to come. Staying calm was about as hard as it could be, worrying most of the time that she would not notice anything suspicious. Once we rode up the hill, the moment started getting more and more surreal. I secretly planted two pictures of our text messages, 1) our first racket ball game and 2) the invitation to come work remotely from the Hart ranch for a week (never did I know it would be a year and a half). After she saw the pictures, she was so confused and still had no idea what was really happening. We walked over to the altar I put together with our memories of the past year. Once I had said a few words, I got down on one knee and asked her the most important question: “Will you marry me?” and she said “YES”!