In July 2018, Chris and Vanessa met at work. Their friendship sparked from a love of soccer and they bonded over both being new to Charlotte, having left all friends and family to start their careers in a new city.

Chris and Vanessa continued to keep their relationship a secret for the first 8 months of them dating, aside from a few close friends knowing. As they still worked together, their jobs could have been compromised if the relationship was advertised.

Throughout the following years, they spent their time getting to know Charlotte and travelling to other parts of the country, cooking delicious food (mainly Chris doing the delicious cooking). Vanessa taught Chris tennis, they played flag football and joined soccer leagues. Best of all, Chris and Vanessa decided to add on to their family in 2022 by adopting their second dog Piper. They then fostered 3 dogs through a local rescue in Charlotte. In May 2023, Chris and Vanessa went to their local grocery store, Food Lion, where a beautiful black and white dog ran up to them, and later was officially adopted into their family of now 5.

Chris and Vanessa bought a house together in 2022, providing their children, Ace, Piper and Sam the backyard they deserve!