The happy couple

THE meeting

Carly knew who Dan was, just like Dan knew of Carly. They both took classes and were on improv teams at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade theater, though they never ran in quite the same circle. That changed on Memorial Day weekend in 2015.

After some back and forth, Carly decided she was in fact going to UCB’s ‘Company Picnic’ in Prospect park. This is where she met Dan. His wit and charm earned him one of her coveted Six Point beers she brought. She felt a crush coming on. A week or so later she ran into him again at a show she wasn’t planning on being at. A week after that, she ran into him on the street during the Del Close Marathon (an improv festival) after her plans got abruptly cancelled. She decided then and there if she ran into him a fourth time, she would ask him out.

And she did.

the proposal

Thinking back, Carly remembers Dan being more than usually concerned about the luggage.

The ring was ready just a week before setting out on an unforgettable trip - from the shop in midtown Manhattan, this ring traveled by subway back to Astoria, Queens; in a cab to JFK Airport; by plane on to Berlin; via high-speed train to Munich; a much slower train across the German-Czech border; briefly under a bus, avoiding construction near Pilsen; and onto a third (and somehow slower) train for the final leg of its secret trip. Once in Prague, the ring traveled on foot - through stony arcades, around Old Town Square, to the banks of the Vltava - before being, as it were, hand delivered.

After a delicious dinner at Lokál Dlouhá, the couple stopped back at their apartment where Dan pocketed the ring. Then he wandered Carly down to a plaza between the Charles and Mánes bridges, across the river from Prague Castle lighting up the horizon. Looking out at the view, Dan told Carly how much he loves traveling together. Dan was down on one knee before she knew what was happening. He asked her to spend the rest of their lives together, seeing the world. And she said yes!

The future

After years living in New York, Carly and Dan have moved to St. Louis, MO.

What they’ll miss most about New York: some of their oldest and dearest friends, incomparable live theater, cuisine of any kind available whenever you want, walking around Astoria Park on Sunday afternoons, never being more than a mile from a library, special occasion dinners at Vite, multiple baseball teams, and the way Christmas takes over the city in December.

Things they’re looking forward to in STL: being closer to family, weekend trips in their “alien green” car, season tickets to the MUNY this summer, easy access to toasted ravioli, Kaylee’s soccer games & Addie’s softball games, swimming in pools and lakes, Carly’s glorious return to the Ren-Faire, and having infinitely more space.

We’re excited to make the move, and cannot wait to start our marriage in a new city!