David and Payton met at Christopher Newport University when David transferred during their junior year. On his second night there, a mutual friend invited him to Payton's apartment to meet a friend's baby that she was watching with her roommates. They were both impressed by how naturally the other interacted with the baby. Over the following weeks, they ran into each other a few more times and eventually started dating.

Throughout college, Payton cheered David on at his baseball games and they spent their time fishing, hanging out with friends and going on trips together.

After graduation, Payton moved back to Pennsylvania and David stayed in Virginia to start his new job. After a year of long-distance, Payton moved to Virginia, found a new job, and lived with David's sister for a few months before moving into her current apartment with David's brother's fiancée. During this time, David got a promotion at his job and they found out they would be moving to Richmond in the future. While camping at Shenandoah National Park in October, David proposed to Payton at sunset, with a breathtaking view of the mountains.