It was right before the start of Erica's freshman year of college at Old Westbury, and she was attending a 3-week program on campus. Erica and her close friend Honour were sitting in the campus center when Sam approached the two. Sam, with a wide smile introduced himself as "Samuel". At the start of the semester, Erica decided to join a Christian club on campus where Sam happened to be Vice President. Little did the two know that this would be the start of their story. By 2013, their feelings for each other couldn't be denied. In October of 2015, Sam officially asked Erica to be his girlfriend.

In 2016, Sam began making mental plans to propose to Erica. Sam had a few different ideas in mind, but landed on the perfect way the beginning of summer in 2018. Sam offered up to Erica the idea of going on blindfolded dates as a fun idea for their relationship. Sam took Erica to the top of the Empire State Building to overlook the city. Erica then took Sam to a pasta cooking class in Manhattan. Finally, in the beginning of the summer, Sam got close friends and family together at Valley Stream State Park escorting a blindfolded Erica to her surprise proposal.