Wedding Wednesdays: Laura + David Daniel
Joining the Air Force may not have been on their radar, but for MSAN Air Force Mentor Laura Daniel, volunteering and connecting with the squadron’s chaplain helped her and her husband, David, become accustomed to new military life.
Though she grew up with her father in the Army, Laura had never known what life was like from a military spouse’s perspective. Times have changed, resources have vastly improved, and not to mention the Army and the Air Force are two very different branches!
Still, Laura found her own way and is now mentoring others through MSAN, sharing her experiences and helping military spouses find community.
From college to deployments and PCS over the last six years…let’s learn all about Laura and David’s incredible love story!
Tell us about your venue. Why did you choose this location?
We got married at the church we met when I first moved to Murray, Kentucky. We didn’t have a lot for our wedding budget, so we chose the place that both had sentimental value and wouldn’t break our budget.
Did you incorporate any special traditions into your ceremony?
My parents built us a Chuppah with our prayer shawl, which incorporated some of my family traditions. My husband also smashed the glass at the end of the ceremony. After David smashed the glass, I jumped up and down and hugged him…before the pastor ever pronounced us husband and wife. We were just so happy to finally be married and over wedding planning.
Share your engagement story!
I didn’t want it to be fancy, just to be us and that’s it. It had taken months for David to get me alone so he could ask. He finally got me alone, we took a walk around the Murray State campus, something we loved to do. He took me to the historical library where he asked me to be his girlfriend. It was the only cold day in December we had in 2016. He took me up the steps, positioned me a the top of the steps and then asked me to marry him.
It was a Wednesday before finals and the campus was basically deserted. I looked at him and said, “You’re doing this now?” David didn’t really know what to say to that right away. He said, “I have been trying for months!” He then asked, “What is your answer?” I said, “Oh yeah! Of course!” David was so excited he forgot to put the ring on my finger. He put the box back in his pocket and just smiled. I had to remind him to put the ring on my finger. It was hilarious, we laughed so hard.
Was your spouse already in the military when you got married?
The military wasn’t even on our radar. David joining the Air Force was pretty much out of left field for everyone, including his family. I had grown up military, my dad was in the Army for 37 years. I was really hoping that I was done with the military life and that I could live near my parents.
My dad and I had a bet, I told him that there was no way David would join up. My dad bet me $20 he would. When David declared he was going to meet with the local recruiter and start the process, I went to my parents’ house, walked in, handed my dad $20 and walked out.
David entered the Delay Entry Program (DEP) a few weeks after our wedding and went to basic training four months after we got married. I was in the middle of finishing my degree which, kinda threw a wrench in my career goals. We made it work though and I am so proud of his decision.
What were those first years like for you as a military spouse?
They were very difficult, tough, and rewarding too. We were stationed in Monterey, CA for a very long tech school. It was very demanding; David worked long hours, had to come home and study, I was finishing my degree which was also very demanding and I was putting in long hours as well.
We were 2,000+ miles from our parents and all of our friends. Starting over was not something I thought I would have to do again and I wasn’t too thrilled about it either. We leaned very heavily on Chaplin resources to help us stay connected, build a healthy marriage and settle into our military life. We are to this day so thankful for those resources, they really helped shape us and give us strength through those difficult first years.
What advice would you give to a new military spouse that you wish you had when you were married?
It’s going to be ok, even when you feel like it’s not. Don’t be scared to reach out for help.
Advocate for yourself; commanders are there to help you and your service member. Support each other and make decisions together. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need counseling services–it’s free. Take advantage of where you’re stationed and use base services like FSS/MWR.
Explore your duty station! You’ll be amazed to see what you can discover. Find time to strengthen your marriage, even during TDYs and deployments there are ways to keep growing your relationship together.
MSAN has resources for retired spouses, too! If you are new to military life and would like to be connected with a mentor, click here.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or volunteering with MSAN, please click here.
Stephanie Allen is the Communications & Marketing Director for the Military Spouse Advocacy Network. She is a proud Navy wife and mom, a writer, blogger, success coach, and the Content Manager & columnist for Tidewater Family Plus magazine.
