Please head to the RSVP page and make sure to take note of the various optional events that we have planned for our guests. None of them are mandatory but most of them require an RSVP so we can accurately arrange enough space for everyone!

SAEM: We met on an online dating app called Coffee Meets Bagel in June 2016. Some of his photos were pretty bad - slightly off focus, sometimes goofy, really endearing, which I liked. I thought his location was somewhere near Malibu and nowhere near the actual 16 miles away! We were both so busy that we exchanged texts for weeks before finally meeting. We met at a local bar close to my apt on a Tuesday. I chose the lamest weekday (on purpose) AND showed up 20 minutes late (not on purpose but out of habit!). Alan definitely remembers both of those points so it remains an inside joke to this day.

SAEM: It wasn't until our 2nd date 3 weeks later that we really hit it off. Truth be told, after our 1st date I had thought he was too extroverted for me. I wasn’t sure I could keep up. Then, over 4th of July weekend, Alan texted saying he had just watched the fireworks on his surfboard in the ocean - that mental imagery was so cool and so colorful that I immediately asked him to join me at the Hollywood Bowl to watch Star Trek with the LA Phil live orchestra. We shared chicken wraps, Alan’s favorite beer, and swapped stories about ourselves – that I love food, can drive a stick shift but cannot swim. Alan told me he hates brussel sprouts, is actually terrible at surfing, and used to attend Star Trek conventions with his father, who had been an avid Trekkie. I realized that night, sitting on a Mexican blanket underneath a canopy of stars, that Alan was the manifestation of my dream guy – brainy but athletic, quirky but super cute. Someone I had been looking for for years and years. A rocket scientist with tattoos – who also loves playing sports!

ALAN: I had two goals (other than the obvious). 1. Retrace some of the most important moments in our relationship. 2. Make it a happen on that “Lame weekday.” I convinced her friends to let me hijack their movie plans and instead told them to lead her to the bar of our first date. I told them to make sure she gets there at 7:00 pm. Timing was very important. Of course in very Sam-like fashion, she doesn’t show up until 7:20. I “surprised” her at the bar, although I’m pretty confident she was onto the plan from the get-go. Her friends are terrible secret keepers. (“Correction! I’m just REALLY perceptive.” – S) From there we walked to the spot where we had our first kiss. Waiting there was a rented Vespa, which we had also rented for our first Valentine’s weekend together. We hopped on the Vespa and rode through the beaches of LA, all the way to cliffs near Malibu. From there a short 10 minute hike lead us to a bench which overlooked both the ocean and the city. It was going to be the most picturesque scene for a proposal at sunset. It was going to be… (“But I was 20 mins late.” – S) I don’t even really remember what I said, as I got down on one knee in the dark, but I do remember she said yes! From there we rode back to the original bar and met up with our friends to celebrate!