Shane and Erica first crossed paths when she was 16, working at PlayNTrade in Edwardsville - a video game store he happened to visit often thanks to one of his best friends, Jacob. Life took them in different directions for years, but their paths kept crossing. Fast forward to when Erica was 29 and living back in town, and Shane, 31, had just moved home from Chicago. In true 21st-century fashion, they reconnected on Hinge and decided to catch up. They met at Global Brew in Edwardsville, then ended the night playing Mario Kart at his place, where he refused to let her win a single game. They’ve been inseparable ever since.

In August 2025, Shane and Erica took a trip to Cancún. A few days before, Shane mentioned he had booked a photoshoot since Erica had often said they didn’t take enough pictures together. On the day of the shoot, they started on the balcony, moved down to the beach, and finished at the pier where he got down on one knee. Neither of them remembers exactly what was said, but it ended in happy tears!