You could say the walk down the aisle for Daneen Paszli and David Dunlap started back in high school: Daneen, a freshman developed a crush on David, a senior, while both attended Riley in South Bend. The crush never went anywhere and as adults they would run into each other from time to time. "Every time I saw him after that, I would lose my breath?--it's like I never got over the high school crush," explained Daneen.
It took a mutual friend to let Daneen know that David was in fact interested in her. As fate would have it, the night the two finally got together ended with David in a car accident. While he wasn't hurt, Daneen stood by his side and the two ended up talking the night away. "And we've been together ever since and he still takes my breath away."
Daneen and David were engaged on February 17, 2006, two years to the day of the accident. David took her to the Grotto at Notre Dame where he proposed; then the couple dined at Sorin's at the Morris Inn on Notre Dame's campus.
The festivities continued at a surprise party David planned at his sister's house. With all their close family and friends on hand the surprise party turned into an engagement party. "Next to my wedding it was one of the best days of my life. He put a lot of thought and effort into it. It was just wonderful--to have everyone in one room to share it with right after it happens was just amazing," commented Daneen.
Daneen included family in a special way once again on their wedding day, September 3, 2006. Daneen's embroidered wedding dress had a cross on the front for her father who had passed away in 1973, and two more embroidered crosses on the back for her late grandmother and late grandfather. "During the reception that's what everybody wanted to see," commented Daneen.
The couple stayed that night at the Marriott in downtown South Bend where friends had filled their room with rose petals, explained Daneen. "There was not one inch of that hotel room that didn't have a red rose petal. I mean we are talking in the sink, the bathtub, on top of everything! It was amazing because it was so bright red and romantic."