Mallorie and Sam met on Hinge and hit it off pretty quickly. One of their first real conversations happened during a Packers game against the Kansas City Chiefs, right when all the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce buzz was starting. Sam asked Mallorie if she cared about the celebrity couple, and she replied, “I’m more of a Travis Kelce fan.” That quick and playful exchange set the tone for their easy, natural connection, and plenty of teasing ever since. From there, things just clicked. Their shared love of sports became something they bonded over right away. From cheering on the Packers every Sunday to Badgers football, basketball, and hockey games, to Friday night lights at Waunakee High School, they’ve made a habit of showing up, supporting, and enjoying every moment together. Whether it’s tailgating, road trips to games, or just watching from the couch, those memories have become some of their favorites. What started with a game day chat turned into something real and now they’re each other’s favorite teammate.

Mallorie and Sam’s first date came together in the sweetest way. At the time, they were both living with their parents, Mallorie in Fond du Lac and Sam in Madison, so planning a first date took a little extra coordination. Sam initially offered to drive all the way to Fond du Lac to make things easy for Mallorie. She, however, wanted to go to Madison. There was more to do, and she always loved visiting the city. Sam, being thoughtful, offered to meet halfway, but Mallorie laughed and told him there wasn’t anywhere worth going in Beaver Dam, so Madison it was. Sam had heard about Everly, a modern brunch spot, from his coworkers and suggested it for their date. When they sat down, Sam had been planning to order a mimosa but decided to follow whatever Mallorie ordered instead. When she asked for her favorite drink, a chai latte, he quickly changed his mind and ordered the same. It ended up being a funny story they’d laugh about later into their relationship. The two talked and laughed for hours, turning what was supposed to be a simple brunch into a three-hour first date they didn’t want to end.

After a few dates, Mallorie asked Sam to go on a weekend trip to Chicago to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It was their first time spending more than a few hours together, and both were excited (and a little nervous) to see how it would go. The car ride down was full of singing, and a lot of laughs. The weekend was a big one for both of them. It was the first time they’d meet each other’s friends. After watching the Chicago River get dyed green, they started walking to Sam’s friend’s apartment. On the way, Sam turned to Mallorie and asked how he should introduce her to his friends. Mallorie could tell what he was really asking but just smiled and said he could call her whatever he wanted. After a few jokes back and forth, Sam finally said, “I could introduce you as my girlfriend.” Mallorie laughed and said yes, making it official right there in Chicago

Mallorie and Sam’s engagement was everything they wanted: simple, sweet, and so them. It wasn’t a big surprise to Mallorie that Sam was going to propose; they had known early on they were the perfect match and talked about the future all the time. She figured it would happen sometime after she finished her master’s degree, it was just a matter of when. When their weekends started filling up, Mallorie guessed it would probably happen during their summer trip to Door County, one of her favorite places in the world. Mallorie grew up vacationing in Door County every summer with her family, so it’s always been a special place filled with memories. During their first summer together, Sam went from never having been there to going three times, and it quickly became special to him too. Knowing how much Mallorie loves the water, Sam planned a private sunset sailboat ride out of Sister Bay. The water was a little rough that evening, and earlier sails had been canceled, but luckily theirs still went out. Even though the sail blocked most of the sunset, the ride was still perfect. It was exciting, and full of butterflies (especially for Sam, who was trying very hard not to drop the ring in the lake). When he finally proposed, Mallorie was so happy that she said, “Yes, thanks,” a response they still laugh about today. It was the perfect beginning to their trip and the start of their next chapter together.