Dara & Nathan
How We Came About...
Nate says if you don't know "our story" after eight years, you probably shouldn't be invited to our wedding (this guy, I tell ya), but we'll go ahead and humor you anyway.
The Mitten
Nate is from Taylor, Michigan aka The Mitten. Many folks who aren't from the Northern region of the U.S. aren't aware that Michigan is shaped like a mitten and when someone from The Mitten is telling someone who isn't from The Mitten what part of the state they're from, they hold up their left hand and point to the part of the hand where they come from.
The Magnolia
Dara is from Diamondhead, Mississippi aka The Magnolia State, which is 55 miles east of New Orleans, Louisiana. Dara climbed many a Magnolia tree as a kid and tends to refer to the group of girls she grew up with as "Steel Magnolias."
Mitten & Magnolia
Nate and Dara both moved to Los Angeles in 2003. Nate to explore the business side of the action sports industry and Dara to finish college and immerse herself in the entertainment capital of the world. It wasn't till a year later when Dara gained interest in working on televised action sports contests that she met Nate. He was the sweetest most innocent guy she had met in years and was really inspired by his love and passion for BMX. Nate says Dara was a crazy workaholic (still is) and helped her come to terms with the fact that she doesn't have to LIVE to work. With this in mind, she did reverse psychology on Nate and lit a fire under his ass urging him to use his talent and skill to follow his BMX dreams, if you will, to make a solid living doing something he was so knowledgeable and passionate about.
Dara pushed Nate to pursue areas of the BMX world that led him to live and work in many countries all over the world. During this time, Dara hung back in Los Angeles trying (although insanely difficult) to be happy and proud of Nate, not envious because she'd always wanted to travel to the places Nate was going. Then in 2008, the year Dara graduated from college, she was awarded a scholarship from the Chinese government to live and study in Shanghai for a year. This year would be the ultimate test... and well, we made it!
Hell, it's been quite the journey and through all the times apart, ups, downs, sideways, we still wake up in the morning together and go to sleep at night together.... with Etta at our feet, of course... and are so proud that we've made US work.
This marriage is a long time coming and we're so excited and thankful that you'll be there with us to hear our vows on November 10th.