Samantha & Rob – a Love Story from Texas
We’ve been friends for 6 years and have been together for 4 and madly in love for at least 3.5 years. We met in our student organization, CARPOOL (carpool.tamu.edu for a link) while both in school at Texas A&M University (WHOOP!). At first we noticed each other from afar. Then as time went on we couldn’t help but be drawn to each other. Our relationship in school was young and fun. It reached greater heights after we graduated and were separated by 1400 miles. As they say, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder,’ and so it did. Rob moved back as soon as he could from Florida and the rest is history.
Coincidentally, our story revolves around a string of Octobers that have marked huge life events for us.
Saturday October 20th, 2012. Fighting Texas Aggies vs. LSU. A loss for A&M; however, the game wasn't my focus, that was squarely on my date [enter Samantha]. Later that evening I would muster a little courage, and ended up asking her to be my girlfriend. We had been working together in CARPOOL (a wonderful student organization, you should check them out) for a good while, and had started casually hanging out a few weeks prior to this. She said yes when I asked, of course. We double checked on that decision the next afternoon because it was a loss for the Aggies, as mentioned previously, and Northgate was the true winner.
Sunday October 21st, 2013. One day after our 1st anniversary. In that year we had both graduated. Sam started a job in Austin with a young company in the floral industry. I had moved to Florida and started work in Naples. On this day we were at the airport dropping off Sam to fly back to Austin after a weekend trip. It was the first time we had seen each other since I'd moved in early July. My stomach began to hurt on the way up the departures ramp. Sometime between getting out of the driver's seat and hugging Sam near the trunk, I began to cry. Like a lot. And Sam did the same. It was that very moment that I knew I would marry her. I knew if I was that sad to see her go, I would do anything I could to keep her close. Subsequently, every time we connected and separated the same feelings came up and the same tears came out.
October 2014. Sam flies out to Florida, we pack my possessions and we road trip back to Texas. Reunited at last. Kind of. We're still separated by the 100 miles or so between Austin and San Antonio. The new travel time was a breeze and repeated frequently. And the first wave of relief set in. Weekends were much more enjoyable, together, than being several states apart. They were filled with new and exciting events. Such as watching Netflix, going grocery shopping and walking the dog. Mundane as it may sound, yet we truly embraced the mundane after being apart.
October 1st, 2016. Our wedding date. We’re in the final countdown to the 4-year mark and I can’t wait to have many more with her by my side.
THE PROPOSAL:
This one happened in a January. The Dunlop clan planned a ski trip, our first family vacation in about ever and of course all the significant others were invited. Rob and I drove to Amarillo to meet up with Sara and Jake and drive the rest of the way to PagosaSprings, CO with them. I'd only been skiing once before, the year previous, and let's just say it wasn't my crowning achievement (shout out to the toboggan man). I was a little anxious about this family trip. Everyone arrived safely in CO and we get settled into our rental home. Days 1 and 2 are filled with skiing, lunching in the lodge, refreshing beer breaks, elixir breaks, and after coming home, warm meals, card games, and lots of laughter. We're all enjoying the variety of runs that Wolf Creek has to offer. There is a lift though that everyone of all skill sets uses called Bonanza. It's my favorite lift, because it gives me options. It lets you off right at the top of the mountain where it swiftly drops off on one side and it's a breathtaking view. Day 3 comes with tired legs, most of us feeling more confident in our skills and ready to get after it before we head home the next day. The groups break up basically as normal, I stuck with my mom most of the day while the more adventurous crew went their separate way. After lunch we all met up to do some runs together as a group and wind down before the trip home. At a certain point, Rob finds his way onto the same lift as me – it's a lift that can carry three people, so I'm not sure who he kicked out, but it was just us. We rode up Bonanza just chatting and doing our normal thing. At some point I do think I noticed that nobody else rode the lift up, but I'm not sure when. We get off at the top of the mountain. It's a foggy day, it had been snowing all day. The kind of snow that hurts when you're going fast. We exit the lift and pull off to the side out of everyone's way. Rob starts to take off his skis'- I can't tell if there's something wrong with them or what he's doing, but I keep moving toward the trail, ready to ski some more. He calls me over, he's now seated in the snow. Facing the gorgeous view, we saw two days before, only this time it's a huge gray cloud of fog. Still beautiful in some way. He asks me to come sit with him, on the ground, in the snow. I know something has to be up at this point. Rob starts fumbling in his pocket, fighting the poor dexterity from cold hands, and pulls out a black ring box. I'm wondering – did he have this in his pocket all day?! He starts to speak, but then those tears come up, so he simply opens the box and out pops a two-page note. His back up plan. It's the best note I've ever read! We cried, we hugged. And then we had some skiing to do. We started going down the trail, realized we had no photos and then paused to take some. We then finished the trail that would lead to the beginning of our next chapter!
THE WEDDING:
Planning a wedding includes so many little details; we tried to make sure we balanced the work parts of planning a wedding with the fun parts of being engaged.
Our ceremony was at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church San Antonio, TX and reception was held at The Japanese Tea Garden in San Antonio, TX It was everything we could have wished for and more. The venue was stunning and doing our own flowers was the best experience to really bring it all together. The setting was perfect for the two of us since Sam is a florist and Rob works in custom furniture. We got so lucky and the weather was amazing so it was really the perfect setting for us to celebrate with your loved ones.
The most important thing for us was that both our families could come together in an atmosphere where they could all get to know each other as well as enjoy dancing and drinks to celebrate.
Samantha is the exact opposite and I wouldn’t have her any other way. She challenges me in ways I never imagined,she’s the most caring and loving person. And I have never been able to be as open and vulnerable around another human being." – Rob
"I love Rob’s passion in all that he does. He isn’t one to start something without being 100% behind what he’s doing. He’s super outgoing but secretly introverted. He’s a great cook, an amazing listener and best of all a problem solver. He makes me feel special every day." – Samantha
An advice we would give to a couple planning their wedding? All the little details, just remember that they are little details. Choose a few that are the most important to you and focus on those, let the rest be. Also remember to focus on what you and your fiancé what to get out of your day, everyone is going to have an opinion, but your opinions are all that matters at the end of the day.
Rock Star Vendors
DJ: Wes Denton, Digital Media Pro
Florist: Samantha Welzbacher, Lone Star Bloom
Cake: Sara Dunlop
Venue: San Antonio Japanese Tea Gardens
Make Up: Ana
Hair: Sheri Mathis
Dress: Connections Bridal
