Emily & Will met while both working at JMU in September 2022. It was the weekend that MTSU was playing against JMU in the home opener of the football season. Emily was convinced by friends to go out to Urgie's because "the golf coach's sister was an MTSU athletic trainer and we want to show her a good time!" Kelli, unfortunately, did not get off work but Emily met Will and some of his Tennessee friends as well (Jace & Stick, been there since the beginning!!)

By the end of the night, Jace convinced Will to ask Emily for her number, only for Emily to Will, "I already have your number, what do you mean you don't have mine?" (Only for Will to think it was over before it even started).

The romance really began when Will decided that he would win Emily over by bringing her coffee to her office every morning. It took Emily three hot coffees before she told Will she preferred ice coffee. It took an entire month of coffee delivered to her office before Emily realized that Will was bringing coffee because he liked her. Both of them referred to the other as "coffee girl" and "coffee guy". They've basically been inseparable since Emily realized that Will liked her.

Will had been planning the engagement for awhile. They've both known they were meant to be together since the beginning. Will had plans to propose when the two went on a mini vacation to Tampa to see the Orioles and the Cubs play at Tropicana Field. However, the jeweler that was making the ring, broke his arm and did not finish the ring in time for Will to pick it up before the trip.

Will was then going back to Knoxville to play in the annual Father's Day golf tournament. Emily and Will made date night plans for the night he got back to have dinner at the Polynesian Resort and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach. Emily even thought to herself she could be assisting in planning her own engagement. Emily didn't realize that Will couldn't wait another minute to propose. When Will got home from work before date night, he asked "Do you want an i love you gift before we go to dinner?" Emily had been napping on the couch and confused, got up and said yes. Will told Emily to wait in the bedroom while he got it and when Emily came out of the bedroom, Will was on one knee with the ring and Pearl and asked, "Do you want to go to Disney as a fiancee?" Emily was still in pajamas, hair wasn't done, and no make up on, but the moment was perfect. They called their families, who had known it has happening for awhile now, and got ready and went to dinner and enjoyed the fireworks.