Austin and Carissa attended the same high school, they were introduced to each other through mutual friends in 2006. It was a daily routine to gather at Weko Beach after school throughout the years. Although the friendship was platonic the pair would often spend time together at the beach or with groups of friends at bonfires. In 2018 Austin and Carissa reconnected while attending the Thanksgiving Eve party at The Navajo Bar. Carissa's brother, Pat, told Austin to go find Carissa in the crowd and talk to her. After a night of reminiscing about beach days, parties, sport cars and that time she stole his hat the party ended. Twenty minutes later Austin messaged Carissa about staying in touch, needless to say they have talked everyday since.

The couple has a tradition that they go together, with Roxy their dog, to the tree farm to pick out a christmas tree. The day after Thanksgiving they drove out to Butler Tree Farm in Dowagiac. After browsing row after row of trees Carissa pointed to 'the one' Okay it was more like "let's just get this one." Austin, ever the perfectionist, pointed to the one in the corner of the field (away from the crowd that had gathered around) "you sure you didn't want that one we looked at earlier?" He went on about technical tree things like fullness and symmetry. After deciding on that 'perfect' tree, Austin started sawing down the base. Suddenly he was on one knee and had a ring in his hand. He asked, she said yes! Then asked if he was serious (multiple times), they cried, laughed, probably looked crazy but happy.