In summer of 2015, Samantha decided to uproot her life in Atlanta, GA to start a new career in the Washington, DC area. On a budget and somewhat unfamiliar with the area, Samantha reached out to several friends in the DMV asking if anyone knew of an affordable room for rent. One friend was Michael Middleton (Groomsman), who had grown up in the Baltimore area with Samantha's best friend and roommate from Clemson, Lauren Padussis Lydon (Bridesmaid).

While Michael didn't go to University of Maryland, many of his and Lauren's high school friends did. And it so happens that they were in the same fraternity as Brendan Sullivan. After moving back to the DC area post-college, Mike met Brendan while hanging out with these guys, and the two became fast friends.

At the same time Samantha called Mike about a potential living arrangement in DC, Brendan had hit him up about a room that was available in the house he would be renting with his own high school friends in Falls Church, VA. While it was technically only available until October, the price tag was right, and Mike set up an email exchange between Samantha and Brendan to get the ball rolling.

Brendan happened to be in Vegas on a work trip the same week that Samantha had planned to move up and was not excellent at emailing her back. With little communication from him, her dad helped her pack a U-Haul and drive the 9,000 miles from ATL to the DMV. He did let her know that he would try to be home to let her into the house for her Tuesday afternoon arrival, after stating that two of the other roommates, Larry & Keaton, would be home, but were not likely to let her in.