James and Janessa met way back in Kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School in Richland Center, WI. The two remained friends as they were growing up, eating lunch together every day in high school and giving each other rides to pep band events. During their junior year, the two went on a band trip to Florida where they visited several theme parks. It was during this time that Janessa finally realized James was a pretty great guy and decided to start flirting with him by holding his hand a little more than necessary while at Disney World. When they returned home to Wisconsin, James decided to make it official by asking Janessa to be his girlfriend on April 4, 2015. James and Janessa have been in love ever since and have gone through many milestones together including graduating college, renting their first apartments, and getting their first "real" jobs. James proposed to Janessa in November of 2023 at one of their favorite spots, Devil's Lake, where they've been going on hiking trips together since way back in those high school days. The pair will be getting married near their home in Madison, WI on April 4, 2025, on their 10th anniversary.