Nicole and Nick's journey together began years ago when they both worked for the Appalachia Service Project during the summer. Nicole was on staff for her final summer in Harlan, Kentucky, while Nick, having completed his time on staff, was still in the area running his own electrical business. Nicole's staff hired Nick as a subcontractor for several of their projects, and he quickly became an integral part of their staff for a few weeks. While many people played a key role in shaping their story, Max Temple (Nick's childhood best friend) and Emma Shafer, both of whom worked alongside Nicole in Harlan, are especially important in bringing them together. Fast forward two years, and after Nick moved back to Connecticut, a staff reunion was planned in Bethel—Nick’s hometown and now Nicole’s favorite place to visit. The day was filled with exploring Bethel and reminiscing about their time in Harlan, but it also turned into a not-so-subtle matchmaking mission. With both Nicole and Nick single at the time, Emma couldn't resist encouraging them to get to know each other better. By the end of the day, Nicole asked Emma to ask Max to ask Nick if he might be interested in going out with her. After a few days of unanswered texts and more encouragement from Emma, Nick finally responded. They made plans to spend a Saturday morning building together with Habitat for Humanity, and from there, the rest was history. They spent that entire weekend together—and have been inseparable ever since.