Chad and Emily met during the summer or 2012 at a graduation party sitting around a bonfire. After meeting, they did the middle school texting for a week before Chad told Emily she was too young for him. The fall of 2013, Chad decided to reach out to become friends with Emily. Eventually the months of talking started to lead towards what could have been the start of their relationship. Chad gave Emily the impression that he would be taking her to prom, however, he never asked and soon texted her saying he was taking someone else instead. At this point, Emily had no intentions of even being friends with him. They went their separate ways until Chad started messaging Emily once again in the fall of 2014. Emily was not interested in any type of relationship, but something about him had her talking to him still. They rekindled the feelings they had for each other and Chad officially asked Emily to be his girlfriend on 12.13.2014. They modified that date to get their wedding date of 4.30.2022.

On a trip down to Coralville to move Emily out of a college apartment, the two stopped at a couple of jewelry stores and looked at some rings. After numerous rings, they had found the one. Soon after, Chad and Emily talked about getting pictures done as a couple since they had been together for almost 6 years and never gotten them done. Emily had hopes that Chad would use this opportunity to ask her the question. The day came, and Chad drove Emily a couple hours away until they arrived at a cow pasture with a cabin. The photographer guided them down to an area that she set up perfectly for their pictures. Chad grabbed a basket and came over to stand by Emily and started reading a poem that mentioned each of the items in the basket. On the line that said "and with a little help from our mums and pops" both Chad and Emily's parents walked out and surprised her. Chad then got down on one knee and asked that one big question, and Emily couldn't say yes quick enough.