Justine and Chris met during the first semester of their junior year at SUNY Oswego. Their first meeting was brief, but Chris was determined to talk again. He asked their mutual friend Jenn (who is Justine's maid of honor) about her, and Jenn said she would put in a good word. After a few weeks of casual run-ins around Oswego, Chris asked Justine for her number and invited her to an ugly sweater Christmas date party. From there they began to see each other more and more. The night of their first “official” date, there was a big snowstorm, but they braved the cold to have dinner at an Oswego staple, Old City Beer Hall.

Chris asked Justine to marry him on the beach in Lavallette, New Jersey in July of 2021. This is a place Justine spent every summer at growing up and holds a very special place in her heart, so Chris knew it was the perfect spot. They had spent the day lounging on the beach, and unlike any other day Chris requested they leave the beach at 3:00 pm to “get ready for dinner”. Before dinner, he suggested taking a few photos on the beach. While walking over the sand dunes Justine spotted a glass bottle in the sand. Chris suggested she go open it, and written inside was a special message. When Justine looked up Chris was down on one knee. About three weeks before this vacation Justine made a joke about getting engaged during the upcoming trip to which Chris replied with a laugh, “do you think you are getting engaged in Jersey? You are most definitely not”. They most definitely did.