It all started at a conference because of course it did.

In late May, Samantha’s friend Meghan invited her to stay at the JW Marriott Desert Springs for a few days, with the promise of sunshine, cocktails, and ending the week seeing one of Samantha’s favorite artists, Lizzo. Naturally, she said yes.

On the first night, Meghan introduced Samantha to someone unexpected, Michael Weber, who happened to share the exact same name as Meghan’s husband. After getting past the initial confusion, we started talking and did not stop until well past midnight.

The next night, the same thing.

From Jack’s stuffed animals to travel and everything in between, we just clicked. Even if Samantha was not quite sold on this Iowa boy at first, and even if Michael was so focused on his own world that he was not thinking about a romantic connection.

Somewhere along the way, Michael forgot Samantha’s name but was asking around the conference trying to figure it out, which was slightly misconstrued as romantic interest. With a little encouragement, Samantha told Meghan to give him her number. What was the worst that could happen?

Cue late night texts that turned into four in the morning conversations, and then into something more.

About a month and a half later, we met in New York for a proper first date and saw Shucked. It was a whirlwind weekend, and by the time we said goodbye at the airport, Samantha in tears, we both knew there was something real.

From there, daily texts turned into calls, then FaceTimes, then love. We started building a life between cities, meeting family, and finding our rhythm between time together and airport goodbyes.

Samantha met Jack. Michael met Mama and Papa D. And everything started to fall into place.

We knew the only way forward was to be in the same place, so we started house hunting in Iowa. On one last minute trip, Samantha flew out and we decided to surprise Jack.

The next morning, Jack walked in to see Puppy Stanley and instead found Samantha. After a moment of confusion, it clicked. “It’s Miss Samantha.” What followed was a running hug, a first kiss from this sweet boy, and a moment that felt like the start of our family.

A few months later, we found the perfect home. Samantha packed up her life in California and moved to Iowa, all while waiting for a proposal that Michael insisted he was “working on.”

That summer, Michael flew out for the Fourth of July, asked Samantha’s dad for his blessing, and shortly after, proposed.

She said yes.

Since then, our life has been filled with traveling to see each other, late night FaceTimes, spontaneous photobooths, a competitive skeeball game at every chance, and a lot of laughter. And of course, constantly calling each other Babe.

Our love story feels light, happy, and deeply us.

We cannot wait for you to celebrate with us and be part of this next chapter as we continue writing our story together and make our vow of forever.