FINALLY! Let's party!

This story started from two different angles, two different plans with two different people, which all ended up leading to a lucky tale of true soulmates and best friends. Brian's initial outlook was very clear and conclusive on the evening of Friday November 20, 2015. The plan was to leave work as close to 5pm as possible and walk up Hudson Street quickly and enter the Meatpacking District to meet up for a friend's birthday happy hour before a night of debauchery. Simple. The only piece that was different, which would lead to the most significant change of their lives, was that Samantha would be at the happy hour too. Brian was given a head's up that outside co-workers were invited, but at the time, Brian assumed they were males and certainly not females. Samantha's pre-happy hour formation of sorts was not so cut and dry as Brian's. In fact, she was set up to meet him and this was a plan for a couple of weeks. Sam's co-worker at the time asked what her "situation" was, in terms of dating and someone in her life. From there, after stalking Brian's Facebook and looking through all photos, she said yes to meeting him. Happy hour was at The Tippler in NYC. As Sam came down the stairs, Brian locked eyes on her, and he knew. As they spoke just a little, it was not enough for Sam. She did not wait weeks and plan this in advance to only get a few words in. So, she went up to Brian, swung into his side, and gave him The Hip Check. That's all it took. That moment and night turned into a 6am crazy city bender, which turned into finishing each other's sentences, to growing more in love every day, to moving in together in Brooklyn and then, making a life-changing decision together to move to South Florida and get engaged in Naples. Our story led to 5 years to the day from when we first met in NYC to getting married on the beach in NJ. And now, it is time to PARTY at wedding #2!!!!!!!

Naples baby... Naples Samantha and Brian were both waiting for it to happen in their own right. Sam, on one hand, kept thinking that when the time was right, Brian will ask and it will be meant to be wherever, whenever and however. On the other hand, she was thinking "Let's GO already! The clock is ticking!" Brian, on one hand, kept thinking of the absolute perfect proposal - the where, when and how. On the other hand, he was thinking "Well maybe, just maybe, she will ask me? Let's wait it out a little more and see..." Sam and Brian had a lot of plans and traveling. Brian had to make sure everything was covered and all factors were considered but at the same time, he did not feel comfortable flying with the ring. Since he envisioned and preferred having it close by him at all times (sorry not sorry TSA) they decided to drive to the West Coast of FL for 4th of July weekend. They chose Naples and Brian chose the where, the when and the how. Where: on the beach at sunset. When: Friday night 7/5 (Sam said no holidays). How: private photographer and barefoot on the sand. Sam and Brian walked down 5th Ave looking at shops and restaurants while the photographer was across the street taking photos as they approached the beach. Once on the sand, the sandals came off, the water touching their feet as they walked hand in hand along the shoreline. At one point Brian stopped and looked into Sam's eyes, expressed angelic words of love, future plans & dreams. He dropped to one knee and took out the ring from his pocket. He asked.. and she screamed with a question of her own "Is this for real?" before saying YES. Everyone on the beach and in the water clapped, screamed and gave them a standing ovation. Sam and Brian hugged, kissed and held each other. Until Brian realized that he never actually put the ring on Sam's finger with all of the nerves and excitement. After the ring was on her finger, they walked down the beach towards the sunset, hand in hand, best friends and fiancés.