Fiorella's Event Center

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

The Event Space at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

So, I love you because the entire universe  conspired to help me find you. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho   My name is Sam Johnson and I will be the one attempting to tell the story of how I fell in love with my best friend.  My best friend's name is Andy Guarini. He is the one in the hat that I am marrying on April 10th, 2021, in case there is any confusion.  Andy and I met during the summer of 2013. We were both hired as the Student Ministry interns at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. I met Andy during our initial intern training in room 220 in the church. My first impression of Andy was that he was goofy, easy to get along with, the life of the party, the joy in every room, and very loud. I truly do not remember a time not being friends with Andy because loving him is the most effortless thing in my life. Our friendship was seamless, as we went from total strangers to spending every day together for the next 13 weeks. We traveled to Denver, Nashville, Dallas, and Chicago as we led mission trips with hundreds of middle school and high school students. We slept on air mattresses all summer, ate a ridiculous amount of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and got to love and encourage the greatest kiddos in the whole world (shout out to all of our students that repeatedly told me I would marry Andy...I am sorry I told you that you were wrong...my bad).  Andy and I remained friends for the next six years (yes, you read that correctly). We traveled to England together, attended numerous KU basketball games, enjoyed really great concerts, continued to work at the church together, then eventually left our jobs as youth ministers to pursue different paths, ate a lot of Mexican food, and remained as close as ever during every transition. I think the most important part of my story with Andy is that it has always been our story, as we have been through the absolute best moments, and worst moments, of each other's lives, together.   Andy and I started dating in June of 2019. I have had several people ask me, Sam, what changed? What made you realize Andy was THE ONE? I wish I had a beautiful story about how the clouds opened and in skywriting read, Sam, it is now time to date THE Andrew. No clouds opened, no magic skywriting showed up. So, this is what I tell people; Andy is my best friend and has been the most consistent source of joy in my life, and I did not want to live the rest of my life wondering, what if?  Clearly, it did not take long for that, what if, to turn in to, how did it take us this long to realize we make a pretty cool couple? Andy proposed to me on January 1st of 2020. The proposal was filled with our friends, family, chicken fingers, sunflowers, and lots of yes's. Remember the room where I first met Andy during our intern training, room 220? He proposed to me in the same room (he's the romantic one).  Now, Andy and I live together in a small house in Olathe, Kansas. We are learning how to share one bathroom and we make each other coffee when one of us is grumpy. My dog, Chula, loves Andy more than me now, but she can tell a beautiful soul when she sniffs one.  All in all, I agree with author Paulo Coelho when he wrote, So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you. I have a good feeling the universe was right all along. It may have taken us six years to start dating, but I am so grateful for Andy's patience and persistence. I still think he is the goofiest, easiest to get along with, the life of the party, the joy in every room, and very loud. I cannot wait for April 10th, 2021.  - Sammy J  ﻿P.S. - If you want a good follow up story, ask Andy about the night we got engaged. It involved wet hair, refusing to go to dinner, falling off of a curb, and the best night in history.

Our Story

GUARINI WEDDING UPDATE (4.9.21)

Tomorrow is the big day!!! We are so excited for those of you that will be joining us virtually and Sam Johnson and I wanted to give you some more info on that. Tomorrow at 6pm you will be able to see our ceremony right here on Facebook Live! I will be live streaming it from my account and Sam will be sharing it as well. We are so grateful for each and every one of you that will be joining us and we look forward to seeing all your bright and shinning faces soon! #getdownwiththeguarinis #onemoreday

Guarini Wedding Update (01.21.21)

Guarini Wedding Announcement: As some may already know, Andy and I had planned to get married on New Year’s Eve of 2020. After having tough discussions last August, we decided to move our wedding to April 10th of 2021. We designed and sent Save the Dates, secured venues, flowers, food, and began moving forward, remaining cautiously optimistic. As we started this new year, the reality of a “COVID free” wedding in April became less optimistic. After several more sleepless nights, Andy and I have made another incredibly tough decision to move forward with the date of April 10th, but with a pared down guest list. Andy and I will be having a smaller ceremony with our family and bridal party, and a virtual option for those not in attendance. This decision has not come with ease. Rest assured this is not what Andy and I had hoped, planned, or dreamed of, but protecting the health and safety of our loved ones is most important to us. Andy and I are planning to have an additional celebration with ALL our guests (and more) after our small ceremony in April, once we know we can keep everyone we love healthy and happy. With this bittersweet decision, we look forward to April 10th and beyond.

Updates

Our Bridal Party - The Sweet Sixteen Kayla Johnson - Matron of Honor Courtney Sheldon - BridesmaidKatie Overman - BridesmaidKristen Snyder - BridesmaidRachel Neuman - BridesmaidShannon Knoll - BridesmaidSkylar Guarini - BridesmaidTaylor Ogden Thomas - Bridesmaid Eric Hintermaier - Best ManAshley Winter - GroomsmanCarl Snyder - Groomsman Carter Bryant - Groomsman//Honorary BridesmanJason Evans - GroomsmanJon Zeitz - GroomsmanMatt Collins - GroomsmanTony Johnson - Groomsman Petal Patrol//Flower Girl - Kinley JohnsonRing Security//Ring Bearer - Jack Johnson

Wedding Party

Registry

***Couple's favorite local option!Hotel is located 2.0 miles (7 minutes) from wedding venue.

The Inn at Meadowbrook

Hotel is located 4.2 miles (11 minutes) from wedding venue.

Hyatt Place Kansas City/Overland Park/Convention Center

Hotel is located 3.9 miles (10 minutes) from wedding venue.

Holiday Inn & Suites Overland Park-Conv Ctr

Travel

Photos

VenueThe Johnson County Arts &amp; Heritage Center**Thank you to Melissa Hingula for making our planning so easy, individualized, and for her humor and hard work in every email and meeting. JewelerKarats Jewelers **Thank you to the owner, Andy, and his amazing staff for making the customized engagement ring of Sam's dreams. Also, thank you for allowing Andy to borrow another diamond ring to propose to Sam because, "Andy couldn't wait one day longer," (you trust us way too much). FloristShawn Turner with Turner Flowers**Thank you to Shawn for sticking with us since January of 2019 and being receptive and easy-going when receiving 5,000 emails from Sam. MusicReception - DJ Connection PhotographyCeremony and Reception - Epic PhotographyEngagement Photos - Kristen Snyder with KS Photography**Thank you to Kristen for being the best sister and most patient photographer, as Sam wasn't great at smiling with full teeth and Andy didn't know what to do with his hands. Bridal SalonMia's Bridal**Thank you to Sam's bridal consultant, Taylor, for making the appointment encouraging, personal, fun, and possibly setting the record for fastest "say yes to the dress moment" (27 min. total). CateringEngagement Party - Nick and Jake'sReception - Nick and Jake's**Thank you to Kevin Timmons and the Nick and Jake's staff for being so gracious, flexible and hard working (you are our extended family).

Sam & Andy

Sam & Andy

Registry

We’re extremely grateful to have so much love in our life! We hope to spread that love a little further with our registry. For each gift purchased through the links below, The Knot will donate to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.