On a spring day during the height of the pandemic, Olivia and Joel met each other entirely by chance at Rocky Point Park. Olivia had come down to Rhode Island from Boston for a treat from her favorite donut shop, and Joel wanted to get outside for some bouldering after a virtual interview. Exploring Rocky Point for the first time, Olivia happened to hike up to a rock-climbing route that Joel had never been able to complete. When Joel crossed paths with Olivia at the climb, he stopped to see if she could show him how it was done. Olivia ran back to her car to grab her climbing shoes, excited to try bouldering outside for the first time. After spending the day climbing together, Joel gave Olivia his number, and she texted him the next morning asking when they could go climbing again. Due to the pandemic, they could only meet outside, so they climbed together throughout the spring. By the time the summer came around, they knew they were in love.

As a Christmas gift for Olivia, Joel booked them a vacation to Hawaii for the spring of 2024, almost exactly four years after they'd happened upon each other at Rocky Point. This trip would complete her childhood dream of visiting all 50 states. After a relaxing day of massages and drinks on the beach, Joel told Olivia to get dressed up for a surprise dinner. Olivia’s suspicions were confirmed when the Uber driver dropped them off at a small park between the ocean and a volcano. Joel led Olivia over to a small white tent decorated with string lights and a sign that said, “Marry Me.” He took a knee, and there, between the waves and rocks, he asked for her hand in marriage.