It was a promising Wednesday night in Grand Junction, Colorado, the biggest little town you’ve never heard of. The gang was going out. The girls wore their cutest clothes, hair styled, and make up on. The guys were dressed out with fresh haircuts and their best cologne. The spot was Wrigley’s, a local bar that had been there for decades and had seen a young Dan dozens of times throughout his childhood. Despite living in Grand Junction during college, this was Sarah’s first time there.

Dan and Sarah had met briefly the night before…if Sarah trying to steal a slice of his pizza and Dan listening to her roast men on dating apps counts as meeting.

But that night, as music and bar games set the mood, they started to really talk. And before long, they were flirting. Big time. Dan flashed his muscles, and Sarah gave him her biggest smile. After a while, friends came up and pulled Dan into a new conversation and Sarah into a game of darts. Both were trying to play it cool, but there had been a spark.

Emily, their kind and watchful friend, noticed. Looking out for her lonely friends, she went into action. She walked over to Dan and very casually asked, “So…what do you think of Sarah?”

Dan said, “She’s cool, but…how do I keep the conversation going? What am I supposed to say?” Another friend, who had overheard, chimed in, “Try words!” As far as Emily was concerned, Dan was on board. One down, one to go.

Then she went over to Sarah, who was waiting for her next turn. “So…” she said, “what do you think of Dan?” Sarah said, “He’s cute and fun, but, like, what should I say to him?” You might be able to guess Emily’s answer.

After last call, the gang went back to the house, and the two talked. Even as the hour grew late and everyone else left or went to bed, they continued to talk. Before they knew it, the night had gone by. Just as they started to doze, Dan realized he had to run home to change before his early shift at work.

And the rest is history. Sarah went back to Las Vegas, but they continued to talk. Texts turned into phone calls, which led to plans for more trips. By June, Sarah was back in Grand Junction. On that trip, they decided to move on from “just vibing” – Dan’s infamous words – to being an official couple.

For a year, they took turns going back and forth. There were lots of countdowns, travel mishaps, and trips that were just too short. But there was also a lot of love, laughter, and long-distance dates through FaceTime.

Then, Sarah said she could not wait another minute for them to be in the same place. Grand Junction or Las Vegas. She didn’t want to leave home, and Dan wanted to start something new. So Las Vegas it was. They passed another happy year together with a lot of growth and even more love.

By the end of that year, Dan was sure he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Sarah. He asked her best friend, Sanie, for help to find her dream ring. He planned the perfect secret engagement party for June 13. He told Sarah they were briefly stopping by her parents’ house just before their anniversary dinner. But once they arrived, he led her to the backyard of her childhood home, which had been transformed into a romantic garden with hanging lights and beautiful blooming flowers. She saw the signs, decorations, and both of their families. Music started to play, and she turned around to see Dan on one knee. He professed his love in a speech only she could hear, and then asked the big question. With tears in her eyes, she gave a resounding yes. They spent the rest of the evening celebrating with their families and loved ones, glowing with the happiness that comes from the promise of forever.

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We hope you have enjoyed our story so far and are delighted to share the beginning of this new chapter with you on October 17, 2025.

With love,

Dan and Sarah