Although the couple did not really meet at the Friendly Tavern, they did go there within hours of meeting. Kristi Jo, cousin of the bride and Maid of Honor, completed her Bachelor's degree in the spring of 2017. Samantha made the trip to St. Marys to celebrate her achievement and visit with family. The couple first met in the home of Teresa Rowen, Aunt of the Bride, who was hosting the graduation party. Samantha was instantly smitten with Dylan's rugged good looks and "being easy" in life laid-back attitude. Dylan's gracious entertaining of Bryer & Ramsey (children of the Maid of Honor) to allow Teresa and Samantha to have a much overdue auntie-niecey chat further endeared him to the bride-to-be. After dinner, the merry guests made their way to the Friendly Tavern for celebratory beverages and billiards. The evening is immortalized with an Instagram Post of Samantha and Kristi in graduation cap. Dylan kindly kept Samantha company because she didn't know many of the other guests. Sources contradict as to who exactly pursued whom (Ok, ok ok... It was Samantha: She shamelessly went after Dylan) but everyone can agree that sparks flew and butterflies danced on both sides. Five months later Dylan moved to Columbus. The rest is history ;)

Dylan and Samantha flew to Atlanta to attend the Shaky Knees music festival with a big group of friends. The Maid of Honor Kristi, Best Man Austin, Olivia, Jess, Keith, Lauren and Lindsay were all in attendance. Dylan and Samantha were on the same flight with Lauren and Lindsay. While waiting for the flight to board, Lindsay got Dylan to herself... She was trying to feel out when Dylan was finally going to propose! Even better, she had some advice: He should do it when they were all together. Little did Lindsay know, Dylan had a very special piece of luggage tucked into his shirt pocket during the conversation! The first day of the festival Dylan waited patiently (literally for hours and hours) while the girls got ready and then corralled everyone onto the porch. The moment is immortalized in a video taken by Keith. It's NSFW (some expletives may have been released in surprise at the moment Dylan got down on one knee) but it is a video nonetheless treasured by the bride and groom. Everybody spent the rest of the weekend celebrating and rocking out to the likes of Beck, Incubus, Dashboard Confessional, The Struts, Tame Impala, Cage the Elephant, and even Tears for Fears. Dylan and Samantha want to thank everyone there for making it truly magical and unforgettable!