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OUR STORY

Thomas and I have been “chasing” each other for years. We had a few classes together in High School, but really got to know each other in a U.S. history class my junior year. Thomas sat in the seat in front of me, and for a while he was just a smart boy with the deep voice who I worked with on group projects. By the end of the year, I had developed a major crush. He left for college across the state later that summer, and so we only talked occasionally. The summer before my freshman year of college, I invited him to a Harry Potter party a friend was having. It was a costume party, followed by a midnight showing of the latest movie. I didn’t think Thomas would be that excited about it, but he showed up in full Neville Longbottom character, complete with a stuffed animal frog. I was Hedwig.

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After that night, we started seeing each other a lot more. We decided to date, even though we knew I would be leaving for Seattle at the end of the summer. We spent a wonderful two months hiking and cooking together, both of our favorite pastimes. My first year in Seattle was rough, but we visited on breaks and Thomas came to Seattle twice. A year later, he transferred to UW.

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Our time in Seattle was difficult because we were both full-time students with rigorous course loads, but we still managed to explore the surrounding parks and city around us. Our favorite spots were Lincoln Park in West Seattle and Green Lake.

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My junior year we planned a Spring Break trip to San Diego to visit my maternal grandmother. We had talked a bit about marriage, but I did not think a proposal would happen anytime soon. I had no idea Thomas had a ring hidden in the bottom drawer of his dresser (wrapped up in a sweater he rarely wore – clever). He even asked my dad’s permission one weekend when my dad came to visit.

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On the last few days of our trip, we stayed at the Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island (a graduation present from my parents to Thomas). When we arrived on the island Friday morning, it was cold and windy, but we couldn’t check in yet so we walked along the beach. After a while I wanted to turn back, but Thomas asked if we could keep walking a little more. A few minutes later, he pretended to trip, and when I turned around he grabbed my waist and asked me to marry him. He didn’t present the ring until after I said yes. The proposal was incredibly special, not only because it was sweet and at a beautiful place, but because my parents got engaged on a nearby San Diego beach overlooking the very spot where we were.

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Wedding Day:

On our flight back to Kentucky the morning after our wedding, we finally had some moments of quiet to reflect on our wedding day. We both decided that our favorite part of our wedding was the merging of our families. We heard many wonderful things from various family members about how much they enjoyed getting to know other family members: our mothers, our grandparents, our aunts and uncles. We felt so surrounded by love and everyone in our family was incredibly supportive of us as a couple: it made for a very special day. Everyone bonded so well, and I know we will continue to be surrounded by their love and support and we embark on this journey of marriage together.

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Special thanks to everyone that worked hard on Danielle + Thomas’ wedding day!

• Photographer | Rennard Photography
• Reception | Cedarbrook Lodge  (Catering and Events Manager | Terra Johnson)
• Ceremony | Cedarbrook Lodge
• Catering | Cedarbrook Lodge
• Cake or desserts | American Pie Baking Company
• Hair & Makeup | Off White Hair and Makeup
• Coordinator | Terra Johnson, Cedarbrook Lodge
• Dress & Attire | David’s Bridal
• Shoes | Nordstrom
• Jewelry | Borrowed: Necklace, Thomas’s mother; bracelet, Thomas’s paternal grandmother
• Florals | Pike’s Place Market
• Invitations | David’s Bridal