Ian: I thought I was crazy driving north 9 hours to go to a wedding with someone I had seen once and been talking to for
months, but I knew she was something special. From the first time I saw her, to when a mutual friend literally drug me over to
meet her to our first date I knew she was something special. I will never forget when I first got to her apartment, we ate lasagna
rolls and drank watermelon beer (super gross water melon beer).

Danielle: Our first date was actually at my friend and former co-fellow's wedding (Courtney). After meeting Ian at a mutual
friend's wedding (Rebecca and Ben) a few months prior we continued to talk over the phone almost daily and really got to
know each other. During this time I also happened to ask if he wanted to be my date to Courtney's wedding (not thinking he'd
say yes). Of course he said yes and drove 9 hours to Pittsburgh from Fayetteville, NC. It was our first time seeing each other in
just over 4 months and I was very nervous how it was going to go (let's be honest, it could have been a disaster). The whole
weekend was a blur, but Ian got along great with my colleagues at the wedding, we had a great time, and it was one of the
easiest first dates I've ever had.

Our first date... 

The proposal

Ian: I actually was going to plan a proposal in DC, where we decided we were dating on the anniversary of us having begun dating, however that was 6 months away and I didn't want to wait. I remember sneaking the ring in my pocket, we went to eat, had some of the best bread pudding EVER. As we were walking by the Arch I knew it was the moment. We stopped by the river, I told her I loved here and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

Danielle: I had just moved to St Louis from Pittsburgh to start my new faculty job at WashU. Ian came to visit per our usual plan. He found a place to go out to dinner based on where we could find the "best" bread pudding, Broadway Oyster Bar. This is not unusual as it's how we usually find new places to go out to eat. After a great dinner, he suggested we go for a walk through downtown St Louis and down by the arch. I obliged as it was a gorgeous night out. The arch grounds were still under construction but we made our way around and stopped at a spot overlooking the Mississippi River. Ian started telling me how much he loved me and what he liked about me and then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was a total surprise! P.S. the bread pudding was amazing and still one that we talk about