Amber grew up in a small town in Connecticut, Lakeville, where the Appalachian trail meets the Berkshires. She moved to Washington DC in 2009 to begin her career in health policy and advocacy after studying political science and public policy at Syracuse University. James was raised at the beach, Sunset Beach, in North Carolina. With a dream of flying helicopters, James left NC to attend the US Military Academy at West Point. After his second combat tour in Afghanistan James’ Army career led him to Washington DC in 2016 when he was selected by the Army to serve as a Defense Fellow in the United States Senate. It was in the Senate that Amber and James first crossed paths, Amber came into his office to raise awareness of a military health issue. In 2020, a few years after they met, the two reconnected and went on their first date to get Korean food. Shortly after Amber and James started dating, James received Army orders to move to Colorado and deploy to Afghanistan. But then COVID shut down the world. James' move was delayed for several months, and his deployment was cancelled, which gifted time for Amber, James, and their dogs (Jeff and Rebel) to continue to get to know each other and grow their relationship. When James finally relocated to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, the two dated long-distance for a year and enjoyed exploring Colorado's natural beauty together on monthly visits. After James retired from the Army he moved back to DC and proposed to Amber on Cinco de Mayo surrounded by friends at their neighborhood wine bar.