Matt and Sam’s story began on Matt’s 25th birthday — a day he’ll never forget, though not for the reasons you’d expect. After a dramatic (and completely unglamorous) trip to the ER caused by eating far too many acidic cherry tomatoes, Matt posted a self-deprecating update on Instagram. Among the messages that came in was a simple “happy birthday!” from Sam — someone he barely knew but definitely noticed. That short message turned into a conversation, and that conversation quickly became something much more meaningful. From the start, the two built a connection around mutual encouragement and belief in each other. Sam told Matt he’d “kill it” as best man at his friend’s wedding; Matt promised he’d always be there to give her a pep talk when she needed one. Those early exchanges set the tone for their relationship: Sam has always seen Matt’s strengths even when he couldn’t, and Matt has always loved reminding Sam of the remarkable person she is. Their first date was memorable for all the wrong reasons — a haunted house full of chainsaws instead of the fall activities Sam actually loves — but it ended up being perfect anyway. After returning her forgotten credit card later that night, Matt discovered a scented marker Sam had secretly tracked down because he once mentioned loving the smell as a kid. That thoughtful gesture became their first “marker moment,” a tradition they’ve carried with them ever since. When Matt proposed, he brought their story full circle. After sharing his heart, he pulled out the same marker, wrote “Will you marry me?” on a blue sticky note, and asked Sam to spend her life with him. She said yes — and now they can’t wait for all the “marker moments” still ahead.