How it all began
How They Met
Dan and Melissa met online, but not in the typical online way. They first interacted on a chat forum for people who are fans of Walt Disney World in April of 2017.
A few months later, during the 4th of July weekend, Melissa drove from Connecticut to New Hampshire to visit Dan for the first time. Dan was determined to change Melissa’s generally negative opinion of New England. They spent a Saturday hiking up Mount Chocorua, a 3,480 footer in the White Mountains.
Through August 2017, they had visited each other multiple times, including short trips to Boston; Mystic, CT; and New York City. It was at the end of August that they officially became a couple.
Getting To Really Know Each Other
Dan and Melissa found mutual interest in watching Broadway musicals in New York City, trying new restaurants, visiting museums, suffering through college football, playing board games, making craft cocktails, and baking, among other things.
They took their first overnight trip together in June of 2018 to Burlington, Vermont where they enjoyed the local history on a boat tour, visited breweries, and sampled maple syrups. Later in October 2018 they took their first big family trip, a weeklong visit to Disney World with Dan’s mom, Margie, and sister, Michelle.
Dan got to visit Melissa’s hometown, Gainesville, FL, for the first time in November of 2018. He attended his first Gator game, met some of Melissa’s hometown friends, and enjoyed the local barbecue spots. On his next trip in October of 2019 he got to witness his first Gator football victory in person. Dan is now 4-1 at Gator football games!
Two years into their relationship, in December of 2019, Melissa moved to Brookline, Massachusetts. Neither of them missed the 3+ hour drive between Connecticut and New Hampshire.
In June of 2021 they took their first international trip together to Mexico. They have now visited four countries together - Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, and Sweden.
Syracuse and Purdue played a home-and-home series in football, which presented the perfect opportunity for Dan and Melissa to show each other their alma maters. Melissa took Dan to Chuck’s (a bar) and Dan took Melissa to Harry’s Chocolate Shop (also a bar). Let it be noted that Syracuse won both match-ups.
Building Their Lives Together
With Melissa working from home, it seemed finally time to move in together, so Melissa moved north to Nashua, New Hampshire in 2023. It wasn’t long thereafter that they purchased their first home together, a little Cape Cod bungalow in Manchester, New Hampshire…. and just a few months later, their pomsky, Bagel, came into their lives.
Bagel was present for the big proposal! Dan asked the question in August 2024, while on a Labor Day Weekend vacation with friends on the beach at Cape Cod. Dan and Melissa custom designed the engagement ring together.
And the rest is history
Now Dan and Melissa prepare to become husband and wife before friends and family.
Thank you so much for being part of our lives and our special day.
