I Do!: Samantha Urban and Jon Santiago, of Copiague

Samantha Urban and Jon Santiago bonded over watching scary movies, then faced a real-life horror in April 2023 — an electrical fire that destroyed their Levittown house.

“We really have been through a lot together, besides ending not-so-great relationships and really losing everything,” said Urban, 34, a care manager for Northwell Health.

The two met a decade ago working in a group home for developmentally challenged adults, a setting where employees had to know who is reliable, said Jon Santiago, 37, a construction manager and father to Rowan, 10, from a previous marriage.

“She’d do anything for anybody, and that’s not a quality you see in a lot of people,” he said.

Both loved Halloween and wanted a life companion, but not necessarily marriage.

Then, two months after the fire, the pair hiked Trail View State Park in Woodbury, and he dropped to one knee when her back was turned. She said yes.

The two said they got creative in making their wedding personal and less stressful. She mastered the seating chart and asked friends to deejay and take photos. He used his artistic talents to design invitations and decorations.

“I’ve met a lot of couples . . . who said ‘I don’t even remember my wedding. I was so busy running around,’ ” Santiago said. “We made sure all of our guests were taken care of, but we designed the wedding to be for us.”

Their lucky day: Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. At the dining venue, bride and groom skeletons were everywhere — on top of the cake and behind the buffet table. The celebration colors were black and dark red, and the decor featured drippy-looking lettering.

On a coffin-shaped, red-and-black bulletin board, the couple spelled out their life’s desire: “Keep the spark alive.”

Nominate a couple who has gotten married in the past 12 months. Email your love story, in 250 words or less, to lilife@newsday.com, subject line I Do!