Sometimes, the best things in life come when you least expect them. Neither of us were thrilled about the world of online dating, but we both felt drawn to give it one last chance. That’s how we found each other on the app called, Catholic Match. David sent the first message, but it took 10 days for Danielle to respond because of the app’s non-premium rules. During that wait, Danielle saw David’s profile and prayed he would wait for a response. Little did we know, we were both on the verge of deleting the app when God stepped in and brought us together.

From the start, we bonded over a shared love of music and songwriting. Our conversations felt so natural, so genuine, and soon we moved from texting to exchanging voice messages over snapchat. Hearing each other’s voices made everything feel more real. There was something special about our connection—it had felt like we had known each other for years. When David finally asked Danielle to meet in person, they couldn’t wait.

Our first date was on June 12, 2023, and it’s a day we’ll never forget. We spent hours talking, saw the remake of The Little Mermaid (one of Danielle’s favorite Disney movies), and ended the night over dinner at Barrel House. From that very first meeting, it was clear that what we had was something worth growing. David asked Danielle on a second date that night when they parted and she said yes. We both valued honesty and communication, and those qualities made us feel comfortable and understood. By the fourth date, David asked Danielle to officially be his girlfriend, but truthfully, we had felt a strong connection early on.

For six months, we made a long-distance relationship work with Danielle living in Farley, IA, teaching music, and David in Cedar Rapids, IA, working at Tanager Place. Only seeing each other on weekends was difficult, but it taught us how to cherish our time together and be intentional in our relationship. Time was valuable. When it became clear that we were building something lasting, David decided to make the move to Dyersville in January 2024. We were grateful for the chance to finally be closer to each other. It was in those everyday, ordinary moments—cooking dinner, playing guitar, running errands, or simply being together—that we found so much love and peace.

As our relationship grew, we began having deeper conversations about our future. These conversations led to a deeper confidence in our love and eventually led to David proposing at the Riverwalk in Dubuque on May 22nd, 2024. It was a beautiful, heartfelt moment filled with joy and excitement. Danielle couldn’t hold back the tears and said “yes” before David even finished his speech. That moment marked the start of the next chapter in our journey, one we’ve both been dreaming of.

Now, as we prepare for our wedding day and the life ahead, we feel incredibly blessed. While we don’t know exactly what the future will bring, we are excited to take on each step together, supporting and encouraging one another along the way.