Sam and Hunter met when they were kids (though the exact date is still disputed). They grew close during their sophomore year of high-school, a relationship forged over pedantically correcting each other's grammar over text, the most annoying and dorky way to flirt. Sam even asked Hunter on a date in high-school, to which she responded, "Get off my porch, Sam." Life went on though, and the two remained friends. After high-school, they went their separate ways, occasionally running into each other during holidays and staying in touch when they could. After they'd both graduated from college, Hunter found herself back in Montana for a summer, working for the Montana US Attorney's office, and Sam reached out to see if she'd be open to a drink. Free wine is free wine, so she accepted and the two reconvened after a long period of not having seen each other. The thrill of reconnecting took hold of them, and closer geographically then they'd been in years, they quickly planned a road trip around MT. The purported excuse was a brewery tour that culminated with Hunter's first trip to Glacier National Park, but really it was just as an excuse to spend time with each other. This trip, dear reader, is what led to this wedding that you've been invited to. As Hunter proclaimed following their trip, drinking mug wine and sitting on the back steps of the goat farm Sam was living on, "I have always known I'm going to marry you."

They started dating. It was a little complicated-- Hunter was starting her 2L year at Georgetown Law, and Sam had just accepted a position at the University of Kentucky, but they racked up their frequent flier miles and spent as much time together as they could. They built a relationship with a foundation of trust, support, and understanding, and always were there for the big moments in each others lives, as well as the small ones. They played Scrabble in crappy little apartments, went to galas and concerts, traveled with friends, and talked incessantly. Sam learned more than he ever thought he'd know about the Constitution, and Hunter even learned a little bit about soil and corn. They loved each other fully, and dreamed of the future when the distance wouldn't be an issue.

They didn't have to dream long, because in 2020 the world got weird, and as days filled with video calls, Hunter moved to Kentucky. Their first time living with each other full time, they adjusted to their new situation with (mostly) grace, as well as regular trips to the storage unit that held most of Hunter's belongings (it was a very small apartment). Together they navigated the Coronavirus, and all sorts of achievements that were forced to be reduced to a virtual setting; Hunter took the bar in their little apartment, she graduated, she had her first day at her new job. Sam defended his thesis, raised a bunch of corn, cooked Thankgiving dinner. While the road trip may have instigated this wedding, this period, pockmarked by cocktails on the Eppings patio in masks and socially distanced gatherings, cemented it, reader. The question was not if, but when.

The perceptive reader may ask at this point why, if marriage was a forgone conclusion in 2021, the wedding is happening in 2024. Well, the world is big and opportunities are diverse, so there was one more move in store for Hunter and Sam. With calls to return to the office in full swing, Hunter moved to Chicago, and Sam was offered an opportunity to get his doctorate in Colorado. While it wasn't an easy choice, the pair split paths once more, returning to the pattern of cross-country flights and extended Facetimes. They still found time to dance with each other, make each other laugh and have heated Scrabble games, knowing that the end was in sight. After all, Sam was out of soil science degrees he could move to another place to get, and Hunter was emphatic that he probably wouldn't enjoy going to law school, med school, or any other type of institution that might further delay their permanent reunion.

Hunter has always been superstitious about New Years Eve. It's an evening that sets the tone for the upcoming year, in her mind, a day that can foretell what the next 365 days have in store. Well, NYE 2022 (hopefully) set the tone for not just 2023, but the rest of Sam and Hunter's lives, as Sam got down on one knee at midnight and asked Hunter to marry him via a, admittedly rigged, Scrabble game. After she said yes, they walked out on the porch of the cabin they'd rented for the weekend, with Sam intending to show her the fireworks that signaled both their new union and welcoming the New Year. Unfortunately, nobody in Paradise Valley seemed to have got the memo. After they stood in the cold dark for 6 minutes and no fireworks appeared, they laughed, and decided champagne and a thick blanket would have to suffice. The next day they called their loved ones to share the news, and entered a new phase of their relationship, wedding planning.

And wedding plan they have. Who would have thought there are so many bits and bobs that need to be taken care of (if you've made it this far, any chance you have a lead on quality fork rentals?), but throughout the ups and downs, they're still finding time to have fun. They've taken rafting trips with friends, new and old, gone to so many beautiful weddings (and taken notes), moved again, and once more, published papers, gone to trial-- the list goes on. Of course, they've found time for a little Scrabble as well. They're ready to move one last time, and to start their lives together in earnest. We can't wait for you to be a part of it, reader. Thank you, for the role you've played in our lives up to this point; we'll see you in August. Love-- H + S