It all began in April 2021, when Michael traveled from Newport Beach to San Francisco to visit one of their mutual friends. The night he got into town, Michael met Sam for the first time, and he instantly had a crush. He was drawn in by her laugh, her wittiness, and the way she lit up the room. Sam, however, was completely oblivious and didn’t think much of it—at first. But Michael wasn’t one to give up easily. He kept in touch, and over time, a friendship blossomed. A few months later, fate brought them together again, this time in Venice for the Fourth of July. Something shifted and Sam felt a spark too. She was genuinely excited to see Michael again, and they ended up spending the entire weekend together. From that point on, their connection deepened, even from a distance. For a year and a half, they navigated a long-distance relationship, traveling up and down the California coast to be with each other. From riding electric mopeds through the hills of San Francisco, to biking to the beach in Newport, they explored each other’s worlds and built a bond rooted in laughter, adventure, and late night phone calls. Eventually, Sam made the move to Southern California, and together they moved into their first home. Since then, life has been full of joy: traveling the world side by side and welcoming their first (and furriest) family member—Kobe, their golden retriever pup with a heart as big as his paws. Though they cheer for opposing sports teams, their love is unwavering. And now, they’re ready for the next chapter!