In 2022, Emily’s twin brother Joey graduated from Ranger School alongside Heath. They didn’t formally meet that day- Heath noticed Emily in the crowd, and without either of them realizing it, they ended up in the background of each other’s photos, quietly crossing paths before the timing was right. Fast forward to March 2024, at Joey’s RASP graduation. Joey had asked Heath to pin him, but work made it uncertain whether he’d make it. Heath came in mid ceremony, and after the ceremony he was directing the photographer who to get pictures of. He caught Emily's eye and felt an immediate pull toward him, and later found out he felt it too. She took a few photos of him and Joey together, introduced herself, shook hands and walked away. She went home and told her friends about the cute guy she met and that it was a shame he lives in Georgia because they will likely never see each other again. In August 2024, Heath reached out on Instagram to ask for her number. A week and a half later, he was in Knoxville with Joey to visit Emily together, and from that moment on, it just clicked and they haven’t been able to leave each other alone since. On March 7, 2026 Heath proposed to Emily in the F.D. Roosevelt Park in Pine Mountain, GA in the middle of their five mile hike. Emily had picked the hike the night before, with a view and planned to bring her camera like they always do on their hikes. When they arrived, it turned out the view was in the parking lot and instead of her camera tripod she grabbed her portable painting easel on accident. They sat 4 miles into the hike to the closest thing there was to a view, ate snacks and Heath asked Emily about her busted Irish Claddagh ring she has worn for 10 years on her ring finger while slipping it off and pulled out the engagement ring that he was messing with in his hands the entire time they were talking and with a few jokes and sentiment, asked her to marry him. And no, she did not notice he was fiddling with the ring. She said yes and they celebrated that night together at their favorite restaurant Botanic in Alabama!