Samantha Joy Halpern, daughter of Randi Halpern of St. Louis and Chuck Halpern of St. Louis, and Jeffrey Aaron Kanterman, son of Sheri and Ron Kanterman of St. Louis, have announced their engagement.

Samantha is the grand-daughter of the late Doris and Alex Silverman, and the late Pearl and Jack Halpern, all of Kansas City, Missouri. Her fiancé is the grandson of Lillian and the late Julius Simpson, and Renee and the late Lee Kanterman.

Samantha received a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, and a Master of Science degree in nursing from Texas Woman’s University. She is a nurse practitioner at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Her fiancé graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. He is currently the vice-president of transportation at NFI Industries in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Samantha and Jeffrey both attended Parkway Central High School, but didn’t know each other well. They reconnected at a mutual friend’s wedding in St. Louis — Samantha was living in Dallas and Jeff in Chicago — and soon after began a long-distance relationship.

Due to the distance between them, Samantha and Jeff picked out a wedding date and a wedding planner prior to being officially engaged. But that didn’t stop Jeff from planning a spectacular proposal.

Jeff arranged for a wedding planner to set up a meeting with Samantha at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis. At the hotel, Samantha was shown to a hospitality room, where she was met with rose petals, candles, chocolates, champagne and Jeff. He proposed and after Samantha said yes, the couple left in a limousine waiting outside for them. They drove around the city taking pictures before heading to Jeff’s parents house, where they celebrated with family and friends. The couple will be residing in Philadelphia. 

An October, 2015 wedding is planned.