Dani and Joe met in college. They were both attending a Michigan State football game when they first met through a mutual friend in the student section. They lived on opposite sides of campus and had to traverse terrible winter weather to see one another, but persevered through to the spring! They're first actual date was MSU ROTC's military ball in February of 2012 and "went steady" after that.

Joe planned a surprise tour of Spartan Stadium and brought Dani to Michigan State's campus under the guise of seeing friends. As they waited around the stadium, Dani began to get suspicious of what they were doing there and Joe admitted to the tour. Dani did not believe him at all, until the athletic department guide and their families arrived. Dani was so absorbed in the tour, she didn't realize the guide was leading her out to the 50 yard line for a specific reason. Once they got to the spartan helmet at mid-field, Joe proposed and she said "Yes!".