It all began on an app called Hinge. HA !

It was Daniella's first go at online dating. Brandon had tried and failed throughout the years but he still had hope.

Leave it to Daniella to leave a cat heart eye emoji on one of Brandon's annual Montauk beach photos. Brandon went straight to the DMs after seeing her piercing blue eyes and interest in nerd culture (Star Wars, Zelda, Harry Potter, Pokemon, LOTR ... the list goes on). Daniella proceeded to tell Brandon about her mellow day (a phrase in which she NEVER uses). The getting to know you stage had thus begun.

Fast forward two months and three failed meet up attempts, and we see Brandon sprinting down the escalator at Crossgates Mall on the way to Maggie McFly's (15 MINUTES LATE) to meet his to-be fiance. Daniella already had contingencies in order in case he was to kidnap her.

They sat at the bar for hours having their first real conversation and both could swear the talking could go on for days. Daniella and Brandon did not miss a weekend together after that first date. They continued to tell their pasts, know their present, and understand their future goals.

October 1st 2021, was when they committed to a relationship and within the first three months of that relationship, Daniella and Brandon acquired two small kittens, Leo and Peach. Despite each having a house of their own, they decided to create one home together and move in.

The road that followed them for the next two years included many adventures.

A few of them being:

-Salem (in October, an annual weekend getaway)

-Disney and Universal

-Atlantic City

-Tennessee (where they eventually want to settle)

-All the animals ! (Safari, aquarium, deer parks and zoos)

-Saratoga Performing Arts Center concerts

-NYE shenanigans

- Themed parties (Ugly Sweater, Friendsgiving, Basic Witch party)

-Black Friday shopping

-Fires at Fairmont

With all that in the books, it's October 2023 and Daniella and Brandon's annual Salem trip is coming up.

Daniella feels that Brandon is taking the dress code for the trip a little too seriously. But other than that she does not know what he had been planning the past three months. In those three months, he asked Nancy and Keith their permission to marry their daughter, picked up a beautiful ring at Northeastern Fine Jewelers in Schenectady, hired a videographer/photographer at Fortway Media, and rallied up some close friends to join the trip (undercover) for a moment no one will ever forget.

Day of the proposal, it's a Saturday with 90% chance of rain, all day. Within the first hour of walking Salem, it pours. Daniella's hair is ruined. She wore shoes that were appropriate for the moment but did not disclose that it was her fist time wearing them. So naturally, her feet were a mess. To add to the despair, ALL witch museum tours were sold out. It could very well have been Daniella's worst day ever.

Leave it to mother nature to give us a break and not rain on us for the next few hours. After multiple fun stores and some forced purchases, in the interest of time, Brandon finally offers Daniella a moment to sit down.

On the way to sitting down near the Pickering Warf, Brandon marvels at the view. Daniella wanted a selfie so they took one and then Brandon positioned her for a solo photo.

As her back was turned, he swapped his phone for the ring box that was in his back right pocket and proceeded to go down on one knee and say,

Honey...

She turns, gasps with her hands over her mouth as he tells her,

You've made me happier than I've ever been.

I love you with my whole heart.

I want to spend the rest of time with you.

Will you marry me?

Even though she had been saying yes since he started talking, she said yes once more as he put the pear shaped diamond ring on her finger. Daniella was filled with emotion and it only increased when she was swarmed with friends, flowers and applause from the locals waiting for the moment to happen.

After they continued to enjoy the night out in Salem, both alone and with good friends, sharing the news with family from afar and excited to put into action the plans they had already been talking about for well over a year.

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We would like to thank Hinge for getting us started, friends and family for the ongoing support, and most importantly our love that continues to grow daily.

We cannot wait for you all to join us on July 12, 2025 where our story continues !

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