Blake and Vanessa met in the Fall of 2017. They sat next to each other at a mutual friend's house. The next day, Blake sent Vanessa a text with a picture of a Mimosa from Bonefish, a "bouquet of flowers" emoji, and asked if she wanted to go on a date. After several lunch dates, a hurricane, and many beautiful sunsets, Blake and Vanessa fell in love.

In late August 2021, Blake planned a staycation on Captiva Island. After a stormy Saturday and a little bit of weather magic, the rain stopped and the clouds cleared up. Vanessa had been suspicious, so to throw her off, Blake drove her to a beach down the road and proposed on a secluded shoreline. To her surprise, Vanessa's parents, Blake's parents, and their best friends were waiting at a restaurant to celebrate the engagement.