Samantha Jahaira Carbajal was born in Fountain Valley, CA and raised in Bakersfield, CA. Daughter to Esther and Miguel Carbajal. Sister to two siblings - an older sister Michelle and a younger brother Michael. Brendan Edward Gonzales was born and raised in Anaheim, CA. Son to Ann and Joe Gonzales. Brother to five siblings - three older sisters Deanna, Lindsay and Amanda and two younger brothers Kennan and Landon.

Brendan and Sam met at UC San Diego. They were both a part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and first exchanged names in 2014 during a retreat, however it wasn't until the next year's retreat that they would speak again and ultimately hit it off. They officially started dating on Valentine's Day, 2016 (cliché, we know). After 5 years in which they graduated together, found their first and second jobs together, and survived a pandemic together - they were engaged on Easter, 2021.

It was Easter Sunday and Brendan and Sam had plans to dine at their usual date night spot and catch the sunset soon after. He had not slept the night before because he was placing lyrics to a song he intended to sing for her the next day. When they arrive at the restaurant she can tell he is anxious and he hardly touches his food all evening. She pays no mind and blames it on the lack of sleep from the night before. Throughout dinner, they talk about them and how their relationship has progress throughout the years. They ask for the check, and he insists on taking her to a new place to watch the sunset - this lookout point just off of Mt. Soledad that he's heard all about. They drive, park and walk along a dirt path through a row of bushes that opens into a clearing which overlooks La Jolla and the ocean beyond it. The clearing is empty except for a blanket that's been placed on the floor covered in rose petals, a small table with champagne and roses, and Brendan's guitar. She begins to cry now understanding exactly what is happening. He begins to play her that familar melody she's heard for the past 5 years. The one shes always loved the most of his. The one he says is hers. And, because it's hers, it's the one she's given him a hard time over for never having any lyrics. But now he sings lyrics along with the melody. Beautiful lyrics that seem to bring their relationship full circle. He finishes the song, gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him. Of course she says yes.