Zach and Jenna met at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) in Traverse City, Michigan. They sat across from each other in freshman Photoshop class and became friends that year. Their first graphic design challenges stood out to each other because Zach liked Jenna's "Puppy Run" poster but Jenna didn't like Zach's "Shades and Shoes for Schmucks" poster.

They spent more and more time together—doing fun college activities like homework and grocery shopping. Eventually that turned into movie nights, Jenna accompanying Zach to jazz ensembles for his music appreciation class (that she fell asleep at every time), and Zach helping Jenna locate constellations for her astronomy class. Zach finally asked Jenna to be his girlfriend on the last possible day before summer break, and that was that!

After spending what would be their last Christmas apart— Zach in Menominee and Jenna in Charlevoix—they returned to Marquette to celebrate their own Christmas and NYE together. Zach's final gift to Jenna was in a big, heavy box to “throw off the scent.” Inside was a handwritten note, and below a cloud of tissue paper was the ring box. Zach got down on one knee, and the rest is history!