Both Jeremy and Denise attended Massachusetts College of Art, while Denise did not complete her studies there they were acquaintances. Jeremy graduated with his bachelors in Industrial Design and stayed in the city. Denise returned to study at Simmons for Nursing. By chance they reconnected at a bar in downtown Boston. Since both of them cycle, they biked to their first date together having dinner on a balcony in Cleveland Circle. The restaurant closed, but they couldn't stop talking - so they spent over an hour leaning against their bikes chatting.

While on a trip to Peru, Jeremy and Denise completed a five day 50 mile hike to Machu Picchu. Both were exhausted but were determined to complete the last hike of the trip, two hours of additional climbing up Machu Picchu Mountain, one of the two mountains that border the ancient Inca ruins. While on the top of the mountain, Jeremy and Denise rested and ate lunch overlooking the ruins below. As they were about to descend, Jeremy said he needed to grab something out of his bag. At this moment, Jeremy pulled out a matchbook and got down on one knee. Denise was extremely confused until he opened the matchbook and inside was a beautiful heirloom ring! The words spoken were a little fuzzy since they were 10,000 ft or 3,000 meters in the air but Denise knows she said, "Yes! (and subsequently both had happy tears)" Unfortunately due to the altitude, Denise's fingers were swollen and the ring didn't fit until they were back at sea level in Lima.