J.T. and Audrey met after one of Audrey's roommates took a class that J.T. was teaching at Florida State. She recommended that J.T. could be a good match, so Audrey was on the lookout. Eventually, J.T. and Audrey would find each other online - but not before months had passed, and the two lived only one block from one another (unbeknownst to them)! Their first date was at Midtown Caboose, a Tallahassee favorite.

J.T. and Audrey traveled to Roseburg, Oregon, in 2021 to visit Audrey's parents, Robert and Emely. While planning for the trip, J.T. secretively (and nervously) packed Audrey's ring. The visit to Oregon was filled with days of touring the coast, and J.T. planned a sunset proposal on the beach in Yachats. What he did not expect were the chilly temperatures that made it difficult to get Audrey to the beach. Eventually, she cooperated, and Audrey's parents got to watch from afar, which made it all the more special.