Out of an abundance of caution for our family and closest friends, we have made the tough but necessary decision to move our reception to June 2021. We appreciate your patience and support as we navigate through the months ahead, and we look forward to celebrating with you all so soon! Please refer to the "Travel" tab for updates to room blocks and booking options. Thank you all so much for your love and support - we can't wait to all be together next year. With love, Michaela & Sam

Out of college, Sam worked at Oracle with one of Michaela's best friends from Bentley and bridesmaid, Emily. When Sam was looking for a roommate for a new apartment in Southie, Emily suggested he meet Laura, another friend of Michaela's from school who was also looking to move to Southie. Once living together, Laura brought Sam with her to a friend's Ugly Sweater Party that Michaela was also attending. Sam and his friend, Andrew, had spent the day at Santacon and arrived at the party dressed as Santa and an elf. Laura suggested that Sam and Andrew take a picture with Michaela, who was sporting reindeer antlers - because, why not? (See picture on Photos page) Michaela and Sam hit it off over the fact that Sam was "mom-sweatering" his Santa jacket (a party trick she grew to love over the years). They ended up joining a large group of friends the next day for a Sunday Funday at Loco - and the rest is history.

The Saturday after Christmas 2018, the weather in Boston was uncharacteristically warm at 55 degrees. Michaela and Sam had planned on heading downtown to try on engagement rings and get brunch at The Friendly Toast, a spot Michaela had been dying to try. However, since it was such a nice day, the two decided to first take their dog, Charlie, to the dog-park in Southie to let him run around for a bit since he would be alone for a few hours that day. As they were pulling up to the extremely packed dog-park (Charlie's favorite), Sam continued driving past and suggested they walk around Castle Island instead. His reasoning was that Charlie had just had a fresh blowout and might get dirty at the park since it had rained the day before - fair point! As they pulled up to Castle Island, Sam parked and he and Michaela started the walk out to the water - but from the opposite side that they usually walk Castle Island from. Sam didn't say much on the walk, but did call out that there was a Waste Management barge out in the bay and he wished it wasn't there because it kind of ruined the view. As they turned the corner around the Fort, Sam led Michaela off the path into the grass along the water and asked her to marry him. Sam's sister, Mallory, and family friend, Jamie, had been hiding behind a tree snapping pictures and taking videos. After the proposal happened, there was loud cheering and clapping coming from the playground down the hill. It turned out Mallory and Jamie had to ask an entire ROTC training crew to relocate their bootcamp class, as it was taking place in the exact location Sam had planned on popping the question (see map on Photos page). The training crew had stuck around to witness the action - crisis averted! Sam and Michaela spent the rest of the weekend on cloud 9 celebrating with family and friends! Note: they have yet to make it to The Friendly Toast for brunch, but neither would change it for the world.