We’re Getting Married!

On April 16, 2019 Marissa received a message on Bumble from Daniel. Yes, that’s how it all started. Daniel enticed Marissa because he said he would buy her a coffee (which he never did ;) ).Continuing to talk through the day getting to know each other, what they were going to school for, plans for the future, family and friends. Marissa also met Dan nearing the end of her basketball career. While she only knew him over the phone for a few days he was so supportive and caring about her decisions. At the end of the day Daniel finally got the nerve and asked for Marissa’s phone number.

If you know Daniel at all you probably assumed he would have wanted to impress Marissa and take her somewhere fancy. Wrong, the first date Dan picked Marissa up in Old Red, his grandpas old truck, drove to Waterloo and went to the finest restaurant of them all… Chick-fil-A. Upon entering Daniel’s good friend was a manager there and gifted a free meal. As the awkward first date came to an end Dan took Marissa through the drive through for a milkshake and that’s when he really won her heart. Then at about 7pm Daniel dropped Marissa off because it was his bedtime.

Daniel was on his way to the grocery store with Old Red to pick up some groceries for the meal he was preparing for Marissa later that night. Marissa received a FaceTime call on his way and told her that the breaks went out on Old Red. A few minutes later Daniel called Marissa and told her that he needed her to come pick him up. She was now his ride. The next morning Daniel told Marissa that his parents were bringing him a backup car to his sister and we needed to go get it that day. All Marissa heard was that she was meeting his mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces and nephew two weeks into knowing this guy.

As Marissa’s revenge for Daniel making her meet his family two weeks in, she asked him to come to her sisters wedding a month into the relationship. The last day Marissa was on campus Daniel dropped her off at her dorm and asked the important question, “will you be my girlfriend?” On May 7th, 2019. After agreeing he journeyed to Wisconsin to not only meet her immediate family, but the WHOLE family. Everybody loved him and that was the weekend Marissa knew she wanted to marry this guy.

When Marissa and Daniel met there had been discussion about Daniel trying to get a new job and that it may require a move. Sure enough Daniel got a job in Ottumwa, IA at the end of January 2019. He got the news, packed up his stuff and he was moved in in a weekend. Marissa was sad that he was moving but was proud that his hard work paid off. But then Covid happened. What they thought was going to be months of only seeing each other on weekends turned into Marissa packing up some items and moving in with Daniel while the world was shut down. In May 2020 Marissa moved back to her Cedar Falls home to begin working again and it was back to weekends only until graduating college.

In April 2021 Daniel got the exciting news that he was offered a promotion as a Building Manager in Mason City, IA. With Marissa’s graduation being so close they started looking for places to move into together. They found a place and packed up Daniels things in Ottumwa and traveled across the state to Mason City. Marissa slowly started moving her things to the apartment and in May 2021 she graduated and they officially moved in together!

With Daniel’s family Christmas approaching Daniel asked Marissa to shorten the drive and stay in Des Moines for the night. Marissa agreed as peak season had just ended for Daniel and wanted to get out of the house! A few days before they were set to head to Des Moines Daniel told Marissa that he had made reservations at the 801 Chophouse, a place he had always wanted to eat at. They started their journey to Des Moines and when they got there they had to drop Kona off at her aunt and uncles while they went to eat. They headed off to the chophouse for a very delicious meal. At the end of the meal Daniel asked Marissa if she wanted any dessert. If you know Marissa at all that was a definite yes. As Marissa was waiting for the server to come back to ask him about a dessert menu he began setting down plates and champagne… confused Marissa looked at Daniel and asked what was going on. The server placed a plate down in front of Marissa and written in chocolate on the plate it said, “Will you marry me?” Daniel got down on one knee and asked the question and she said “YES.” After the meal Daniel surprised Marissa with meeting his sibling at a nearby bar! The rest of the night was spent calling close family and friends to tell them the good news!