Rustic Lodge

Rehearsal Dinner

The Home Farm Barn

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Brunch

Our Wedding

Love in the Time of COVID-19

We will be having our&nbsp;vow renewal/reception&nbsp;on August 20, 2022! This will be our two year wedding anniversary. Expect some more mail from us soon&nbsp;with more details. Thank you all for your support as we had to navigate planning a wedding&nbsp;during these unpredictable times.&nbsp;We are beyond excited to celebrate with all of our friends and family!&nbsp;

T:&nbsp;We were in the same class in first grade. We never talked, but I do remember noticing she had white hair. We wouldn't be in any of the same classes until years later.

D:&nbsp;We were in the same first grade class at Eisenhower Elementary and I remember his first day because he joined the class later in the school year.&nbsp;Though I don't think we talked to each other at all in first grade, I will always remember his desk getting dumped&nbsp;over because it was too messy (a famous move by our teacher).

How We Met

T:&nbsp;Our friend groups kind of hung out in high school, but we didn't start talking until our friend&nbsp;gave me Di's number and suggested I ask her to prom. I never thought of her as an option because I figured she wouldn't be interested but I gave it a shot anyway. We had a 5th period history class together and I'd usually take some time to chat with her when the lecture portion finished. I definitely impressed her with my high score on Temple Run and I think that really helped seal the deal. Our first date went really well so&nbsp;we just kept hanging out and we really enjoyed each other's company. I pretty much considered her my girlfriend a few dates in but we made it "official" one night and shared a kiss in my Buick that night when I drove her home.

D:&nbsp;We had casually hung out in groups on several occasions where I can recall Tom once&nbsp;eating an entire box of cookies.&nbsp;As junior prom was approaching, a mutual friend gave Tom my number and he started texting me...then asked me to prom a week later.&nbsp; We were going as "friends" at first but decided to give dating a try instead.&nbsp; The weekend before prom, after Tom had been telling people I was his girlfriend long before he even&nbsp;asked me, we made it official on May 12, 2012!

How We Started Dating

T:&nbsp;I had some time off from the USMC Logistics Officer Course for Memorial Day weekend and flew from North Carolina back to PA. Di and I had talked about marriage several times so I knew that if I wanted to surprise her with a proposal, it would have to be at a time she wasn't expecting (not Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, etc.). Di had always been pretty clear about what type of ring she wanted: a&nbsp;round-cut diamond with a pavé band and a halo. With the ring en route, I turned to deciding on the venue. I knew I would be doing this in Pittsburgh so I wanted a place with a good view of the city and the West End Overlook was the perfect place. I had my sister scout it out and she even helped make sure we'd have a photographer on hand&nbsp; to capture it all. Next I had to make sure both of our families knew what was going on, and luckily there was resounding approval from both sides. I wanted to ask her dad in person and this would prove to be a bit more tasking. When I landed in Pittsburgh I took an Uber to meet up with my sister and then to a park in Mt. Lebanon where Di's dad was watching Ella (Di's niece)&nbsp;play a soccer game. Unfortunately, we got there just after the game was over and ended up walking down to the field just as Mr. Watson was walking up from the field. Luckily, Di's brother, Dane, stalled Mr. Watson until I could get up there and pop the question before the question. He was definitely surprised to see me but I got the go-ahead from him and set off to meet up with Di. We finally make it to the Overlook and it's such a beautiful spot that someone else is having their wedding there on the same day! Thankfully my sister was able to get some groomsmen to allow us onto the Overlook so I could carry out my plan. With the final hurdle cleared, all that was left was to ask and I did. She said yes and that was definitely the easiest part of the whole day.

D:&nbsp;Tom was up visiting Pittsburgh from North Carolina&nbsp;for Memorial Day weekend. He picked me up from my apartment, late may I add (I was slightly annoyed),&nbsp;and led me&nbsp;to the&nbsp;West End Overlook, a place that&nbsp;a fellow Marine had "suggested" we go. When we arrived at the park, we saw that&nbsp;a wedding was about to begin.&nbsp; I felt like we were interrupting the set up but little did I know that Linda (Tom's sister) had arranged our arrival with some groomsmen. As we were talking and staring out over the city, I noticed what I thought was the wedding photographer getting awfully close to where we were standing.&nbsp; Next thing I know, Tom is down on one knee.&nbsp; I have no idea what he said because I was too shocked to pay attention but&nbsp;the most important thing is that the answer was yes!! Afterwards, he had planned an engagement party at my brother's house which was the perfect way to celebrate the occasion with our families.

How He Asked

Our Story

Details

Danielle Watson

Reed Bair

Derek Watson

Linda Kanyarusoke

Dane Watson

Juls Goodfellow

Jon Karcher

Olivia Kimmel

Kara Smith

Makenzie Covey

Chris Caroff

Kate Appolonia

Ella Watson

Luke Watson

Ethan Watson

Hollis Papadopoulos

Drake Watson

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

Since parking is limited on the venue&nbsp;property, local guests are asked to park at Risinger&nbsp;Landscaping,&nbsp;located at 501 Indian&nbsp;Springs Road, Indiana, PA.&nbsp;A&nbsp;trolley will transport guests to the Home Farm Barn starting at 1:00 pm and will pick up guests every 15 minutes.&nbsp;The trolley will be available at the Home Farm Barn for the remainder of the evening to transport guests back to Risinger&nbsp;at any time.

Guests who park on the streets in the&nbsp;Brookwood Estates&nbsp;neighborhood will be towed at the owner's&nbsp;expense.&nbsp;

Transportation for Local Guests

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn, located 1.5 miles away from the Home Farm Barn. A&nbsp;trolley will pick up guests in front of the hotel starting at 1:00 pm. The trolley will be available at the Home Farm Barn for the remainder of the evening to transport guests back to the hotel at any time. Please&nbsp;reference the Kanyarusoke Wedding on the phone or use the code above in the group code section of special rates when booking online. Please book by July 19th. If guests would like to stay at another hotel, please park at Risinger Landscaping where the trolley will pick you up along with the local guests.

Hilton Garden Inn Indiana at IUP

Travel

Noble Stein Brewing Company

Levity Brewing Co.

Brunzies

The Jimmy Stewart Museum

Har-Tees Driving Range

Our first date was on April 6, 2012...we went mini golfing at Har-Tee's then took a stroll around Blue Spruce Park.

Diana & Tom