Michelle and Stafford met at an Elon football game their first semester at Elon. The two did not hit it off. Michelle asked Stafford to get her a lemonade and he told her, in colorful language, that she could go get it herself. Later that evening, Michelle and Stafford met again at a party when Michelle was looking for a familiar face to help her fend off a creepy guy. After Stafford helped Michelle, the two spent the rest of the night talking and dancing. The next day, Michelle texted Stafford "Hi" and the two met for coffee and cookies at Elon's coffee shop, Acorn.

Stafford proposed to Michelle during a fireworks display overlooking Atlanta on the fourth of July. Michelle loves fireworks and so Stafford knew the perfect time to propose would be at the finale of the show. To his dismay, the show continued on for longer than he expected and the different firework displays across the city kept everyone's attention. Fortunately, when Michelle turned to him and said "I don't think there is going to be a finale," Stafford took his opportunity and responded "I have a finale." Stafford got down on one knee and, although neither can tell you what he said or what Michelle said in response, there is video proof of her nodding her head yes.