Samantha and Van’s story began in high school, over twelve years ago. They met through mutual friends while attending neighboring high schools, Orange Lutheran and Villa Park. Over those years, they grew closer and built a friendship that would eventually become so much more. Young and unaware of what the future held, they went on their first date to a local boba café, never knowing it would be the first of many memories they would share together.

As they grew up, life took them in different directions, but they always seemed to find their way back into each other’s lives. Even their moms seemed to notice the spark between them early on. During summers home from college, they naturally found themselves spending time together at the beach, sharing their love for the ocean.

After college, they began to realize that maybe the timing was finally right. In 2023, Van took Samantha out for sushi, her favorite, and finally shared the feelings he had been holding onto for so long. Shortly after, they officially started dating.

On their three-year anniversary in Catalina, Van asked Samantha to marry him. After all the years of finding their way back to each other, they are so excited to finally begin the rest of their lives together.