Amid the COVID pandemic and looking to start the new year with renewed energy and purpose, Samantha and I both signed up for a new workout class beginning in January 2021. As intimidating as a 5 a.m. workout class can be with its regular attendees and regimented schedule, I was immediately drawn to Samantha—not only because she was breathtakingly beautiful, but also because, as the only other participant under the age of 40, she displayed a quiet confidence, driven enthusiasm, and admirable work ethic. She was a mystery to me.

Who is this beautiful girl who shows up to class every day at 5 a.m.?

Where is she going in such a hurry at the end of each class?

Is she single?

Will I ever get the chance to find out?

These were the questions swirling around my mind each day between 5 and 6 a.m. January flew by, and I never missed a class. Samantha didn’t either.

We slowly began to form a friendship—small conversations while on a run, funny comments between repetitions, and endless exchanges in the gym’s mirror consumed our months of February and March. I came to realize that we had a lot in common. She was also strikingly beautiful (even in the early morning hours, and sweating from a workout), as well as smart, funny, and incredibly enjoyable to talk to. Feeling a bit nervous about asking her on a date, I would walk Samantha to her car at the end of each class, hoping our conversations would never end and I could find the right moment to ask her out—something had to give as March neared its final days.

One Friday morning, during our routine walk to Samantha’s car, she asked me about my plans for the weekend. As those who know me can attest, I responded honestly and outlined my tee times for the upcoming weekend with little else in mind. Samantha mentioned she had no plans either. There was a palpable silence and it was left unaddressed, we parted ways. Within the 2-minute drive back to my apartment, all I could think about was the missed opportunity. I had to ask her out, and today was the day. Just 10 minutes after our last interaction, I sent Samantha a message on Instagram asking her to meet for dinner that night. I was thrilled when she immediately accepted, and we made plans to transition our morning gym conversations to a real-life dinner.

We haven’t left each other’s side (or ceased our conversations) since.

Our first date was memorable for many reasons. The timing felt perfect; we had become friendly enough that we weren’t total strangers. The weather was ideal for a brisk early spring evening. It felt like we were the only people on the Panchos and Lefty's patio and the only people in Nashville that night. We were eventually surprised when the restaurant manager asked us to pay our check and leave so they could close. We had sat and talked for hours, not a single bite of food or sip of drink consumed the entire night. We discussed working on Capitol Hill, our career dreams, MBA vs. McCallie football rivalries, family, friends, and, best of all, when we could go out on a second date.

That was almost four years ago, with three moves, three new jobs, and one special puppy (shout-out to Hazel) shared between us. I can genuinely say the years have flown by. I want them back, but I’m also incredibly excited to embark on a lifetime of more memories with Samantha. It has been a blessing to be a part of her life and watch her continue to grow into one amazing woman. I can’t believe the time has finally come to mark the beginning of our next chapter. We are so grateful and excited.

We are honored that you would consider coming to support us. Our friends and family mean the world to us, and celebrating with all of you is the only way we can imagine starting our marriage.

With love,

Wade