Danielle Yates and Sam Cooper spent their childhoods and school years in Alexander City but since there were four years between their ages, they never met. One day in Auburn, Danielle’s sister and Sam’s roommate, who eventually married as well, introduced Danielle to Sam, and their love story began. They dated five years and became engaged in October 2023 on a trip to Mexico with the Cooper family.

“I never thought he would propose while we were in Mexico. Apparently, he walked around with the ring in his pocket most of the trip, but the timing was never right. The night before we left, truly the last chance on the trip, he said he had a surprise for me. I thought it was a Diet Coke, but there he was on one knee. It was very sweet,” Danielle Cooper said.