Ben and Emily went to all four years of high school together, in the same graduating class. They knew each other but were only acquaintances with having the occasional class together. After a few years past graduation while Emily was in college, Ben reached out over Snapchat to reconnect.

It wasn't until Emily's senior year externship in college while living in St. Louis, MO that Ben asked Emily to meet up. Emily came home for a couple of weeks for Christmas in 2021 and they planned to get together. They went out for a breakfast date at The Covered Bridge in Stayton and spent 3 hours there just talking and catching up for their first date. Emily and Ben spent a lot of time together during those two weeks she was home. Emily said to Ben before she went back to St Louis 'You know I don't live in Oregon currently, right? I'm living halfway across the country?'. Ben said he didn't care; the distance is only temporary. He visited Emily a handful of times before she moved back to Oregon in May 2022.

The rest is history!