Our story begins in Manhattan, KS, in the fall of 2018. As we began our first years at K-State, we both decided to join a capella groups as a way to stay involved in music and make friends (and spouses apparently). Elly joined the women’s group, Audacity A Capella, and Sam joined the men’s group, Cadence A Cappella. We officially met at the local movie theater when friends of ours from Cadence and Audacity invited us to watch A Simple Favor. Soon after, Sam asked Elly to go on a drive to get to know each other, listen to music, and show off his convertible. We continued to spend time together fall semester through our mutual friends and eventually went on our first official date: Chinese takeout and movies. Seven months and many drives later, Elly finally agreed to be Sam’s girlfriend.

We dated for two years in Manhattan until Sam graduated K-State in 2021, then began long distance while Sam completed his masters program at Wichita State. Two years later, Elly started law school at Mizzou, and the distance increased from 2 to 4.5 hours. We made it through three long years of Facetimes, virtual dates, and weekend traveling, (not so) patiently waiting until life brought us back to the same zip code again.

Finally, six years after that first drive, Sam tearfully proposed to Elly in Anna Maria Island, FL, while walking on the beach. Afterwards, he took her to dinner at Beach Bistro, where a bottle of champagne and a beautiful ocean view awaited.

It’s been a long, joyful, unforgettable journey, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this next chapter with all of you who’ve been with us through every era!