We met during Melissa's junior year and Sam's senior year of college at UCSB. Melissa had acquired a new housemate, Kate, who one day brought her new housemates over to "The Guys' House" to meet a group of tight-knit guys she became good friends with her freshman year. Ten guys, one beach-side college apartment, and the sound of Junior Senior playing in the background. What a sight!

We hit it off pretty much instantly, Melissa in awe of Sam's charming English accent and stunningly long eyelashes, and Sam in awe of Melissa's amazing smoke-or-fire abilities.

The two of us started hanging out almost daily. We tried our hands at making fudge: unsuccessfully, after breaking (twice!) the candy thermometer that proved essential in good fudge. We built and raced remote-controlled cars down the hallways in the wee hours of the night. And we spent late nights watching the sunset from Sam's rickety ocean-view balcony.

As time went on we became pretty much inseparable, Sam even joining Melissa in Italy when she went to study abroad: Sam spent his days sipping cappuccini and exploring while Melissa sat in Italian-language clinical psychology classes.

And after 6 1/2 years, we finally decided to tie the knot, and are so excited to begin our new life together!