We know many of you will be traveling from out of town to celebrate with us, and we truly do not take that lightly. Your love, support, prayers, and presence in our lives mean more to us than we could ever fully express. Whether you are able to attend or simply celebrate with us from afar, please know how grateful we are for each of you and the role you’ve played in our lives and relationship. For those making the trip to Waco, thank you for considering spending your time, energy, and resources to celebrate this season with us. It means the world to us, and we cannot wait to gather with so many people we love in one place.
Our story began thanks to a little bit of setup and a lot of God's perfect timing. All it takes is one friend to call you up unexpectedly and introduce you to your future spouse. In our case, that friend was one of Sam's fraternity brothers. Without a date to his upcoming Semi-Formal, Sam's senior year plans for his last Formal Coffee seemed bleak. Then the call came. Within hours, Saylor and Sam met for the first time on Halloween night at a BYX flag football game. The formal date was secured, but sparks weren't exactly flying. It didn't help that their friend spent the evening joking, "Look Saylor, he's praying over the team," "Look Saylor, he drives a big truck," and even asking, "Can I give a speech at the wedding?" Little did they know, that last one might not have been too far off. As the semi-formal neared, Sam took Saylor out for ice cream to get to know each other beforehand. A relationship beyond the formal didn't seem likely. Despite friends pushing for it, Sam and Saylor struggled to kindle any flames. That was, until the formal. Somewhere between two-stepping and laughing, everything began to change. Saylor realized she liked this boy more than she expected. As she was getting nervous and a little quiet, Sam began to think she didn't like him at all, when in reality she just didn't want to mess things up. All it took was a bit of boot kickin' and Sam singin' for the two to ignite. Sam left that dance floor smitten, knowing she was someone worth pursuing. Not wanting the connection to end, Sam asked Saylor on their first official date, where they laughed their way through Cameron Park Zoo together. Afterward, the two spent hours at Dichotomy Coffee, lost in conversation as they got to know each other's hearts. As Christmas neared, Sam asked Saylor to be his girlfriend, right before she flew back to Washington for the break. For three weeks they FaceTimed every day, staying up far too late and growing closer from miles apart. When they returned to Waco, their relationship took off. Their last semester brought plenty of twists and turns. The biggest came when Saylor got very sick and was hospitalized for a week. Sam spent every moment he could by her side, sitting with her, praying over her, and spoon-feeding her applesauce. In those quiet and difficult moments, Saylor saw clearly the kind of man he was: steady, selfless, and deeply loving. From there, the two tackled Baylor Sing, dental school acceptances, and college graduation together. After the stage was walked and the Good Ol' Baylor Line was sung, that summer brought even more sweet memories, starting with a trip to the happiest place on Earth (Disney World) with Saylor's family and a trip to Alaska with Sam's, where they spent time salmon fishing and exploring. After a fun summer away, Sam and Saylor stepped into their second chapter: Houston, Texas. Saylor began dental school at UT Health Houston, and Sam made the intentional decision to follow her there, finding a job so he could continue pursuing her in the same city. Navigating the demands of dental school alongside a challenging season of his own, the two strengthened their relationship through the fire. Since then, they've been learning to navigate adulthood side by side, finding a church, building community, and growing both individually and as a couple. Through every season, they have seen the Lord's faithfulness guiding their relationship. After much prayer and wise counsel, they knew they were ready for the next step. Sam popped the question at his family's ranch, where they celebrated with close family and friends. They are so excited to begin this next chapter as husband and wife, pursuing the life the Lord has for them, together. "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." — Psalm 126:3