During the summer of 2012, Jason had wrapped up his freshman year of high school, while Ellie was excited about finishing middle school. Ellie went to attend "Flight School," the freshman orientation at Enloe High School, where Jason was volunteering through student council as a tour guide. Destiny played its hand, and Jason ended up being randomly assigned to show Ellie around the school. Ellie had an instant crush on him, and she even kiddingly said to her friend on the tour that she'd marry him someday. Ellie's best friend, Mary, was two years older and came at the end of the tour to give Ellie any extra Enloe advice before the school year started. Mary knew Jason already and introduced them, quickly followed by Jason jokingly teasing Mary (in front of Ellie!) for being friends with an incoming freshman. After getting home, Ellie wrote about Jason in her diary that day sharing that she officially had her first crush of high school. 2 years later, Ellie and Jason started dating!

Ellie thought she and Jason were meeting up with friends for dinner and drinks in Miami. Priyanka had told Ellie that they'd be going to a fancy restaurant in South Beach which required dressy attire. Jason and Ellie made their way down from their apartment in North Beach but once they were close, Priyanka texted saying they had arrived early and decided to take some pictures out on the beach…strategically right by Jason’s Aunt and Uncle’s condo to help with the set up logistics (shoutout to Julie aka “Derve” and Rob). Priyanka asked if we wanted to join them out on the beach. As they walked towards the ocean, Ellie started to faintly hear "Thinking Out Loud" playing; the song that played at Ellie & Jason's high school prom when they shared their first slow dance back in 2015. As they got closer, she was greeted with a set up of candles, lanterns, blankets, roses, champagne, and even her favorite chicago-style popcorn. Jason got down on one knee and of course, she said yes! Strategically hidden, both Priyanka and a photographer Jason hired were there to capture the moment. After the proposal, Jason and Ellie went out for an incredible meal overlooking the water while laughing about the lies and stress Jason had to go through to make the proposal happen!