Erin Maureen Alcorn is born and grows up in Coppell, Texas with her little brother Colin. She is a very happy child who prefers to run naked to the piano after bath time instead of getting ready for bed. More than playing piano naked, Erin loves to sing, play dress up, and make believe. Naturally, she becomes a high school choir and debate nerd. Erin decides to combine her nerdy passions and pursue a career in vocal performance and opera, attending the Oberlin Conservatory. She eventually makes her way to Philadelphia where she lives for almost six years, performing, teaching, and swing dancing. She eventually decides to become a professor of singing and heads to Cincinnati to earn a doctoral degree. Erin remains a busy cat and plant mom, and inhaler of chocolate and lattes.

Daniel Charles O'Donnell is born to parents Lynne and Chip, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dan is an amazing brother, the second oldest, and only boy of four siblings. He enjoys soccer and piano lessons and has the ability to read nearly a book a day. He eventually grows up to become Mom's favorite (see corresponding photo for proof) and the family member with the longest hair. (Thank goodness the latter fact does not remain true.) His high school English teacher describes Dan as a "devil with a cherub face," a description which those close to him agree is relevant today. A complete and total nerd, Dan pursues biochemistry at the University of Cincinnati and lands a job in the COVID and toxicology labs at a company called Gravity Diagnostics. He then moves on to become a field specialist for Waters. To this day, Dan remains active in disc golf, funny video curation, and board games.

Erin and Dan match on a dating app. Erin then ignores him for a month (due to exams), but pulls a smooth move to start the convo again by dropping her number in the chat. Dan doesn't have a big ego so he gives her another chance and texts her. Erin is smitten by Dan's puns and cute smirk. Dan is smitten by Erin's genuine smile and penchant for laughing at his dumb jokes. They share an appreciation for music and fond memories of early 2000s pop-culture, such as emo bands and tragedy bangs. Erin is impressed with Dan's maturity, given that he's younger, and chalks it up to the fact that he has three sisters. They decide to meet.

Erin and Dan go on their first date at Coffee Emporium in downtown Cincinnati. It went well so they continued to the art museum. (These photos are actually from our first anniversary date at Coffee Emporium at the same table!)

The second date happens five days later with Italian dinner and a private jazz concert at Schwartz's Point. Date 3 and 4 happen two days later and include avant garde classical music that has Dan questioning things. However, many more dates ensue.

Dan brings Erin over to meet his dad Chip and watch the Super Bowl. Erin and Dan take their first picture together. Erin has Cincinnati "chili" for the first time. (Please note: Erin has included quotations here because of her Texan opinion that Cincy "chili" is not really chili.) Things start to get serious for Dan and Erin.

Dan attends Erin's doctoral degree recital and their families (and Maid of Honor Hannah!) meet for the first time. Around this time Dan tells Erin he loves her.

Dan attends many, many, many performances of Erin's. And still somehow sticks around.

Erin takes Dan to her family's farm in Iowa. Yes, their first vacation together was a 9-hour roadtrip to North Iowa... Dan helped Erin's dad Mark change the oil for his tractor... It went well, so here we are.

This summer Erin meets all of the Rhodas and O'Donnell's and is treated to Dan's mom Lynne's cookouts.

This summer Erin and Dan meet each other's friends in Cincinnati and Philadelphia.

Dan goes to Dallas for Thanksgiving and meets some of Erin's extended family!

Erin and Dan decide to adopt each other's families.

Erin and Dan move in together in Lexington and adopt two kitten brothers Willow and Ash, making them a three-cat household. (Ella pictured bottom row)

Dan proposes in a hammock at Jacobsen Park in Lexington, KY. It's meant to be!