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Love: Meghan Kenney & Danny McNamara

August 24, 2013, in Manahawkin, N.J.

Meghan Kenney and Danny McNamara at the Mallard Island Yacht Club on Long Beach Island. (JULIE STAUFFER / www.pravadaphotography.com)
Meghan Kenney and Danny McNamara at the Mallard Island Yacht Club on Long Beach Island. (JULIE STAUFFER / www.pravadaphotography.com)Read more

Hello there

In February 2008, Meghan was bar-hopping with friends from Towson University in downtown Towson, Md., when one of them, also named Meghan, stopped mid-stride to talk to a guy walking by. "Meet my brother Danny," she said.

A short conversation on the street led Meghan, a communications major, and Danny, who studied business marketing at the same school, to find each other on Facebook, which led to a first date at the Macaroni Grill.

"I told him I loved him after two weeks," said Meghan.

"I care about you, too," said Danny. He was a bit thrown by the sudden L-word, but not much: About a month later, they met each other's parents. Neither had taken that step before.

"I knew it was different" than other relationships, Danny said. "We were so compatible."

They both enjoy nights on the town and days on the beach. More important to both is their mutual love of family.

"Knowing family is such an important part of both of our lives, it made us trust one another," said Meghan.

She grew up in Voorhees with her sister and parents Lori and Joe, who have been married for more than 25 years. "Her parents are like this perfect New Jersey couple," said Danny, who is now 28.

He grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., and has a blended family that truly blends: Mother Suzanne and stepfather Joe, father Jim, sister and half-brother and half-sister. "His parents are divorced, and [they] all hang out and get along. How can they be so close? I thought it was wonderful," said Meghan, now 26.

"She felt so comfortable, that it made me feel even better inside," Danny said.

After graduation, Meghan moved to New York City to work for National CineMedia, a movie-theater advertising company. Danny was hired by Victaulic, for whom he sells pipe fittings.

He lived with his family in Bethlehem, but since his territory was North Jersey and New York, he stayed with Meghan several nights a week. They settled into a happy routine.

Then in 2012, Danny's bosses approached him with an opportunity: Would he help establish a Victaulic presence in South Africa?

"I'm going to support you, 100 percent," Meghan told him.

Once he had her support, Danny reasoned that he could always return home if he didn't like South Africa, but saying no would probably eliminate his chance to ever try.

He moved in July 2012 and the couple kept in touch with Skype and Facetime. "It was definitely tough," Danny said.

He believes his family history prepared him for being apart from Meghan. In middle and high school, he didn't see his father much during the week, but they kept their relationship strong with phone calls.

Meghan said she thought she was in some sort of slump. She didn't realize how much being apart was affecting her until she and Danny were together again, on the other side of the globe.

How does forever sound?

Meghan visited Danny's mother and stepfather that October. "She gave me a box, and said it was a gift for Danny - his grandpop's bracelet."

Meghan wondered why Suzanne didn't wait until Danny was home for Christmas, but said she would happily deliver the gift when she visited him at Thanksgiving.

Immediately after the hugs and kisses in the airport, Danny asked, "Did my mom give you anything for me?"

Meghan handed him the box, and he put on the bracelet. They drove five hours to Ballito, on the northeastern coast, where Danny had to travel for work.

Near the hotel, he faked his way through a phone call. "Our room's not ready," he told Meghan.

"I'm so tired," Meghan said - her flight alone had been 16 hours. "I need a drink."

"We need to go to the beach," Danny said.

Meghan's suspicions worked better than caffeine, and she agreed to a walk.

"Why don't you put your feet in the Indian Ocean?" Danny suggested.

Beneath the velvet liner of the bracelet box, Danny's mother had taped a diamond ring that Meghan's mother had helped him design.

When Meghan turned toward him again, he was on one knee.

It was so them

In February 2013, Meghan left New York, moved in with her parents, and simultaneously planned a wedding and her move to South Africa.

"One of the hardest things I ever had to do was saying goodbye to my family and to his family," she said. In April, she joined Danny in Middelburg, South Africa, and now works for a real estate agency.

"We're kind of in the middle of nowhere," Meghan said, admitting she misses the restaurants and nightlife of New York and Philadelphia. But the couple travels to Johannesburg, and they've bonded tightly with Danny's coworkers.

They traveled home to marry at Mallard Island Yacht Club on Long Beach Island, chosen for its waterfront location. Meghan made the invitations, into which she tucked a sprig of lavender. Lavender - the color and the herb - was used throughout the wedding, which had a natural, beachy vibe. Mason jars filled with sea salt served as place cards.

The couple presented their mothers with sunflowers, and Meghan's bouquet bore the initials of their late grandparents. Danny's Uncle Gary got ordained so he could lead the ceremony. Meghan's three aunts did one reading, and Danny's three aunts did another.

They entered the reception for 218 to Toto's "Africa."

Awestruck

Meghan and her father descended a flight of stairs before walking down the aisle, and Danny caught a glimpse of her. "Oh boy. I was so nervous and excited - it was a feeling I never felt in my life before," Danny said.

"I saw him, and I could not stop smiling," Meghan said. "That feeling stayed with me the entire day."

Discretionary spending

A bargain: The handmade invitations.

The splurge: Some venues cost about a third of what the couple paid, but none matched the Mallard's services or beauty, Meghan said.

If they could do it all again . . .

The couple wishes they hadn't stressed so much over the guest list, which was limited by their venue's capacity. Accept that you can't invite everyone, they suggest.

The getaway

They needed eight vacation days just to make the wedding happen. Once back in South Africa, they spent a weekend on the beach where they got engaged.

A return trip?

Danny and Meghan hope to return to the States when Danny's assignment ends in 2014. "We would like to start our family in New York or New Jersey," he said.

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