Cortney and Michael met while they were both studying for their Bachelor's Degrees at Drexel University in 2013. They first met when Cortney was interviewing Michael for a story in her journalism class. Just a few short weeks later, Michael joined the Drexel Judo team that Cortney was also on. They quickly became good friends, practicing their throws at judo, going for runs on the art museum steps, and attempting to understand Michael's deep hatred for all things unicorn related. The two "officially" began dating that winter and the rest is history.

After nearly 6 years of dating they decided to make it (even more) official. It was Cortney's birthday and she had plans to go swimming, then get her hair cut before she and Michael went out to dinner that evening to celebrate. When Cortney and Michael stopped home to change and get ready to go out to dinner, Michael asked Cortney if she'd rather open her birthday gifts before or after dinner. Being the logical person she is, and considering it was a late reservation, Cortney said before (you all know she'd be fast asleep on the couch after a late dinner, not awake for opening gifts). Michael then told Cortney to close her eyes while he went upstairs to get her present. He came back downstairs, asked her to hold out her arms, and began piling pillows from the couch onto them insisting she "needed these for the gift". Once the pillows were piled to his liking, he told her to open her eyes. As soon as she did, Michael knocked the pillows out of her hands and was down on his knee in front of her. At which point he asked, "do you want to get married?" Of course, she said "yes!"