James and Nicolette have known each other since their high school days, as they shared many mutual friends. James even played on the same high school football team as Nicolette's brother, Brandon, and would regularly tease Brandon about his "hot sister". Nevertheless, James and Nicolette never ended up spending much time together and went their separate ways after graduation in 2004. While they remained friends on social media over the next 14 years, it wasn't until July of 2018 that they finally reconnected via Intagram (James edit: Shoot your shot fellas!) while he was living in Houston, TX and Nicolette was in Toledo, OH. This sparked a friendship that they eventually recognized was becoming much more. It wasn't until James secured a job as a morning news anchor in Grand Rapids, MI that the couple realized that this was something that could realistically work. They spent the next two years traveling back and forth between Grand Rapids, Mi and Toledo, OH until James' contract was up. It was at this point in December of 2020, that James made the move to Toledo, OH to join Nicolette and her daughter Ava. Finally, in May of 2021, James and Nicolette's dad conspired to surprise everyone at Nicolette's mom's 60th birthday party with a proposal. James hired a photographer to document the whole thing, and everything turned out perfectly! Although, if you ask James, it was the most stressful day of his life! (James edit: it was!) The couple now looks forward to celebrating the beginning of their lifelong commitment to each other in front of their closest family and friends!