Michael, a born-and-raised Pittsburgher, arrived in the sleepy beach town of Fort Pierce, Florida in early 2024. He made the journey down South on short notice for an exciting work opportunity. From the moment he got there, Florida was supposed to be temporary⎼one year at most, and he would head back north to Pittsburgh. Or so he thought, until Michael met Samantha. That was when his plans, and his life, changed forever.

Samantha and Michael owe their story to the modern day invention of dating apps (Hinge, specifically). While the app-facilitated way they met isn't exactly the stuff of romance novels, the next year or so sure felt like one to them as they got to know each other in sunny, fun-filled South Florida. Michael had never met anyone quite like Samantha. She was a spunky, Bronco-driving, weightlifting, Florida girl with a passion for coaching youth gymnastics. But they found out soon enough they had more in common than they might have originally thought.

They both had midwestern roots: Michael being from Western Pennsylvania and Samantha from a small town in rural Michigan. They laughed on their first date that they had attended college an hour from each other in Western Pennsylvania, but it took them moving to Florida years later to finally meet (an effective icebreaker Michael had rehearsed in the car beforehand). Michael and Samantha shared a love for the outdoors, fitness, a good movie, and all things food-related. A particularly close bond they shared was, of course, a love for their animals⎼Wally the miniature dachshund and Maui the cat. As for what they didn't have in common, they came to deeply admire as complementary strengths in one another.

With Michael's year in Fort Pierce coming to an end, the couple's story felt like it was just getting started. So, any previous plans were scrapped, and they set their sights on Miami for the next chapter. Over the next year, they built a life together in Miami. Now, they want to share it with all of you on what is sure to be a wedding weekend to remember.