Justin and Melissa met through mutual friends at a volleyball league. Melissa was trying to organize a team and she needed more players so she had her friends reach out to Justin. Coming off an injury, Justin decided a low-key beer league would be fun for the summer. Their team played once a week, and after about 3 months a flirty friendship was made. Justin asked Melissa to play in The Dig (a doubles volleyball tournament) in that time, and soon after a first date was set on August 13th, 2019. On September 2, Justin asked Melissa to be his girlfriend and make it official!

Justin and Melissa wanted to go on an early "second dating anniversary" trip before the school year started. They decided on checking out the beautiful Catskills of New York, they got an Airbnb and planned for hikes and a nice dinner out. Upon arrival of the Airbnb there was a bottle of red wine waiting, after getting settled in they planned a hike for the next day. Little did Melissa know, Justin had the ring in the hiking backpack the entire time, but decided he would wait. After the hike they relaxed and started to get ready for dinner. As Melissa finished getting ready she walked in to the bedroom to see lit up letters asking "Marry Me" and rose petals covering the bed, Justin was waiting just outside of the glass slider on one knee awaiting an answer, "yes, of course!!"