Amanda started working at CDK Global in July 2016 as a contractor. They would sometimes see each other on the 255 bus on the way home. That fall, Joe invited Amanda to go see an early screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Amanda of course didn't realize that it was supposed to be a date. Flash forward 6 months and Joe finally had the courage to ask Amanda out to dinner at to which she replied "I'm awkward". After that we started hanging out and the next time Joe asked Amanda to dinner she said yes.

Joe had the brilliant idea of proposing the day before our anniversary. Amanda had come back from a work trip in India and was under a two week quarantine due to Covid-19. Amanda was sad since she already had not seen Joe for a month. Joe used the quarantine as an excuse to drive down to Portland to get the ring (where Amanda's twin sister Dana was able to try on the sample ring for size). Every summer since we've started dating, we've been going to Kirkland farmers markets and getting Thai rolled ice cream from Susu Desserts. We've been waiting for them to open their shop in Chinatown and they finally opened for pickup service! We drove to the international district and bought one of everything. After that, we drove back to Kirkland to eat our delicious treats. Joe suggested that we go to Marina Park since it was such a beautiful day. As we parked, "This Is It" a song by Scott McCreary about proposing to his girlfriend started playing which had Joe grinning from ear to ear. We walked on the dock and sat down on a bench to enjoy our treats. As we sat down, Joe said "Two significant things have happened in our relationship here". Amanda, confused, said "We had our first kiss... And continued to guess things like we ate lots of ice cream?" to which Joe said "No that's not it" and dropped the subject. About 15 minutes later, Joe asked again "You really don't remember the other thing?" "No, what was it?" “You don't remember that one time I got down on one knee, and asked you to be my wife?” Joseph asked as he pulled out an emerald ring and got down on one knee. This time, Amanda didn't say "I'm awkward", she said "YES!"