It all began when Em randomly ended up at Michael's house on July 4th. She was supposed to work that night and had no plans, but then got put on call. Her friend, Peyton, was friends with one of Michael's good friends, Anna, and invited Em to go to this fourth of July party with her. You can see Michael in the background of this selfie.

A few months later, they reconnected on a dating app (Hinge), and Michael immediately recognized Em and asked her out. They went on their first date to the Water Dog, then sat by the Liberty Medical Building talking and looking at the Lynchburg city lights.

After Em went away to Texas for a few days, Michael picked her up at the airport with flowers and asked her to be his girlfriend.

Both Em and Michael love photos, so Michael suggested that they try to take photos on the parkway together. Unfortunately, the parkway was closed and they randomly ended up at the Peaks of Otter Lake and took photos in front of Sharp Top, one of their favorite local hikes.

Right before Christmas, they were able to meet each other's families for the first time. This photo was taken in Em's neighborhood in New Jersey on a walk with her dad and the Spelman family dog, Bella.

3 months after their first date, Michael realized he loved Em and HAD to tell her. The night that she got home from a trip with her family, he said it to her coincidentally outside his house in the exact spot that they first met. She said it back ;)

Michael asked Em to marry him and spend the rest of her life by his side. After much shock and disbelief, she said "Absolutely, yes." Michael did not even realize the coincidence of the timing, but this was 6 months to the day after their first date.