Grace and Sam met July 2017 through mutual friends, Vince and Gina Kmiec. Grace was still in nursing school in Columbia, MO but went to Chicago to visit Gina. Sam and his friends had just moved to the city from their college town, Naperville. Sam, Vince and their friends were planning to go out in the city, so Grace and Gina tagged along. Sam had recently torn his achilles tendon but put on a brave face to join the group out at the Old Town bar scene. The two continued to see each other during different visits. In August 2018, Grace decided to move to Chicago, and Sam extended the offer to exchange phone numbers. They became officially boyfriend and girlfriend February 11th, 2019.