After returning from hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Ben ran into Sammy on Bumble (an online dating site for those lucky enough to be unaware). They quickly hit it off and found themselves on a first date at a local Portland brewery. Little did they know it was also trivia night, which they were both terrible at. After vowing to never play trivia again, they set up a second first date to hike to a waterfall, much more their speed. That second first date turned into many future dates of hiking, checking out wineries and breweries, trying new foods, playing games, and hanging with friends and family.
After many adventures in Oregon, Ben and Sammy decided they were ready to find somewhere new to call home. They wanted a change of pace and hoped for sunny weather following an extra rainy Portland winter. Sammy quickly found a dream job in Hawai'i, and Ben was excited to join her. They couldn't wait to check out the sandy beaches, blue water, and new waterfalls. Their only hurdle was getting their cat, Pixel, island ready (read lots of shots, check-ups, and a very angry kitty). After two months of planning, their little family moved into their first home together on Oahu. It took sometime to get used to their new environment (and missing old friends), but every weekend brings a new island adventure with new friends. They even joined a weekly trivia team that sometimes wins!
Ben and Sammy got engaged on October 13, 2019. It was a sunny afternoon in Hawai'i and they were hanging out in their living room. The engagement fit well with their personalities as they both laughed and smiled from excitement. Following the engagement, Ben surprised Sammy by taking her out to dinner at Vino's, an Italian tapas restaurant that serves wine flights. She couldn't believe he found the perfect mixture of both her favorite restaurants (Olive Garden and Melting Pot) in a non-chain restaurant. They cheersed glasses many times to spending their lives together!
The COVID-19 pandemic definitely changed up our wedding plans! After planning and moving our wedding three times due to safety reasons and guest restrictions, Ben and I officially made the decisions to have an intimate in-person wedding on Saturday, August 7, 2021 and stream the ceremony via Zoom for our guests. We hope to celebrate in-person with all of our guests at another time when the pandemic has passed.