We're getting married!

We met at 157 Lounge in Kent. Danielle, who graduated from KSU in 2012, stopped in sporadically to visit her twin sister, Julia, who'd recently acquired a bartending gig there. Derrick was working on earning his degree after many years of military service and deployments. He frequented the bar for liquor, chocolate cake, and to visit one of his best friends, Jeff (the bar owner). When our paths finally crossed, it was love at first vodka soda. It happened to be the 4th of July- and let me tell you, sparks were flying. Derrick's humor, valor, and adventurousness had Danielle hooked. Derrick fell for Danielle's sincere and genuine demeanor, her attentiveness, and the way she laughed at his jokes. So much has changed since then. For example, Derrick no longer touches cake. But our love has grown better and stronger each day and July 4th will always be our favorite holiday.

Derrick had been away at an Army Intelligence school for four months. On his highly anticipated cross-country drive home from Arizona, Danielle flew out to Little Rock, Arkansas, to meet him along the way. They started their journey home together and stopped to check out Nashville, TN. Nestled within the city is a beautiful museum and botanical garden, like Stan Hywet Hall on steroids, called Cheekwood Estate. Derrick found the perfect, picturesque spot to pop the question. Danielle was elated, and completed surprised, although she'd be lying if she said she didn't anticipate Derrick popping the question every day for the last year or two. Their friends were traveling with them and, oddly enough, Danielle didn't think much of it when one of them brought their drone along (and proceeded to crash it into a tree). Nonetheless, they snagged so many beautiful pictures, like the few you see on this page today. Thank you so much Nate, Nikki and Jeff!