Parker, a California native, had just landed in Virginia while stationed at Fort Lee. Sammi, a Virginia native, was living in Richmond when fate (and a dating app) brought us together. We matched, bonded quickly over our shared love for bold brunch drinks—Bloody Marys and Micheladas—and decided to meet up in person. Our first date was just two weeks before the world slowed down for the pandemic. What could have been a brief encounter turned into something truly special. With nowhere to go and all the time in the world, we spent those early days getting to know each other—talking, laughing, cooking, and building a connection that felt effortless and real. Since then, much of our relationship has been spent in distance—counting down the days between visits, FaceTiming across time zones, and cheering each other on from afar. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s made us stronger, more grateful, and more ready than ever for this next chapter. Now, after years of long-distance love, we're finally planting roots together in Texas—and we can’t wait to start this next adventure side by side.