Sammi & Joel's love story began the way they'll one day tell their grandchildren was the old-fashioned way: online. Soon after swiping right, the two learned they had a lot in common. They both grew up on the East Side of Indianapolis (her in Lawrence, him in Warren Township) just a few miles apart. Sammi was in the same major program at Ball State as Joel's sister, only one year younger (though they never met). The two held similar teenage affinities, like their love of the Josie and the Pussycats movie, emo music, and The Emerson Theater, and had several friends in common. They even discovered they both attended the same New Year's Eve wedding only a few months prior to matching -- the similarities stacked up, so it only made sense to finally meet in person. After all, they couldn't believe they hadn't met sooner! Their first date took place at Union 50 on May 21, 2018 (which is why they chose May 21 as their wedding date). Over a shared bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, gnocchi, and duck, they hit it off. Unfortunately, the first month of their relationship was a bit tricky. Immediately following their first date, Joel left for a week for a trip to Boston. He came back two days before Sammi left for a 10-day international trip, but nevertheless, they managed to squeeze in a second date. The night Sammi returned from her trip, they went on their third date. Once they were back in the same place again, the rest was history! The two haven't been apart since. Today, Sammi & Joel share a home in their beloved historic Indianapolis neighborhood and enjoy exploring their city, testing out new recipes in the kitchen, and playing board games with friends. Though they've already chosen to spend the rest of their lives together, they can't wait to make it official and celebrate surrounded by their family and friends.