Sam Born in March 1999 and raised in the Ocean State town of Saunderstown, RI, Sam grew up as the responsible big sister to Lily and Ian. Whether baking, crafting, or trying to teach her siblings something they didn’t want to learn, she was always the family’s self-appointed coordinator and leader. Not much of an athlete, she danced (poorly) for 12 years before realizing her real talents lay elsewhere – in academics, caregiving, and connecting with others. After high school, she briefly attended Boston University before returning home to earn degrees in Biological Sciences and Clinical Psychology from the University of Rhode Island. Between classes, she worked as an EMT, barista, and server before taking her biggest leap yet: driving across the country to Fort Collins, Colorado, to pursue a Master’s in Biomedical Science at Colorado State University. Within weeks, she adopted her 85-pound “polar bear,” Millie, who’s been her loyal sidekick ever since. Since then, Sam has built a life she loves in Colorado – hiking, skiing, and exploring the outdoors. After several years at a VR medical imaging software startup and doing biomedical research, she followed her heart back to patient care, beginning an accelerated nursing program in January 2026. She’ll graduate this December with aspirations of becoming an emergency or pediatric nurse. Tony That same year, just 20 days before the turn of the century, Tony entered the world in West Weber, Utah, surrounded by farmland, family, and the firm guidance of his two older sisters. As the youngest and only boy, he quickly learned the value of following directions– especially from the many women in his life, a skill that continues to serve him well. Tony’s love for football defined much of his youth, playing in High School and at William Penn University in Iowa, where he earned his degree in Political Science in 2020. After graduation during the height of COVID, he returned home to teach and coach before moving to the other side of Rockies to Denver over the summer of 2022 to pursue his Master’s in Public Policy with a focus on education. While studying, he began substitute teaching and soon found his calling in the classroom. Over the past few years, Tony has grown from substitute teacher to having his own classroom as a STEM, first-grade, and now proud fourth grade teacher. He proudly takes credit for convincing Sam to stick with him through it all (and for being the driving force behind adding backyard chickens and their sweet pup, Willow, to the family). Together Their story begins when Sam accidentally showed up to the wrong ice cream stand for their first date – a fitting start to a life full of laughs and learning curves. What followed was an instant connection marked by easy conversation and a spark neither could ignore (though Sam tried to for the first six months). Despite spending their first three years long-distance between Fort Collins and Denver, they made it work with road trips, phone calls, and countless adventures in between. From skiing and exploring national parks to Sunday football and homemade dinners, they’ve built a relationship grounded in laughter, encouragement, and love. In March 2025, Tony pulled off the surprise of a lifetime with an unforgettable mountain proposal. Just a few months later, they bought their first home together in Englewood, CO, quickly adding three hens (Dot, Frank, and Reggie) and new puppy (Willow) to the mix. Between Tony’s classroom stories and Sam’s school and work schedules, they cherish the simple moments most: hiking new trails, cooking dinner together, or playing a competitive round of cards at home. As they begin this next chapter, Sam and Tony are endlessly grateful to have found their greatest adventure in each other. No matter where life takes them, they are committed to a marriage built on unconditional love, trust, loyalty, joy, and plenty of adventure. Here’s to entering married life – and all the chapters still to come.