David and Emily met while attending UW-Stout in the fall of 2011. The two were both Vocational Rehabilitation majors and were enrolled in the same classes. David asked Emily to study for midterms in mid-October. By that weekend he asked her on their first date where he introduced her to all of his friends and then some. Emily was just as smitten and made things official on October 25, 2011.

While visiting family for the holidays in December 2014 David secretly asked Emily's family for their blessings. The following day Emily and David traveled to Chicago to attend David's favorite band's 25th anniversary show. Just before the show David took Emily to The City Gallery in the historic water tower downtown and proposed before a hired photographer!