Kelly and Sam

10/09/2022

Littleton, CO, United States

In the spring of 2014 at Elon University, Sam, a junior, was asked by a close friend to bring a pizza to a freshman, Kelly. He mustered up the courage to meet this stranger for, technically, their first date. Neither Kelly nor Sam knew at this point, but that pizza was the beginning of a friendship and relationship spanning almost a decade. They also didn't know the friend who asked the favor, Jessie Berman, would be the person officiating their marriage!

Kelly and Sam built a close bond while at Elon together and continued their friendship after Sam graduated and moved to the Northeast. Whether Sam was heading back down to North Carolina or Kelly was visiting Boston, they always, and easily, made it work to see each other.

Only until the summer of 2016 did Kelly and Sam realize their friendship was turning into a relationship. With Kelly in Boston for the summer, their connection became stronger and stronger. From there, they decided to see where it could go. Kelly finished out her internship and headed back to Elon for one final year, and they both were committed to making the 600-mile distance relationship work. With countless calls, FaceTimes and weekend visits, Kelly and Sam went the distance with their long distance relationship. It all paid off when they celebrated Kelly's graduation and the end of being apart with a trip abroad to explore Spain and Portugal.

Kelly moved to Boston shortly after, and from there they grew their life and relationship in Boston for four years. While living together in the middle of the pandemic, they were looking for an adventure (along with some much needed space for their 70lb dog, Brie) and they settled on moving to Denver.

In September of 2021, Sam, with the help of friends and family, surprised Kelly at home by proposing. Kelly had planned a going away party that day in Boston, but unbeknownst to her, Sam had commandeered the day and turned it into a surprise engagement party!

Shortly after getting engaged, Kelly and Sam packed up their apartment, loaded up the car and started the drive to Denver. While they miss their Northeast community, they were eager to explore more of Denver and share their home with all the people in their lives that mean so much. Kelly and Sam are always looking for new experiences and adventures out West.

Having our friends and family to Colorado to celebrate our love was the best memory of their lives thus far. They are excited to continue the next chapter of their lives together.