Dan and Sam officially met the summer of 2019 at the Chase Rice concert at Summerfest in Milwaukee. Although they didn’t start talking for months after they first met, Sam knew she was interested and hoped something would happen in the future between them. During this time, Sam was finishing up her junior year of college at UW Oshkosh and Dan was getting ready to come home from the Army. Since Sam had to go back to school in Wisconsin, the two did not really have a chance to see each other until March of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the rest of Sam’s junior year of college was moved online. She then decided to move home to finish schooling. In April of 2020, Dan’s sister Emily was having her 21st birthday party at Dan’s parents’ house. Emily had become close friends with Sam and invited her over to celebrate with her family since everything was still shut down from the pandemic. It ended up being a fun-filled day where everyone drank and played games. Sam challenged Dan to a game of darts and bet him all the money in his wallet that she would win. Dan accepted the challenge thinking he had it in the bag…he was sadly mistaken. Sam ended up beating him in that dart game and the rest was history!

A few of Danny and Sam’s favorite memories they have together over the years they dated include: many lake days with family and friends, Dan learning how to surf, vacationing out in Arizona and exploring all the hikes in Sedona together, LOTS of Chipotle runs, taking a leap of faith and moving to Tennessee together, watching Dan graduate the police academy, bringing home their sweet golden retriever, and buying their first home together.

Dan proposed to Sam on August 9th, 2022. Dan had wanted to go back home to Illinois to visit family. Sam was so excited since she had been a bit homesick from moving away. When Dan and Sam first started dating during the pandemic, they would go to a walking trail by Sam’s house all the time since there was nothing else to do. When Dan and Sam arrived back in their hometowns, Dan suggested going on a walk there with their golden retriever, Rhett. Dan walked Sam out to the bridge that overlooks the creek and had Sam look out on the water. When Sam turned back around Dan was on his knee and popped the question! Sam jumped up and down and couldn’t believe it! Later that day, Sam and Dan celebrated with close friends and family on the lake. It was a day neither of them will ever forget.

Danny and Sam are so excited to celebrate with y’all at their wedding in Tennessee! See y’all soon!