where it all began
It all started as many young Jewish teens’ stories do, with sleep away camp. Jenn and Dan first met during BBYO’s Kallah summer experience in 2013. There, the two became great friends quickly with Jenn’s signature win-you-over immediately charm and Dan’s goofy, nice guy thing. Unbeknownst to clueless Dan, Jenn had a huge crush on him, but he was too busy being a dumb idiot.
After a tearful early morning goodbye when Jenn had to leave Kallah a full day before everyone else, the two kept in touch via the wonders of modern technology (thanks Skype!) and got to see each other in person maaaaybe once a year. Giving each other that first hug after a long time apart always made them feel like no time had passed and they were home together again.
A few years passed and Jenn and Dan were now in college. As things became busier, video calls became less frequent and the two sadly fell out of touch. They went on to study, meet great new friends, and date but had some hard times along the way. Thankfully, for a reason the two haven’t fully pinned down, they got back in contact and decided to plan an NYC trip to catch up. It was incredible to share another hug, reconnect and catch each other up on what they missed over the past few years.
After the trip, Jenn and Dan didn’t fall out of contact again and made sure to see each other as often as they could. The two made plans for a once in a lifetime trip, deciding to go on Birthright to Israel together and extend their stay for a month and half to backpack across Europe. Dan had the incredibly romantic idea to ask Jenn if he could “call” her his girlfriend to make it easier to explain their relationship to their new friends and thankfully Jenn put that hopeless romantic right in his place. Despite this, the two had an amazing trip together and by the end, realized that if they could travel together for almost two months without wanting to kill each other, that long distance would be a piece of cake. So it was time to make it official. Jenn and Dan set the start of their official relationship to July 10th, 2019.
Although they were now officially boyfriend/girlfriend, Dan had already planned to temporarily move to France after college graduation, and so, their long-distance relationship started with a 5-6 hour time difference. The two managed with early morning/late night FaceTime calls until that crazy, weird thing happened in early 2020 that kind of shut down the world, sending Dan home early and putting Jenn’s job search on an indefinite hold. Jenn and Dan used this time to spend a month or two together at a time, road tripping to see each other and stay at each others’ parents’ houses.
What a way to meet the family!
As the world began to look a bit more normal, Dan began grad school in Philadelphia and Jenn got her dream job at Delta Airlines, allowing the separation of long-distance to shrink just a bit. Philadelphia became a 2nd home to Jenn (shoutout 725 Hancock for letting her be the honorary 4th roommate <3) as Dan grew accustomed to Southern hospitality in Atlanta. Although tremendously difficult, the couple managed to outlast long-distance and finally, moved in together in June of 2024 in Atlanta.
Jenn knew for sure one thing about her proposal: that she wanted to be surprised. Unluckily for Dan, he was not slick, as Jenn thoughtfully reminded him frequently. She feared that she would eventually spoil her own proposal surprise and to be fair...she almost did...several times.
However, Dan turned towards those who know her best and crafted a master plan of shock and awe that Jenn never saw coming.
While Jenn was away for work, Dan assembled a crack team of the finest hooligans, chicaners, and tricksters on either side of the Mississippi to surprise her during a walk in Piedmont Park with her mom (and of course, Renee herself was a main conspirator).
Folks, she didn’t suspect a THING as she ran into family and friends at the park, one after the other, until being handed a bouquet of flowers and sent on her way to meet Dan by the lake. With tears in her eyes and a hand over her mouth, she said “I didn’t ruin it!” She then said yes. :)
And that brings us to present day where Jenn and Dan are feverishly planning the best celebration possible for their
family and friends to enjoy. The wedding will take place on October 10th, 2026 and will include a beautiful ceremony,
delicious meal (perhaps a jello shot or two) and energetic music to dance the night away.
Jenn and Dan are excited to welcome you to their wedding and are looking forward to spending this very special day with all of the people that they love most in the world.