We met on the dating app OkCupid in the winter of 2017. The app allegedly predicts compatibility based on questions you fill out - it turns out Southerners and Italians share similar values: food, family, and faith. We were a 92% match! Sam was struck by Emma's sense of humor and how we can create space for laughter in any situation. Emma was drawn to Sam's southern charm, calming aura, and peaceful presence that keeps them both grounded. With Sam's background in construction and Emma's in education we are always finding ways to teach each other, learn together, and growing side-by-side. After going back and forth on the app for weeks, Emma finally mustered the courage to ask for Sam's number after a nudge and some wine at a friend's holiday party (thanks Tyler!). We met up for dinner and a walk around Belmont University to look at Christmas lights on December 18th. Emma immediately flew home after their first date for the holidays but not without buying two flights back to Nashville - one before and one after New Years depending on how the date went. Sam invited Emma to a New Years Eve celebration and the rest is history!

We were fortunate to each have a grandparent's ring for a few years, waiting for the right season. If you've seen the show 'Marriage or Mortgage' we chose mortgage first - building our home both literally and figuratively. Come summer 2024 we knew it was time. The plan was for one of us to organize the logistics but bring both rings so we could do the asking together. So, on the night before the 21st night of September Emma surprised Sam under the re-purposed scoreboard from the Nashville Sounds baseball team. It felt appropriate to become fiancées in a space that perfectly symbolized the city that we've built our life and fell in love in. We immediately walked over to the brewery that Emma works for and got to celebrate the night with dear friends! It was the perfect evening! From strangers to best friends to roommates (and dog co-parents somewhere in between), we cannot wait to officially be family!