Jill and Matthew originally met in 2013 on the pool deck for swim club at Western Carolina University. Matthew was the swim club president and Jill was just joining on the team. The two were natural training partners due to their high competitiveness in and out of the pool. Even though there was natural chemistry between the two, the timing wasn't right. And so, they parted ways for graduate school seemingly to never meet again...

In August of 2020, Jill reached out on Matthew's birthday with the hopes of asking about PT school applications. The two of them then kept in contact until finally meeting again during a Bernstorf family trip to the mountains for kayaking on the Tuckasegee River. Following a weekend of adventure, laughing, and reconnecting, the spark that was present many years ago at Western Carolina was still there. Jill and Matthew knew that they needed to see each other again to see what could blossom.

After months of late-night phone calls, long drives, and longing for more time with each other, Jill and Matthew agreed to take the next step of the relationship. So, in the car went Stella and Matt's slim belongings to join Jill in the flatlands of eastern North Carolina. Now living together, their feelings further cemented as they learned how to blend their lives and how best to support each other. Matthew further proved his adoration for Jill as they became the parents of an abandoned little black kitten, Indigo, something that Matthew never would have agreed to! The ease of the relationship sealed the deal, and they both knew that they were meant to be.

On July 31st, 2022, Matthew took Jill back to their beginning at Western Carolina University. After a big rainstorm, the clouds opened up and Matthew proposed under the bell tower. The two then enjoyed a week long vacation near Franklin, North Carolina to celebrate their engagement and to enjoy the beautiful mountains.