How Clare & Sam Became CLAM...

It was February 2021, in the midst of COVID when meeting new people wasn’t exactly easy. Luckily for Clare and Sam, they had close mutual friends (Kasey Crook - Bridesmaid, Ryan Leehey & Chris Romney - Groomsmen), who introduced them at a small house party. Clare and Sam hit it off immediately and went on their first date a week later.

In May 2021, Sam planned what would be their first of many vacations together in Santa Barbara, CA at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Before arriving at the Bacara, Sam gave Clare a quick tour of Isla Vista, where he received his undergraduate degree at the University of California Santa Barbara, showing her where he used to live and taking her to his favorite late-night nacho spot, Free Birds. From there, Clare and Sam arrived at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara and immediately knew that they had found “their happy place” and would continue to come back, together and with their very crazy Alaskan Klee Kai, Slater.

In May of 2023, Sam had once again planned another vacation to Santa Barbara. They stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara for the weekend. Sam had planned out their activities and made all their dinner reservations during their stay. Clare didn’t think anything of this since Sam typically plans out everything on their vacations, but she, of course, hoped this would be the weekend he "pops the question.” When Clare and Sam arrived at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, they were told that the Bacara did not have a room reservation noted for them. Naturally, Clare began to freak out. Sam, on the other hand, was as cool as a cucumber on the outside, but freaking out on the inside. Sam’s extreme “chillness” led Clare to believe that a proposal was most definitely not happening this weekend. However, shortly after a couple of phone calls, Clare and Sam were escorted to their beautiful ocean-view room where they had a private fire pit and picturesque view of the ocean bluff, where Sam would soon propose.

Essentially repeating their first vacation together, the next day Sam and Clare rode bikes to Isla Vista and ate at Sam’s favorite bagel spot on campus. After biking through Isla Vista and drinking Piña Coladas by the hotel pool, they got ready to have a drink at the hotel bar to watch the Laker’s game, at Sam’s request. However, Sam had other plans, unbeknownst to Clare.

When 4:30 came around they took a short walk out of their room and headed over to the picturesque ocean bluff where Sam had Clare pose for a picture. While posing for a photograph, Clare turned around to see Sam on one knee and realized that the moment she had been dreaming about since she was a little girl was actually happening and the beginning of a new chapter, with her best friend, was about to begin… Of course, Clare said YES!

Their once-in-a-lifetime magical moment was captured by a photographer planned by Sam. Once Clare and Sam finished their last photo together near the front entrance of the hotel, Clare turned around and quickly realized that her family, Sam's family, and their dog Slater were all waiting there with champagne, excited to celebrate this special moment with them! Thanks to Sam, this truly was the best day of Clare’s life.

Clare and Sam want to thank everyone for their love and support. They can’t wait to celebrate their marriage with all of their family and friends at the same spot where their love story first began!