**IMPORTANT: The ceremony start time has been moved up to 2:30PM (30 minutes earlier than the time on your invitation. Similarly, the reception will begin at 5PM instead of 5:30PM. We had to move everything up by a half-hour to adhere to Michigan's 11PM curfew for food, bar service, and music. While food, music, and drinks end at 11PM, you have until 11:30 to depart the reception venue. Additionally, we want to express that the health and safety of our loved ones are our top priority. Rest assured that we will follow the recommended safety guidelines throughout our ceremony and reception. These safety measures include: 1. You will need to wear a mask throughout the ceremony. 2. Once you enter the church, you'll need to take your seat. If you'd like to visit with others before entering, please do so in the parking lot of the church. 3. The cocktail hour will feature tables inside and outside. 4. Tables are spaced 6 feet apart at the reception. 5. Masks must be worn when you're not eating or drinking at your table. 6. All dancing will be on the reception venue's patio.

Sam and I met at the Izzone Campout at Munn Field during our freshman year at Michigan State University. Sam was living on the same floor as some of my best friends from high school. When I arrived at the campout, my friends wanted to meet up with their new friends from their dorm (aka Sam). We ended up meeting in the very center of Munn Field. As we walked away from one another, Sam asked my friends, "who is the hottie in the hoodie?" The story doesn't end there. Throughout the night, Sam relentlessly tried to get my number. If you know Sam, you know these plans were way more elaborate than they needed to be. For instance, Sam thought he could trick me into putting my number on his phone when he handed me his phone to take a picture of him and his friends with Travis Trice. Needless to say, it didn't work. Several tries later, I finally caved. Later that night, Sam and his friend Sean (a groomsman!) came to my tent with my friends. Not long after them, people Sam met earlier in the night joined us in our tent. The 4-person tent now had 15 people. Before we knew it, this collection of people became our friend group during college, which we affectionally call "Shalom".

On January 4, 2020, Sam and I headed to East Lansing to go to Sam's "research presentation" at the MSU Union. Early in December, Sam told me about the upcoming event and that his brother, Spencer, and his fiance Sheri would also come to watch the presentation. A few days before the proposal, I was out to eat with my family and I mentioned how I wasn't thrilled about driving to East Lansing to attend the presentation. They were all laughing inside because they knew what was going to "really" happen. Sam sure had me fooled! Anyway, Sam and I arrived at the parking garage and met up with Spencer and Sheri. We started walking toward the library where Sam was going to "rehearse" with his group. Conveniently, we had to walk past an MSU landmark - Beaumont Tower. An old tale says that if you kiss your love outside of the tower in the shadows, you will live a long, happy life together. Once we were near the tower, the bell rang and Sam completely jumped out of his shoes. The bell sound blindsided him and his nerves! After the bell stopped, Sam got down on one knee and proposed at the spot of one of our first dates. It was picture-perfect! Once I accepted, my sisters and Kyle jumped out of the bushes to celebrate with us, Spencer, and Sheri. They were hiding while taking pictures and videos of the proposal. After the tower, Sam had yet another surprise for me when we headed to another East Lansing staple - Pizza House. I thought we were going to have a drink to celebrate with just our siblings before we called our parents, but come to find out our families were already there waiting for us! We had such a wonderful time! Following 4 hours of celebrating with our families, we went to one of our best friends' new apartment. Sam surprised me for a third time because many of our closest friends were there waiting to celebrate with us! It was the most beautiful day!