Before their senior year of college, the two were sent to New York City for orientation and training for their summer internship. They met in the elevator of the Manhattan hotel the first day and got drinks at a brewery across the street that night. The two "connected" over several games of giant Connect 4. While chatting they learned that they attended the same college, shared several of the same friends, and grew up only 15 minutes away from each other in their home town of Mt. Pleasant, SC. The couple started dating at the end of the summer after returning to school, and always laugh about how it took traveling to New York to finally meet!

John, with the help of Anne's dear friend McKenna, teamed up to plan the perfect proposal. The plan was to convince Anne she was going on a double date the night before the couple was scheduled to leave for their three year anniversary trip. McKenna persuaded Anne to take a half day off from work to go and get their nails done and do some shopping in preparation for the "double date." As the group was leaving to go to the fake dinner date, McKenna came up with an excuse to drive seperately and meet them there. John took Anne through Falls Park in downtown Greenville, over the main bridge where the waterfall runs through the city. Anne was completely unsuspecting and enjoying the views when John began to make a short speech and then got down on one knee. Anne started to realize what was happening once she noticed a couple of photographers appear to capture the moment. John planned every detail and did a complete walkthrough of the proposal with everyone involved the night before. It paid off because Anne cried her eyes out with pure happiness!