Shane and Danielle’s story begins the moment they stopped going to the same school after doing so for seven years. After they graduated high school, the friend groups that Danielle and Shane were a part of throughout high school merged to create one giant group of friends that hung out pretty much every day in the summer of 2018. As summer came to a close, Shane headed East to the University of Nevada, Reno and Danielle went South to Azusa Pacific University.

Heading into the summer before sophomore year, Shane was preparing to transfer out of UNR and go to DVC with the intent to transfer into a school in Southern California. When Danielle came home for summer break, Shane was struck by the love bug because what followed Danielle returning was two months of subtle attempts to hang out just the two of them. This included helping her dad build a fence in their backyard or trying to map out how to sit next to her at the movie theater in a 10-person group hangout. Finally, Shane gained the courage to tell Danielle how he felt about her just two weeks before she went back to Azusa, and against all odds, Danielle agreed to a date.

Shane and Danielle’s first date included a night at the bowling alley and some ice cream. With only enough time for one date, Danielle had to go back to school. You’d think normally just one date in, neither person would commit to trying long distance but this wasn’t a normal relationship, it was love.

Shane and Danielle spent about seven months long distance, seeing each other during school breaks or weekend visits. The school year was cut short though due to the Covid pandemic, so Danielle went home in March and suddenly they got to see each other on a daily basis. They spent quarantine and summer watching movies, having date nights, getting acquainted with each other’s families, and eventually, hitting the one-year mark of their relationship.

Shane was accepted into Cal State Long Beach over the summer and in the Fall of 2020, both Danielle and Shane headed down to Southern California together. Their junior and senior years included growing friendships with a handful of people at both schools, countless Disneyland dates, and so much more. Once graduating, they moved back to the Bay Area and lived at home.

After living at home for around a year, Shane and Danielle decided it was time to embark on a new adventure. They each moved back down to Southern California to live in Orange County. Just one month into both of them being settled in their new homes, Shane and Danielle went out on September 7th to their favorite spot for a nice dinner. They went to the Naples Canals in Long Beach for a walk before dinner, but during their stroll, Shane got down on one knee to ask if Danielle would marry him. After a little speech and a few tears, Danielle said yes.

Shane and Danielle’s story is just beginning as they are more excited than ever to spend the rest of their lives together. From movie nights, Disneyland dates, vacations around the world, Formula 1 race days, and everything in between that they’ve done together, to whatever the world holds in store, Shane and Danielle are just thrilled to be doing it together.