We're getting married

Have you ever had friends try to set you up on a blind date and thought, “no thanks”? Well, let’s rewind back to 2020 – Jenelle was just starting medical school and Sam was thriving at Merrill Lynch. Two of their friends thought they would be a great fit and suggested a blind date. However, between their busy schedules and having never actually seen a photo of one another, the setup never happened. Now fast forward to July 4th, 2021. Sam and Jenelle both end up in Huntington Beach at the same time - what are the odds? Fireworks, friends, and a spark that ignited a relationship between two people who unknowingly declined fate a year prior. They continued to grow their relationship together in the Bay Area, and the foundations of their relationship were falling into place. When Jenelle had to relocate to Sacramento to complete her med school rotations, Sam took a leap of faith by moving with her and started a new job. He even brought a housewarming gift: an 8-week-old Aussie pup named Bubba (who quickly became the center of their world). Then came 2024 – the year of unforgettable milestones. With both families in town for Jenelle’s graduation from medical school, Sam staged a “fake engagement party” at their old date night spot. Plot twist: it was actually for them! He popped the question on the Benicia waterfront, and she said YES (of course). Within just 24 hours, they celebrated their engagement and Dr. Jenelle Atwood. They now call Roseville, California home. Jenelle is officially an ER resident physician at Sutter Health, and Sam is flourishing in his new role at Fidelity Investments. They started the new year by adding Aspen, a one-year-old Samoyed rescue, to their growing family. Sam and Jenelle are in the midst of an exciting period in their lives, and could not be more excited to celebrate the biggest milestone yet with all of their special people!