 | Dana & Nathan
| | Dana and Nate first met in 2002 in Hamilton while Dana was a graduate student at McMaster. Nate, a graduate student at McGill at the time, was in town from Montreal to give a presentation at Mac and they ended up out that night with the same group of people. "We talked a bit and I really thought she was hilarious", recalls Nate, "but we were both in relationships and I figured we would never see each other again." Fate had something else in store for them, as less than one year later Dana moved to Montreal to begin her doctorate at McGill and they became fast-friends. Nate's work took him to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver the next year and it was not until 2005 they realized enough was enough, they had always been meant for each other, and they had to start dating despite living at opposite ends of the country! They split the distance and moved to the GTA together in 2006 when Nate began a faculty position at University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). After Dana completed her doctorate in 2007, she was offered at great opportunity at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. "It was a sad case of if you love someone set them free. I knew it would not be right to ask her to stay and sacrifice her career for mine," says Nate. It turned out to be the right play; after less than 1 year Dana was able to return to Toronto. Weathering all of the long distance has finally worked out for them, as Dana will begin a faculty position in the same department (Geography) as Nate at UTM in January! They quickly decided to move from Etobicoke to Mississauga and have bought a heritage house in Streetsville where they plan to spend the rest of their lives.
The proposal happened shortly after they bought their house and was quite unexpected for Dana. Nate was insistent on taking Dana berry picking shortly following her birthday last June with the argument that the gardening books he had given her two weeks prior were not exciting and romantic enough of a birthday gift. Dana was not convinced that strawberry picking was a priority at that time since they had just purchased their first home and they had been quite busy in their spare time planning for the move in August and fretting about finances. "Plus," as Dana recalls, "in the time that we have known each other, I could not recall a time when Nate had shown such strong interest, or any interest for that matter, in fruit picking despite my obvious love of berries". Dana tried to let Nate off the hook by declining the offer, but he would not take no for an answer and set a date that Friday afternoon to pick berries at a local farm, Al Ferri's. An avid runner, Dana insisted on running halfway to meet Nate between their Etobicoke apartment and Mississauga where Nate picked Dana up in his car. Dana, sweaty from running, and Nate, sweaty from being nervous, headed into the berry patch. Half an hour into the picking Nate exclaimed that he had found the most perfect ladybug and ran over to Dana to show her the insect he held cupped in his hands. Dana stood with a mouthful of berries as Nate fell onto one knee and opened his hands to show her the ladybug. Dana squinted down and quickly realized that what Nate held in his hand was not a ladybug but an engagement ring and that he had just asked her to marry him! Dana agreed without hesitation and they embraced, laughed and shared a few tears at the excitement of the moment. "I would never have insisted on running halfway and being so sweaty and gross had I known he was going to propose. I was so embarrassed!" Dana comments, remembering the moment. "It was all I could do to get her to come berry picking at all, it was like pulling teeth," Nate recalls.
On the way home from their berry picking engagement, Nate and Dana stopped at the park in Streetsville adjacent to the home they would be moving into in August and daydreamed about their future home and what their wedding might look like. It was then they decided they wanted a local wedding in their new local community. They have decided on the Streetsville United Church for the ceremony and the Vic Johnston Community Centre in Streetsville Memorial Park for the reception and party.
Although neither Dana nor Nate is originally from Mississauga, they have quickly become "the perfect Mississauga couple" and are here to stay. They are already members of the Streetsville Historical Society and Dana has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Safe City Mississauga. "We are both thrilled with the multi-faceted character of Mississauga and plan on doing everything we can to make it even better both as professors at UTM and directly through involvement in the community. It doesn't hurt that this a great place to raise a family… we would not want to be anywhere else!!" says Nate. |
| VOTE WHO WINS A DREAM HONEYMOON VACATION PACKAGE |
|
HER: Name: Dana Age: 32 DOB: June 13 Astrological Sign: Gemini HomeTown: Wasaga Beach First Impression of HIM: Sense of humour and smile HIM: Name: Nathan Age: 32 DOB: Feb 20 Astrological Sign: Pisces HomeTown: Greenwood, NY First Impression of HER: Very outgoing and a great sense of humour... oh and VERY pretty THEM: First Meet: December 2002 First Date: Valentines 2004 Get Together: December 2005 Date of Engagement: June 19, 2009 Wedding Date: July 31, 2010 |
| |
Today's Question:
What would you like to say to the people that voted for you? Dana & Nathan's Answer:
THANKS to everyone for taking the time and effort!! Have a wonderful New Year.
Dana & Nate
xoxo
Previous questions & answers
 | Dana & Nathan's Choices:
| Bridal Fashion |
| | Annie Thompson |
| Bridal Registry |
| | Stay tuned... |
| Decorations |
| | Stay tuned... |
| Favours & Gifts |
| | Stay tuned... |
| Gardens |
| | Streetsville Memorial Park |
| Venues |
| | Vic Johnston Arena Banquet Hall, Streetsville United Church |
| Invitations |
| | Homemade (we hope!) |
| Live Music & Entertainment |
| | The Red Peppers Dixieland Jazz Band |
| Party Rentals |
| | Stay tuned... |
| Transportation |
| | Stay tuned... |
| Travel Agencies |
| | Hopefully Able Travel (fingers crossed!!!) |
| |
