Danielle and Nicholas first crossed paths in November 2023 at their church group. They didn’t know each other well at the time, exchanging only a few “Hey, how are you?”s and “I’m good, how about you?”s.

At that point, Nicholas was leading a team for the homeless ministry, Bridge the Gap. Danielle, feeling a desire to give back to her community, signed up to serve the following Monday. It was during these volunteer sessions that they first connected over their shared passions for God and helping others.

As the months passed and the weather grew colder, the pair found themselves skiing at Perfect North with a group of friends. Through their mutual friend Sarah, Nicholas planned a ski trip to West Virginia—and there was only one person who was up for joining: Danielle. The skiing was thrilling, though the road trip had its hiccups—like almost running out of gas and coasting down hills in neutral to save fuel. Still, the couple began to bond over their shared love for the outdoors. One of their first hikes together took them to a stunning waterfall. Unbeknownst to them, Sarah, who was standing nearby, snapped a picture, sensing where things were headed. On their second hike, they wandered through the woods, joking around and enjoying the views. And that’s when it happened: while playfully shoving each other as they crossed a road, their eyes locked, and in that moment, it felt like the entire world stood still. It was as if they were the only two people on earth, with God as the only witness. The rest of the hike was filled with laughter, and by the time they returned to the hotel, the three of them were still laughing as they played a silly game late into the night.

After the trip, Nicholas gathered the courage to ask Danielle to hang out again. They shared a meal at El Caporal, followed by a walk through the woods in Nicholas's backyard. They threw rocks, pointed out interesting things, and, like kids, giggled at every little discovery. Later, they watched Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 together. Danielle had a wallpaper on her Apple Watch that changed when tapped. Nicholas playfully tapped her watch, which led to hand-holding—an innocent gesture that, in the moment, Danielle didn’t realize was a part of a date. The night ended with goodbyes, but both knew they wanted to keep seeing each other.

Their connection deepened quickly, and they soon began dating. A few months later, during a trip to Red River Gorge, Nicholas confessed his love for Danielle—and, to his joy, she reciprocated. As time passed, their love for each other only grew stronger. They came to know each other more deeply—Nicholas, a goofy, caring, God-fearing man, and Danielle, a goofy, intelligent, beautiful, God-fearing woman. Together, they continued serving with Bridge the Gap, even starting a coffee stand for the homeless, while Nicholas led worship. Eventually, Danielle made the decision to switch churches to join Nicholas’s congregation. The more they loved each other, the next steps became clear. On the morning of October 26, 2024, the couple spotted a shooting star, almost like a sign from God, before heading to Red River Gorge. This is where Nicholas proposed to Danielle, and with a joyful heart, she said yes!