Sarah and EJ met a week before Thanksgiving 2019 at a bar in Raleigh, NC. They were immediately drawn to each other and bonded over their love of App State football. The day after they met, they got together for brunch at Cameron Village Bar & Grill in Raleigh. The date ended up lasting three hours, and neither of them wanted to say goodbye. Sarah had to return to Charlotte while EJ lived in Raleigh, but they couldn't stay apart for long.

From there, they traded off weekends between Charlotte and Raleigh until Sarah finally convinced EJ to move to Charlotte in 2021.

EJ booked a trip for the couple to visit the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, in June 2024. On the second day of their trip, EJ planned a hike in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Once they reached the top, EJ got down on one knee and asked Sarah to marry him. She was so nervous that the only words she could blurt out were "Thank you!" They sealed the deal with a kiss!