Just a few months ago, Nate asked Danielle to be his forever and she said yes! We are so over the moon for them and can not wait to share in their joy as they celebrate their wedding day this February at Pronghorn Golf Club & Resort in Bend, Oregon! Our fingers, toes, hair, eyes are all crossed for snow on their wedding day as Danielle has always dreamed of getting married outside in the snow! Aaa… what a dream come true! Snow outside with hot chocolate and warmth waiting inside- surely Danielle’s perfect winter inspired wedding! Danielle has worked for Champagne since the very beginning! She’s sweet, kind, thoughtful and full of love, she’s creative and dedicated. We are certain that Danielle does not have a mean bone in her body! She’s the type of person anyone would be lucky to have planning their special day. Each planned with much love, detail and dedication! We are looking forward to being with her on her wedding to do the same for her that she does for so many couples each year!  We’re excited to share with you a few of their engagement photographs by the incredibly talented Byron Roe Photography and a little bit about their love story! Enjoy!

How they met:

While Nate was being interviewed for a job at the local coffee shop, Danielle walked in with her mom for a treat.  Danielle and Nate briefly locked eyes beginning their amazing journey right then and there.  Nate got the job perhaps only after beaming with excitement and impressing the manager with his sudden passion for coffee.  Danielle’s semi regular visit turned into multiple daily stops while Nate and Danielle’s mom began to chat about life, but mostly just laugh.  Then one day they made a plan to have Danielle and Nate officially meet. Finally one day Nate wrote his number down on the sleeve of her favorite coffee flavored caramel drink and things took an odd turn.  You see Nate was a budding barista and frugally didn’t have text messaging turned on.  Danielle, knowing that this was it,  this was the time when they would finally exchange frantic texting bliss, was sadly responded to with a message saying something along the lines of this number is invalid or no longer in service.  And doing what every other twenty something in this situation would do, assumed that Nate wanted nothing to do with her out side of pouring obscene amounts of caramel into her drink, so she delivered an astoundingly cold cold shoulder to Nate the following day.  Nate was obviously thrown off by the no call and even more so by the reaction that Danielle had to his gesture.  After sensing that something was not right Nate, hopped up on espresso decided to question Danielle on her not calling him.  Both were relived and elated to hear that no harm was intended and so began the dating…

How long they’ve been together:
4 years

The day he proposed:
9.15.2011

How he popped the question:

It all began with a little trip to the local jewelry store, Danielle had convinced Nate to do a little innocent shopping…for shiny things. Nate agreed, figured it wouldn’t hurt to see what style she was into, also to figure out her ring size if and when the moment came about. So they spent the typical 15 minutes trying to find a parking spot in downtown Portland, and strolled in to meet angelic voiced Lori who was smitten to see them.  Starting with the 8 carat honkers and moving down to the more reasonable 4 carat budget rings, Nate was thinking “Wow this is a lifelong commitment not only spiritually but financially.” These things were expensive, they looked weird on Danielle’s finger, so luckily Lori got the hint and decided to research a different style, as if knowing exactly what Nate had in mind, she found it. Right then and there Nate knew there was no other ring on this planet that would look any better than the one perfectly fitted on Danielle’s finger. Nate shrugged and mumbled in soft agreement, and they left. Meanwhile Nate can’t sleep with the sound of Lori’s angelic voice in his head and the sight of the ring on Danielle’s finger, and the next day at work decided to pay Lori a little visit. Checkbook in hand he drove down on his lunch and sure enough the parking spot right in front of the door was open, it was meant to be. Elated and sleep deprived he is greeted again by Lori who cannot wait to see his checkbook, signature here, check box there, a little box to go, Nate goes back to work. Just so happened Danielle was going to be in a meeting that day on lunch and when Nate drives home to stash the ring, surprise, Danielle is still home, so he heads back to work and stuffs it in the safe. That night before he leaves someone had decided to shut and lock the safe, so after waiting what seemed like forever the boss hands Nate the code to the safe, this is no ordinary code, thinking back to his freshman days of high school he finally cracked the code and stored the ring in the only place Danielle would not look, the binoculars case. Safe at home the ring kept Nate up, after the third night of getting little sleep, he just couldn’t bare it, he planned a trip to the coast. Luck would have it, the day off he had planned the picnic to the coast with the sunset and meaningful hike wasn’t going to happen. So plan B followed, they grabbed some sushi and pie and decided to go to Mt. Tabor to watch the sunset. White knuckled nervousness took over and the plan to hand Danielle the binoculars to look at the clouds rolling in was politely declined as supposedly binoculars make Danielle dizzy. Nate feeling defeated by his first and second attempt figured he would just get down on one knee and go for it. Apparently by getting down on one knee and holding up a small box signified Danielle to sit down next to him on the bench. A jogger running by noticed simultaneously what was happening and if not promoted by her delightful expression Danielle did as well and said “YES.” The rolling clouds turned out to be the first rain we had seen in 20 days and through the downpour and smell of freshly rained upon earth they embraced all the way to the car.

At what moment did you know he was the one?

The moment I knew he was the one was long before we were together when I saw him at his work and he had just bought “Pat the Bunny” book for his newborn niece, It was such a sweet moment seeing how excited he was to give it to her, I knew he was special.

At what moment did you know she was the one?

When did I know that…I think that was when I figured out that we made an awesome team and were stronger and better people with one another. We shared some pretty deep stuff emotionally when we first met and I think that the total exposure of one another’s past allowed us to grow together and make each of us who we are now. Inseparable.

What are you most excited about on the wedding day?

Nate: seeing her entire childhood fairy tale wedding unfold…maybe the flatiron steak, or the polenta…or her absolutely gorgeous eyes locking with mine as she walks up the aisle to begin the next chapter of our lives together.

Danielle: I am excited about everything! First look, walking down the aisle, being surrounded by family and friends, being married to Nate, and of course the hot chocolate bar!

Thank you so much, Danielle and Nate for sharing your love story with us and giving us just a glimpse inside your relationship as you take the next step together! We can’t wait to see you tie the knot at Pronghorn Golf Club & Resort in Bend, Oregon! Thank you, Byron Roe Photography for sharing the gorgeous photos!!

Cheers,

The Champagne Team