As with any good love story, we met in accounting class. We got placed into a group by our professor on our first day of intermediate accounting class, and we studied with that small group for the entire semester (and for the rest of the accounting core, shoutout Study Club!). During finals week, we broke the "study group members" barrier when the rest of our group left for the evening but we stayed chatting in this study room for hours. We ended up getting kicked out by the cleaning crew that night, and the rest is history.

Our first photo together! Isabel picked me up from an event and we drove together to meet up with our best friend Scott. Little did we know that this would be the start of our friendship beyond accounting.

At the end of finals week, I convinced Isabel to become a tour guide! When I found out she didn’t have any set plans for the summer, I talked her into applying for a job as a tour guide (even sent the first email from her computer to our supervisor) so she could hangout with me, my roommates, and tour guide friends. This is when our friendship began to blossom into something deeper. We spent lots of time together, and took lots of photos together. All summer we “definitely didn’t like each other”, and all of our friends NEVER pointed out how much time we spent together, and how much we enjoyed it.

Our first date! In July, I finally worked up the courage to ask Isabel to go out with me. I took her to Alpha Omega and to play putt-putt at Top Golf afterwards. Funny enough, I had a friend that was at Alpha Omega that same day who snuck this photo of the two of us without realizing we were on a first date! I also kept the putt-putt score card.

Isabel is the best Baylor hockey supporter! There were so many times that Isabel helped support me while running the program. She was truly an unsung hero and she taught me so much about being a compassionate leader. This was just one of the many games that Isabel came to watch.

Our first big trip together as a couple! We were originally supposed to be studying abroad in London during Christmas break, but it got cancelled due to Covid-19. So instead, we got two last minute tickets to watch Baylor beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans! We spent our first New Year’s Eve together on Bourbon Street. It was an unforgettable night, and a start to many more adventures together.

Our second big trip together! I planned a Disney trip for the two of us after a summer of doing long distance because of our internships. I grew up going to Disney World every couple years, but this was the first time I got to plan and manage a whole trip. This was also the first time the two of us had travelled just the two of us, which made it extra special. We had a blast, this trip will forever be a special memory. (Annnnddd, little did we know that almost a year later we’d both be signing accounting jobs with Disney….)

We finally got to go to London! Lucky for us, there was an opportunity to receive graduate credit on the same study abroad that originally got cancelled for us. We had an amazing time together abroad. We got to explore London, visit Scotland, and take a trip for Isabel to meet some of my family in Torquay.

We “studied abroad” in the Caymans! This trip was amazing, not only for the clear blue water and nachos on the beach, but also because Disney called Isabel on this trip and offered her the accounting rotation starting in August of 2024! This was the final piece of the puzzle that let me know it was time to propose.

Speaking of engagements… It took a small village to plan and keep the secret from Isabel, but it worked out flawlessly! We are so grateful that so many of our friends and family were able and willing to come celebrate with us that weekend. The whole weekend leading up to the engagement everyone was asking me if I was nervous about proposing. I told them all “no” because I knew with confidence that Isabel was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We are so excited for all of you to celebrate our unity in June!

Did I mention Isabel got a dog? Louie joined the family in May of 2023. Oh, and we graduated, 4.5 years since we both started at Baylor in September of 2019. If someone had told a 19-year-old Daniel that he would have experienced a worldwide pandemic, majored in accounting, met the girl of his dreams, and had a job at Disney lined up, he would probably laugh in their face. I am eternally grateful for everyone that has supported me through my journey, and if you’re reading this then that probably means that you had a significant impact on either my or Isabel’s life. Thank you for everything you’ve done, and cheers to becoming the future Mr. and Mrs. Atkins.