Katie and Sam met and fell in love in August of 2020 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Katie was working as an American Sign Language Interpreter in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Sam was just starting the third year of his Ph.D. program in Musicology at Case Western Reserve University. As Katie and Sam quickly realized, it is possible to find true love on a dating app, and they happily share with everyone that Coffee Meets Bagel is a good bet! It was just the day after Sam had passed his Qualifying Exams at Case that the two of them “matched,” while Sam was heading home to New Jersey for a few days’ rest before returning to Cleveland for the start of the new semester. It didn’t take long, though, for Sam’s time at home to be wonderfully occupied by his virtual chatting with Katie, and paragraphs upon paragraphs later, they decided to set up a first meeting (August 26th***), and then a “first date,” and they have enjoyed a wonderful four-going-on-five years together ever since.

There have been so many “ups,” and very few “downs.” Although Katie suffered a Tibial Plateau Fracture not even seven months into their relationship (running isn’t for everyone, Katie learned that the hard way), Sam rose to the challenge and attempted to take care of Katie as best as he could until Diane arrived from Iowa as reinforcements! Katie and Sam perhaps learned the meaning of “in sickness and in health” rather quickly!

Since then, and during several years of living together, Katie and Sam have enjoyed: building a life together (complete with a handful of moving residences), walks in the neighborhoods, Culver’s and Menards dates (for Sam the honorary Midwesterner), cooking many meals together (and learning their favorites), “Sam practices trumpet and Katie is productive” time, “Sam works on his dissertation for hours” time (not anymore, though, woo!), and “being silly around the house late at night when they should probably head to sleep” time... Over the past four-plus years, Katie and Sam’s travels have taken them on a “Music Tour” of Iowa; to Venice, and Bolzano, Italy; to Paris, France; to Turkey Run, Indiana; to New Jersey; and to Oxford, England. They are excited to see where their travels take them next!

As they approach their Wedding Day, Katie and Sam could not be more excited for their future together, and all the blessings that that entails! In the short term, they will finally get to live together in Delaware, Ohio, where Sam has been teaching at Ohio Wesleyan University during three semesters living apart from one another. They are relieved that Interstate 71 will see much less of Ella and Wolfie (yes, Katie & Sam name their cars) in the near future! Katie and Sam both feel that they are fortunate to be each other’s best friends, life partners, silly companions, and adventurers (even when Sam is reluctant), and they can’t wait to see what life has in store for them!