Our journey first started with conversations on an online dating app then quickly moved to a brunch date at San Chez in downtown Grand Rapids. That first date was packed with activities, brunch, the art museum, coffee and frozen yogurt.

From there, we had dates at the movies, a Whitecaps game (where Samantha admits she first fell in love with me), and many dinner dates.

Our relationship had many milestones, meeting each other’s families, introducing Scarlett to Austin, trips to Florida and Tennessee together.

Through the years, our relationship went through ups and downs but with each down, our relationship only grew stronger. We went on friend trips to Chicago, picked apples and drank apple cider in the fall and slowly grew and strengthened our family unit.

At the beginning of 2024, for the first time, we met together and set goals for the year. Personal goals, relationship goals and career minded goals. It was then that Austin for the first time told me that one of his goals was to get engaged by the end of 2024.

That goal was met on July 7 when we recreated our first date and by the end of the day, we were celebrating with our friends and family as an engaged couple.

As we move forward with planning, we look forward to more milestones together and continuing to strengthen our relationship and growing together as Samantha and Austin Metz.