We all know the phrase," What happens on Contiki, stays on Contiki". Well that was not the case with Cassie and Dan. What happened on Contiki bloody followed back to Australia.
In 2012, Cassie and one of her bridesmaids (Sarah) went on the European Escapade Contiki Tour.
Dans best man (Ingo) and Groomsmen/brother (Kyle) were also going on the European Escape Contiki. It was a last minute decision that Dan decided to tag along with one of his best mates Evan ( another groomsman).
August 13th 2012 - The Contiki Tour began. Sarah and Cassie didn't want to be the losers who sat at the front of the bus so off they headed towards the back. Apparently Dan and his friends had the same idea.
The first couple of days no words were spoken between the Lithgow boys and the Perth girls, but then Dan turned around and his first words to his future bride were" F*** you have a big head".
We still aren't sure what it was about that comment that made Cassie want to get to know Dan... but she did...and well, the rest is history.
The next 23 days they got to know each other, got blind together and formed a special bond. Then it was time for the Contiki to end.
You hear a lot of "Contiki Love" stories....they move home, they keep in contact for a few months and then you never hear from each other again... Cassie and Dan were different.
They both went back to their normal lives but still kept in contact. Dan and Evan came and visited Cassie a few months later and then in 2012 Dan moved to Perth.
Dan stayed a few months but just couldn't settle, so Cassie and Dan moved states. Queensland was the next stop. Dan working in the coal mines and Cassie being by herself a lot of the time didn't last long. A year later it was time to move again.
The next stop was Wollongong. 2 years they spent in this amazing place, with a number of trips back up to Lithgow to see their friends and family.
In January 2015 Cassie and Dan travelled to Bali. It was here dan proposed to Cassie at the restaurant that they shared their first Valentines day " La Lucciolla". It may not have been the most romantic setting with Cassie suffering from Bali belly but it did make a great story to tell everyone.
It was in 2016 that Cassie struggled with extreme home sickness and decided it was time to move back to Perth. She was unsure if Dan would follow, but we all know he did!
A few months later Dan set off in his truck with the dogs and some belongings and off he drove back to Perth to be with his " soccer ball head onesie".
Fast forward (9 years after Contiki). They now have their own house, Cassie's head is still as big, and Dan is still as annoying as he was back on Contiki, but at the end of the day they couldn't be happier.
The last 9 years have definitely had its challenges but we couldn't be more excited to be able to tell our story and share our special day with you all!
It's not every day you can say to people " We met on Contiki ".