On June 1, 2017 Allyson and Brian met at the masonboro.org spring benefit in Wilmington. The timing was ironic because Brian had just decided to move back to Columbia, but they went on their first date the next day. Then, they went on their second date the day after. For two years, they drove back and forth between Wilmington and Columbia, but on July 19, 2019, Brian surprised Allyson on the Riverwalk in Wilmington and proposed marriage. After she got over the shock (because she thought he was in Columbia), she said yes!