From 2009 to 2011, Sam and Eliza roamed the hallways of Clinton High School, just one grade apart. It was a small school, so while they knew who each other was, they didn’t actually know each other. At the time, Sam was in his rebellious "skater boy" phase, rocking black tight pants and juggling 25-30 hours of work each week—homework wasn't exactly at the top of his list. Meanwhile, Eliza was an honor roll student-athlete who considered babysitting her side hustle. To Sam, Eliza appeared to be a quintessential Straight-A nerdy athlete- someone who probably wouldn’t spare him a second glance. Fast forward to 2021 when Sam (living in Clinton) reaches out to Eliza (living in Boston) via Instagram expressing appreciation for her photography of the ocean. Sam continued to pursue the conversation for the next few weeks talking about their love of nature- specifically the mountains and ocean; family; dreams and goals; and even some of their most personal secrets. That November when Eliza came home to Clinton for Thanksgiving, Sam and Eliza were finally able to spend quality time in person together. That weekend surely wasn't enough time together, as Sam would spend the next 60 weekends driving out to see Eliza in Boston (275 miles away). It was clear that Sam and Eliza were very much in love—and, as it turns out, one of them was going to have to move to be closer to the other (Spoiler: It wasn’t Eliza.) For a month, Sam got the full "living with women" experience—four women, one bathroom, and a whole new understanding of how many different types of shampoo a person really needs. After surviving that, in April 2023, Sam and Eliza moved into their first apartment in Needham, MA. They’ve loved being able to spend nights together after work, cooking and relaxing, and, on the weekends, exploring the beautiful surrounding states and all the incredible nature that Earth has to offer. On October 9th, 2024, Sam asked Eliza to meet him for lunch during her work break at her favorite spot by the ocean. Eliza thought it was a bit strange that Sam had left work early and was now wanting to meet for lunch, but because Eliza is gullible, she didn’t think much of it. When she arrived, she was greeted by Sam, who led her to a picnic lunch. It was a beautifully sunny day, with clear blue skies, the water a stunning blue-green, and a perfect view of Boston in the distance. As Eliza sat down, she noticed two men in full Beatles attire, complete with guitars, a microphone, and a music stand (note: the Beatles are Eliza's favorite band). Immediately, she knew what was about to happen—but she had to sit through an entire song (All My Loving) before Sam finally got down on one knee! Without hesitation, Eliza said “Yes!” and now, we can’t wait to officially get married and celebrate with all of you!!