In the summer of 2020, when the world was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they met through a dating app (HINGE). Sam had liked and commented/responded to one of Stephanie's photos on the app, and from there they started messaging each other back and forth. Started with a few short responses, into essay length messages to one another. Sam had asked her out several times, and reassured Stephanie that he was not going to "murder her and leave her in the middle of nowhere." Stephanie took his word, and soon after, they both took that leap of faith, and they went on their first date to an Italian restaurant. Sam even offered to pick her up, and brought her flowers. Stephanie and Sam hit it off, and sparks were felt! Both shared the joy of working in Education, the value of family, the appetite to travel, the love for emo music/alternative rock, self-care routines (her doing yoga, him lifting at the gym) , and the love for eating/discovering delicious food! With no hesitation, Sam asked her out for another date, and until the third date, he asked Stephanie to be officially his girlfriend, after hiking in heels to the Griffith Park Observatory! The spontaneity of their dates like such defined their ever growing love and relationship for one another. Since then, in a world where social distancing was HIGHLY recommended/enforced, they took a risk, and managed to be creative with their dates during the pandemic (i.e. outdoor nature, eating outdoors, etc) wearing masks. When it was finally safe to travel, they traveled to Vegas, New York, Connecticut, Joshua Tree, became Universal Studios and Disneyland passholders, Seattle, Portland, and even visited her birth place of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, MEXICO, where agua chiles are to die for! Their appetite for food and adventure is what brought them closer and closer together. His silly sarcastic humor and her spicy take on life has allowed their love to grow and has shown to balance each other out. The odds were against them, but they defied them and 3 years later are ready to yes to forever with each other.

On August 11, 2023 Sam and Stephanie went on a trip that would change their lives. It was nice summer night in beautiful Cancun, MX. It was their last night in Cancun, after a week of relaxing at the resort. Sam and Stephanie wanted to have a romantic dinner, and luckily for them, the hotel offered a twinkle lit dinner for two on the beach. Sam brought the ring with him on this trip with the intention of proposing, and he decided it was going to happen 8/11/2023. So that night after dinner, they took a light stroll on the beach. He read a sweet message he wrote for Stephanie, got down on one knee and proposed! In tears, Stephanie happily said, "Yes!" They hugged, they kissed, they both said yes to forever! We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in Mazatlan! -Sam & Stephanie