Jess always kept Sam in her phone as “Dog Park Sam”—and little did she know, that name would evolve into “Dog Park Fiancé Sam” and soon, “Dog Park Husband Sam.”

It all started at the dog park when Sam, playing wingman, sent his pup, June, over to introduce himself to Jess and her dog, Peanut. After some casual small talk, they realized they lived just down the street from each other. Sam asked for Jess’s number, and after a week of nonstop texting, they met up for margaritas at The Snug on November 4, 2022—a date that ended with a first kiss at Alta Plaza Park, where they had met just one week prior.

In a move that set the tone for their entire relationship, Jess got on a plane that night for a month-long work trip to Turkey. But despite the time difference, the two kept talking, texting at all hours, and solidifying what they both already knew—this was something special.

When Jess returned, their second date was to a Christmas-themed cocktail bar. The third? A beach walk at Baker Beach with croissants from Arsicault—which they never ate because they were too distracted by each other (meanwhile, Peanut ate several cups of sand).

From there, it was game over. They became inseparable, despite the fact that they were so nervous around each other in the beginning that neither of them could eat in front of the other. Sleeping over was also a struggle—because squeezing two people, two dogs, and a 6’4” man into a queen-sized bed wasn’t exactly ideal.

Over the next few months, they packed in as many adventures as possible—road trips, weekend getaways, and the place where they truly fell in love: Greg and Mary’s cabin in Arnold. They spent an entire weekend snowed in, blasting Morgan Wallen’s new album on repeat. After returning home from a trip, on March 28, 2023, Sam finally said “I love you.”

At some point, Sam realized that dating Jess came with an unexpected side hustle—being an Instagram boyfriend. He quickly mastered the art of getting the right angles for their “free trips” and embraced his new role like a pro.

After a trip to Visit Becky, Danny & River, in May, a classic Sam & Jess casual-but-life-changing moment, the two were grocery shopping at Molly Stone’s when Sam turned to Jess in the produce aisle and said, “Hey, we should move in together.” A month later, they did just that—officially moving into a larger one-bedroom on Pierce Street, where they finally had enough space to sleep without fighting for room.

Pierce Street—affectionately nicknamed "The Palace in the Sky"—became the backdrop of Jess and Sam’s first home together. With just a little nervousness about moving in, they quickly discovered the joys of constant companionship. Evenings were spent in their “Dolce Vita” cocktail lounge, music playing in the background while one (usually Jess) cooked. The dogs, of course, had their own slice of paradise—their favorite park just up the street.

While it was the dog park that initially brought them together and Pierce Street that shaped their life as a couple, some things—even the best ones—must evolve. It was time to find a place to put down roots, and that place was Marin. Just 15 minutes across the bridge, yet a world away.

From the moment they arrived, Marin—specifically, Sausalito—felt like home. Late nights in the city were swapped for cozy dinners at Avatar’s and peaceful walks along the water. The fog was replaced with endless sunshine. And soon, the weekends developed a rhythm: Saturday morning breakfast, dog park visits, sunset walks, and home-cooked Sunday dinners. Not in a boring way—but in that effortless, this is where we belong kind of way.

And then, on a cool and misty late summer morning, along that same waterfront path they had walked so many times before, Sam asked Jess to be his forever. The exact words he spoke may have been drowned out by a chorus of “Are you serious?!” but one thing was clear: She said yes.

Now, eight months later, we are gathering in one of our favorite places with the people we love most. We can’t wait to celebrate this moment with you—our family, the ones who have shaped us into the people we are today.

Enjoy some of our favorite memories below (but don't mind Sam's head cut off in the thumbnails) xo

S&J

Italian Welcome Dinner

The Main Event

An Old Fashioned Kinda Love