GRAHAM HALSTEAD
Our Story
The prologue to our love story began when we met at the first day of the Bachelor’s of Architecture program orientation at Cornell University, where we were in the same orientation group. For the fun facts section of the groups introductions, Dan promptly made fun of Lasers (the sailboat Kyrie grew up racing at Deep Creek Lake), though Kyrie did get him back by dunking his head underwater the first time we sailed together on Cayuga Lake. Both of us swore we’d never date someone else in our small, five-year program, yet apparently fate cannot be avoided.
In the fall of our second year, we found ourselves in the same architecture design studio section, and Kyrie even invited Dan to a sailing team date night. But, with both of our busy schedules, different friend groups, Covid-19 sending everyone home in the spring, and the whole “not going to date another archi” mindset, our story did not quite begin until our third year. ​
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After being friends for a few years, we knew each other relatively well and began to spend more time together. Dan attempted to teach Kyrie Revit (an architecture software we now both use daily for work). We found ourselves taking late night drives around Ithaca in the snow, bonding over similar music tastes and the craziness of trying to enjoy hobbies and teams outside of architecture, a notoriously rigorous and insular program. We found that we shared a similar love for architecture, sailing, skiing, and travelling. We started dating officially on December 21st, 2020 during our third year.
We started off our first impressions as a couple by accidentally getting covid, sending all of our roommates into the university sanctioned quarantine, and missing our first Valentine’s Day together; though, this began our tradition of celebrating the holiday of love a week late on what we now call Quarentine’s Day, February 21st.
We loved getting to experience college together and support each other through all of life’s wind shifts. Through both of our rigorous academic schedules, Dan’s never ending fire calls, long distance for Kyrie studying abroad in Italy for a semester, and many fun adventures, we always manage to make each other smile. We found a reliable, loving, and supportive partner in each other.
Months seemed to fly by. We graduated architect school together. We started our first architecture jobs out of university. Soon we bought our first house together, and Kyrie joined Dan in Lancaster, PA.
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On June 21st, 2025, close to our home at the top of a hiking trail overlooking the Susquehanna River, Dan asked Kyrie to be his wife. This came after a perfect weekend of a wonderful date, walks by the river, breakfast and tea in the park, a book sale, a scorchingly hot hike up the trail, and a delicious picnic with a sunset view so beautiful that an entire Mennonite family happened to join us for. After knowing each other for seven years, this proposal came as no surprise to Kyrie, who may or may not have proposed if Dan hadn’t.
Our love for each other is so strong and full of admiration, respect, and care for each other. We are best friends first, and there has never been a doubt that we would be partners for life. We cannot wait to celebrate our love with you! We are so thankful for all of the love and support of each of you as we start this next chapter of our life together.
