Ben and Madie first met after college at a young adults event hosted by the church where Madie worked. They spent time together in a consistent group of friends and although their personalities are quite different they grew to appreciate each other's strengths. In September 2016 Ben and Madie went on their first date to the orchestra in Minneapolis. It has been an adventure ever since!

In order to propose in a grand way, Ben planned an entire day of the couple's favorite activities. He made pancakes, she played the piano at the Minneapolis library, they went on a walk downtown and found a perfect coffee shop. In the evening before attending a play at the Guthrie theatre, Ben took Madie to the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. There before the pedestrians and St. Patrick's Day revelers, he asked her to marry him. She said, "of course!"