Samantha and Jack met on April 4th, 2014 at a school dance at Christian Brothers High School. Samantha, having an upcoming dance at her all-girls school for which she needed a date, had her eye out for someone to ask. Introduced in a large group by a mutual friend, Samantha noticed Jack and expressed her interest to their mutual connection. Jack later started a conversation and successfully asked Samantha for her phone number, promptly texting her after the dance with a coy message: "Hey, this is Jack Ryan." The pair talked for 6 months before Jack finally worked up the nerve to ask Samantha to be his girlfriend (they were only 16, ok?!) at yet another dance, this time at Jesuit High School. They proceeded to date, deemed #Sack by their closest friends, through Junior and Senior years, with many more school dances along the way. At a crossroads upon college admissions, Jack was accepted into his dream school, Georgetown University in Washington D.C., while Samantha remained in California to attend her #1 program, the accelerated dental program at the University of the Pacific. Over the next 8 years, the pair stayed together via long-distance from Stockton to D.C., San Francisco to D.C., San Francisco to San Diego, and finally, Seattle to San Diego as they worked through dental school, medical school, and residency. Finally, upon completing her residency program in July of 2024, Samantha moved to San Diego where they now reside in the same city for the first time since high school. A testament of true love and partnership, they always recognized that they would rather be "together apart" than not together at all. After 10+ years together, Samantha and Jack could not be more overjoyed to be starting the next chapter of their lives and to celebrate with the people who have supported them most along the way. Here's to a lifetime of love, happiness, and never being apart ever again!

Jack proposed in the Jesuit High School gym, the same place that he first asked Samantha to be his girlfriend and the same school where they will wed later this year. He told Samantha that his family was planning on taking Christmas card photos on Thanksgiving Day so she would arrive with her hair and makeup done (knowing Samantha, an important thought). She arrived at Jesuit to find that Jack had recreated every sign, poster, and cookie cake that they had used to ask each other back and forth to high school dances back in the day. After giving the answer she had been sure of since they were 18-years-old, they celebrated with both of their families as they had Thanksgiving together. It was the best day EVER, but they are excited to try to top it on 04.05.2025.