Évangéline and Justin’s story began during their first year at Grand Valley State University, where they met through Lakers for Liberty, the university’s libertarian student organization. Their shared interests sparked a friendship, and they remained active members throughout college. Évangéline served as the social media officer and later vice president, while Justin became the organization’s president.

In the fall semester of their senior year, Évangéline and Justin both became campus resident assistants. It was during this time that Justin realized he wanted to pursue a relationship with Évangéline. On November 20, 2022, he asked her to be his girlfriend after a date picking apples at Gull Meadow Farms in Richland, MI.

As their relationship grew, God’s plan began to unfold . Early in their relationship, Justin expressed interest in joining Évangéline for Sunday Services at Chapel Pointe in Hudsonville, MI. This decision ultimately led to his conversion to Christianity.

In January 2023, three months before her graduation, Évangéline accepted a job offer in public relations in the Washington, DC, area and subsequently moved to Fairfax, VA.

Although Justin had another year of school remaining, he joined the Washington Center program for his final summer as a student. He lived, worked, and took classes in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, interning at a lobbying firm near the Capitol. Determined to stay close to Évangéline, Justin continued working in DC that fall with special approval to finish his courses online. He graduated a semester early and accepted a job offer at a nearby lobbying firm.

On March 24, 2024, the day before Évangéline’s birthday, Justin planned a sunrise walk around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, to admire the blooming cherry blossoms, Évangéline’s favorite flower. As they stood opposite the Jefferson Memorial, Justin seized the moment and proposed with an engagement ring that had been passed down by her family. Évangéline, overwhelmed with joy, immediately said yes.

On May 19, 2024, Évangéline and Justin were baptized together at McLean Bible Church in Tysons, VA, solidifying their shared faith and commitment to God.

The couple plans to reside in Fairfax County and make Northern Virginia their home.