Not only is Kirsten (Morgan) Rood and Daniel (Dan) Staley’s proposal story sweet, it got a super-sweet treatment when they had their mountaintop engagement photo baked into their wedding cake. Take a peek at it and the rest of their amazing celebration in the photos below by Brett Denfeld Photography.
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After meeting at a mutual friend’s party, Morgan and Dan went on a few dates, but the chances of a relationship working out seemed slim, as Dan was about to move to Yemen for a year. But four dates in, when Dan had to move, neither was ready to let go, so they continued talking via Skype every Sunday. Then Morgan told him that she was planning to visit Zanzibar. “[I] said he could join, but never thought he would!” remembers Morgan. “The next day he forwarded me a flight itinerary…and that’s how I knew he was serious, when he flew halfway around the world just to go on a fifth date.”
Four years later, Morgan and Dan set out with some friends to accomplish a bucket-list goal: climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Dan knew that he wanted to be with Morgan forever, so he brought a stunning oval diamond ring on the trip. They began the six-and-a-half-hour hike at midnight, and the freezing temperatures and low oxygen made for a long, difficult climb. “At 6:30 AM we arrived, exhausted but exuberant,” says Dan. “Right as the sun started to peak over the horizon, I took off my glove, got down on one knee, and told Morgan that if she agreed to spend the rest of her life with me that I’d never make her climb another mountain. She said yes, and the rest is history.”
For their October wedding, the pair chose the ever-classic DAR for their reception, decorating it with touches of navy blue and gold. They knew they wanted to incorporate their proposal story into their wedding cake, so they hired Cakes by Megan to create a half traditional white, half mountain-shaped cake and had a friend make the personalized cake topper out of clay.
Before the night was over, Captain Cookie and the Milkman arrived to serve cookies and ice cream sandwiches to guests. After cutting into their cake to the tune of Toto’s “Africa,” the happy couple departed with plans for a month-long honeymoon that would take them to different countries around the globe.
VENDORS
Ceremony Venue: Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart | Reception Venue: Daughters of the American Revolution | Photographer: Brett Denfeld Photography | Bride’s Gown: Liancarlo, Carine’s Bridal Atelier | Groom’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Hair & Makeup Artist: Alison Harper & Company | Cake: Cakes by Megan | Florist: Distinctive Floral Designs by Alison de Wit | Caterers: Spilled Milk Catering | Transportation: Tyrone Dixon Transportation | Music/Entertainment: DJ Elon, Bialek’s Music | Invitations: Minted
Looking for an amazing bakery to bring your wedding cake to life? Here’s a list of the area’s best bakeries.
Take a look at the inspiration photo for Morgan and Dan’s cake—their engagement photo taken at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
