A swipe right we’ll never forget! Sam and Dan matched on Bumble in May 2021. Sam opened with a cheesy pickup line, and Dan responded with an equally cheesy joke— a match made in heaven. Their first date was bubble tea, followed by ice cream, and then a picnic. (Can you tell they’re foodies?) They spent that summer falling in love over shared meals, lots of laughter, and plenty of arcade games. On their fourth date, Sam absolutely demolished Dan at skee-ball—a moment that has lived on as a recurring (and hotly debated) tradition throughout their relationship. They’re excited for a lifetime of love, laughter, great food, and Sam continuing to win at skee-ball.

The open water. A stranded boat. A heroic rescue. This isn’t the start of a suspense novel—it’s the beginning of an epic proposal! Dan knew he wanted to propose somewhere meaningful, and since family means everything to both of them, her grandparents’ lake house was the perfect choice. With the help of many co-conspirators, a plan came together: during their annual summer trip to Michigan, Dan would pop the question. The cover? A casual boat ride followed by family photos—something Sam’s mom plans all the time. Sam didn’t suspect a thing. Dressed in their cutest casual summer attire, Sam, Dan, and several family members set off on the beloved pontoon boat, captained by her grandfather, Papa. Back at the house, Dan’s folks and Sam’s best friend were arriving, ready to watch the proposal unfold from shore. But just minutes into the ride… disaster. The boat hit a sandbar. Completely stuck, Dan began mentally rewriting the proposal to include everyone swimming back to shore (not exactly the vibe he had in mind). But then—hero moment—Nana stepped in. She rolled up her capris, hopped into the water, and single-handedly pushed the boat off the sandbar before climbing back aboard like an absolute legend. Crisis averted. Proposal back on. After a few more laps around the lake, the boat finally docked. Everyone stepped off, with Sam and Dan bringing up the rear. Focused entirely on not tripping, Sam didn’t notice the group gathering nearby—or that Dan had fallen a few steps behind. As she reached the end of the dock—surprise! Out popped her best friend, Courtney. Confused (and slightly suspicious), Sam hugged her and immediately asked what she was doing there. Courtney just smiled and told her to turn around. And there was Dan, down on one knee. An easy yes—and one of the best moments of their lives. But the surprises weren’t over yet. After hugs and photos, everyone headed to her aunt and uncle’s pub for what Sam thought was a casual dinner. Instead, she walked into a full surprise engagement party, with family and friends who had traveled from near and far! The night was filled with great food, drinks, laughter, and so much love as they celebrated the start of their next chapter—one that (hopefully) involves fewer sandbars.