Liz and Colin first crossed paths on October 22, 2022, during an Intervarsity fall retreat. A small group had gathered by a pond to fish. Liz caught a fish and asked for help to unhook it. Colin came over and helped and asked if he could fish by her. They connected as they spent time together during the retreat. After connecting on social media, they began exchanging messages, which eventually led Colin to ask Liz out on a date in Marshalltown on November 13, 2022.

Following their first date, they maintained calls and messages for about six months. During this period, both Liz and Colin were navigating busy personal lives. In January 2023, they mutually decided to remain friends, although their communication became less frequent. As circumstances eased up, they resumed regular texting and calling.

Their next significant encounter occurred in April 2023, during Intervarsity's Justice Program, where Liz and Colin saw each other again. They took the opportunity to catch up over coffee at Smokey Row. Towards the end of their date, Liz and Colin stated they liked each other but agreed to take things slow. They continued to get to know one another. Colin visited Liz at UNI for a day and Liz visited Colin at Central during Tulip Time a few weekends later.

On May 6, 2023 Colin asked Liz to be his girlfriend. Thus began their journey of maintaining a long-distance relationship for about a year before getting engaged.

After Liz graduated from college, she moved back home to Des Moines, where Colin was already living and working. This proximity allowed their relationship to flourish even more as Liz and Colin began to share their lives together. After a few months of enjoying the same hometown, Colin proposed to Liz on June 8, 2024!