We're getting married!

It was Sam's first sorority date night of second semester freshman year at the University of Georgia. Unsure of who to take, she asked for a friend to set her up. A few nights later, Hunter and Sam met for the first time in Brumby Hall, a freshman dorm. They took a quick picture outside the building, and headed off for a night of dinner and dancing. The very next day, the two started texting and haven't stopped since. Their first date was at The Place in Athens. Once the food came to the table, Hunter asked if he could say grace before they ate. That's when Sam knew there was something special about this guy. They began officially dating at the end of their freshman year and continued growing together throughout all four years of college. From fraternity beach weekends to study nights in the Miller Learning Center all the way to graduating together under the fireworks in Sanford Stadium, Hunter and Sam's love story unfolded with each year. After graduation (and a fantastic celebratory trip abroad), the two faced a challenge: long-distance. Or really medium-distance. Whatever you call a 3.5 hour drive from South Carolina to Georgia. Hunter was working in Atlanta for PwC as a business consultant, and Sam was starting her first job in Columbia as a reporter. Despite their busy schedules and the distance between them, they saw each other constantly. For two years, Hunter and Sam explored their new cities together, acting as tour guides during time together and soaking up what little time they had in the same city while gaining a whole new understanding of the value of intentional communication while they were apart. When Sam got a job offer in Knoxville, TN, the two finally had their chance to be back together. Sam moved at the end of May, and Hunter came a few months later, moving just down the road. He switched to a fully remote position within his company, and followed Sam to the Scruffy City. Although there's a little too much orange in their new city, the two were happier than ever. After a year of living in the same place again, Hunter planned a trip to Asheville. Sam grew up visiting Asheville starting in elementary school, spending weeks at a time in the area for summer camp. As Sam's love for western North Carolina grew, so did her family's. The Perez's would come to frequent the area, often taking Hunter along once he and Sam started dating. Although she didn't know it, Hunter says he always knew that's where he wanted to propose. After devising a plan to get Sam to Asheville for what she thought was another regular trip, Hunter proposed at the Grove Park Inn overlooking the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Now, they are so excited to start their life together and can't wait to join as one in June 2026.