We could've met much earlier. In college, one of Paige's favorite trips was taking the Amtrak from DC to Philadelphia to visit her close friend, Agnes, at Villanova. Between campus adventures, King of Prussia mall trips, and ill-advised experiments involving 100-proof vodka, Agnes introduced Paige to all her friends—except one. Dan. He was off playing poker in Staten Island or Marlboro, New Jersey, when Paige visited.
Fast-forward to 2018: Dan wanted to move in with Agnes in Hoboken, but Paige talked Agnes out of it. He ended up with four random roommates with one shared bathroom instead.
Then came the pandemic. During Agnes's virtual birthday, Paige and Dan finally met...on Zoom. Dan was instantly into Paige, and he asked Agnes if Paige was available. Agnes said no. A year later, Paige told Agnes she liked Dan. And then Agnes was like...heyyy Dan, you still into Paige? Then, Agnes passed along Paige's number, and their first date followed just weeks later.
As a museum lover, Paige was horrified when Dan claimed he’d “never been to one" and she wasn’t sure she believed him. Regardless, she knew the first date had to fix that, so they chose to visit the Natural History Museum in NYC.
On a freezing February day, Paige was running late between trains and had an eventful subway ride with a homeless man who screamed in her face. Meanwhile, Dan waited outside for nearly an hour in subzero temps, decked out in Buffalo Bills gear. When Paige finally got to him, he was practically an icicle.
After breaking the ice (literally), Paige and Dan got to exploring the museum and started cracking jokes right away. It felt like one long talk show starring them, making dumb jokes and puns at all the exhibits. At some point, they saw an exhibit created by a geologist couple and then went on a competition streak of horrible "Geologists' favorite..." jokes.
Geologists' favorite Jack Black movie...School of Rock
Geologists' favorite Nickelback Song...Rockstar
Geologists' favorite oil tycoon...Rockefeller
That competition continued long after Dan took Paige to a nice dinner, drove her from Manhattan to my home in Larchmont, and then drove all the way back to Stamford. Paige won.
Paige had two rules for Dan regarding a proposal: 1) it had to be the year she had her 10th-year high school reunion in 2024, and 2) her family had to be present. This was why it was a complete shock that the proposal took place during an Ambrosino family vacation in Newport, Rhode Island.
Paige's POV: Awe, this place is beautiful. I love hanging out with Dan's family, and I am going to play with Dan's nephew Jaxson all weekend! Hey, why is Dan sweating so much?
Dan's POV: Okay, so Christie lost her wallet and almost revealed she and the Thorntons are coming up to Newport. Paige keeps trying to FaceTime her parents, but I have to keep her off the phone. The hotel safe is broken, so I have to carry the ring at all times. And my parents have the subtlety of a freight train. So yeah, I'm gonna perspire!
Day of: The stage is set: 5:30 pm, waterside at Ocean Cliff. Dan is up at 5 am making sure everything is ready. The photographer is prepared, the in-laws are making their way to the destination, and he's got the ring in tow. He's accounted for everything. Well, everything .... except for Paige.
Dan had told Paige a small white lie that they had to leave for the venue separately from his parents to prepare for his sister's surprise birthday party. In reality, his and her families would already be hiding when he got to the waterside and proposed. It would be beautiful.
Unfortunately, he forgot that when you give Paige a task, she becomes the Terminator. She asked many questions to which Dan didn't have answers, insisted on wearing her hair up and a dress she wouldn't want in her engagement photos, and was overall not in a very romantic state of mind. And she had no intention of taking a stroll by the water before they went to the restaurant to "set up" for Kristin.
Dan: "Hey, babe, we are early. Let's go look at the beautiful scenery!" he says, giving a subtle signal to the camouflaged photographer.
Paige: "No, we need to go inside and prepare. Can we please go up to the restaurant? We have a job to do!"
As all his attempts to stall had been exhausted, Dan signaled the families to come out of their hiding place so Paige could see them before he took his position. As Paige looked back at the family's sorority-squatting from the top of the cliff, she turned in shock back to Dan, who was down on one knee with an engagement ring held upside down.
After much crying and excitement, Dan and Paige shared an embrace as they embarked on a new adventure together.
Paige and Dan are so fortunate and grateful to have their families and friends join them on their Wedding Day. And we can't wait to make many more memories with you all.