As modern love stories go, it started with a swipe. The two had built out dating profiles on Bumble. Sam’s (obviously) had professional photos of him working with cameras. Tessa, working somewhere in that world herself, slid into his messages (as girls make the first move on Bumble). He gave her an easy opening to ask, “What camera brand do you like better, Sony or Canon?” She was living in Plymouth at the time and Sam resided in Green Bay. They closed the distance for their first date, meeting at the Wharf in Manitowoc. The first thing Tessa remembers is seeing Sam walk up behind her with an enormous smile. Sam immediately noticed Tessa’s sense of style and looks. Now the two were nervous, after being out of the practice of dating. Funnily enough – they showed up to a giant band cover event, as neither of them checked the schedule of the Wharf for that day. They listened for a while but soon found a quiet corner under a tent. It began raining outside, but there was electricity in the air between them. The two had an immediate connection over interests. They remember an engaging conversation about Hollywood color grading trends and Lord of the Rings. Lightbulbs went off as they both realized: “We’re the same kind of dork.” Fast forward to learning more about each other, where they quickly fell in love. SAM “I love Tessa because she’s gorgeous. Deeper than that, I love the woman who appreciates my hard work and encourages me. When I quit my job to start my business, she was so supportive and saw it as a way we’d grow something different. She’s a dreamer. I also love her straight forwardness, our shared love of food, and dorkier side. I love that we laugh about the same things and ultimately that we are so aligned on our values. We want the same things out of life and each day we work towards that together.” TESSA “I love Sam because of the way he loves me. I always idolized the love my parents had for each other. I started noticing that Sam showed me love in a lot of the ways my dad showed my mom. He does so much for Margot (now OUR puppy) and I. He anticipates what I need. Outside of us, he is so attentive to everyone he meets, and I’ve seen that more and more as his business grows. I often say Sam is the kindest man in the world. He is genuine and works incredibly hard for me, but also to take care of himself. Sam is handsome, commits to having fun, and best yet: He has a heart for God. For him, anything is possible, and I can’t wait to keep dreaming together.” They are so thankful for each other, but even more so to their families who have supported them along the way, made them both feel right at home, and have served as role models of what love looks like.