The two met at morning prayer on the very first day of college classes in 2021. James was entering his sophomore year and Hannah was just starting her freshman year. Upon entering the chapel, Hannah expected to find a crowd but instead was greeted by two tall and quiet men sitting all the way up at the front. Opting, then, to sit in the back, matins went as per usual. After matins, the two would introduce themselves. While at the time they did not know that had just met their future spouse, James left the morning with the comment "She is pretty cute".

James put meticulous effort and months of planning into his proposal. It was going to be a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Iowa. He would surprise her at church and then take her on a picturesque hike - eventually getting on one knee surrounded by pine trees. However, Hannah, unknowingly, ruined this first plan. She planned to surprise James in Ohio and spend the weekend there. When the surprise was revealed James made a second, equally beautiful, plan. They still went to church and had a picturesque hike. Only this time he got on one knee in Ohio surrounded by wildflowers and sunshine.