Amidst relentless lockdowns, a beautiful love story emerged, defying the odds of isolation and uncertainty. Grateful for the world bringing them together when it did, Merryn and Daniel found sanctuary in each other where they could be their authentic selves without reservation.   

When and how did you meet one another?

We met four years ago on Hinge, after hitting it off online we arranged to have our first date at a Wine bar in Brunswick. Our first date literally started with laughter (and profuse apologies) as I sent Daniel to the wrong wine bar and only realised when I arrived to the correct place and he wasn't there. Less than a week later the borders were shutting and we were navigating our new relationship, incredibly thankful we had the opportunity to meet when we did.  

When did you know you had found your special person?

Merryn: I think it was watching how we grew together in ways we never would have apart and seeing the impact we had on each other. Daniel has the biggest heart, he genuinely cares so deeply for those around him and I am lucky that I am counted as one of those people. I can't pinpoint the exact moment I knew, but gradually there was a shift where I wanted to share all my experiences with him. Even just sharing company together while we each do our own things, the only way to describe it would be to say I found my equilibrium with him. 

Daniel: It was something that I knew very early on in our relationship. Merryn has this presence that makes me so comfortable to be myself and when she smiles it lights up my world. I look forward to making more memories together. 

How did the proposal go down?

We had made the decision we were going to get married together, but it was still important to us to ask each other. We invited four of our closest friends to share the day with us. To start we met at the Conservatory in Fitzroy gardens, and chose the perfect spot. Each with a ring box in hand, we looked at each other and asked right are we going to do this?. Daniel got down on one knee and I instantly started tearing up. While the proposal wasnt a surprise, I was genuinely shocked how emotional I got. Rings on our fingers we had a little picnic in the gardens before heading up to Marion for a celebratory late lunch with our friends. 

What are the wedding plans?

We've opted for a split wedding approach. We're having our ceremony in September at the Treasury office with our parents and sisters, followed by dinner with a wider family group. About a month later, we were looking to throw a celebration with our friends. Neither of us want a big wedding, so this way we can share the day with our families while also getting a chance to share it with our friends. 

Can you share some words on your Black Finch experience?

We designed our rings together, after following Black Finch online for a while we dropped by on a Saturday initially just to see everything in person but ended up starting the custom process that day. The team was awesome, they helped us find the perfect stones to match and bring it all together. They were great at answering any questions we had and we couldn't have asked for a better experience.