On February 29, 2020, Alex and Ava went on their first date — a basketball game at Clemson University's Littlejohn Coliseum. Little did they know that their second date would not be until May. The following week, while both were on Spring Break, COVID shut down Furman and Clemson's campuses, sending Ava and Alex home. The following months consisted of weekly Zoom dates, pressing play on the same movie at the same time. On May 15, 2020, Alex and Ava made their relationship official on a hike in a place that became very special to their relationship–Brevard, North Carolina.

As the world opened back up in 2021, Ava and Alex finally made it outside the Carolinas together. In the fall, the two traveled to Montana to hike in Glacier National Park. It was easy to see why Alex comes back to this state every year, with crystal clear glacial lakes, leaves at their peak fall color, and occasional snow flurries.

Their travels continued in 2022, with a trip to Spain after they both graduated from college; Alex with a degree in Landscape Architecture from Clemson, and Ava with degrees in History and Politics & International Affairs from Furman. With no international data plan, Ava and Alex discovered their favorite way to explore a new city — walking in every direction with no plan at all. While this is quite antithetical to both of their personalities, they grew to love the spontaneity.

With Ava now in Texas for law school, the two continued long-distance, grateful for holiday breaks and the occasional wedding that brought them together.

On November 22nd, 2024, Ava came home (in Waco, Texas) to the most thoughtful surprise of her life. While she was distracted in class, Alex flew out and decorated Ava's backyard with string lights, flowers, candles, and pictures for the proposal. As the story goes, she said yes!!!

In May of 2025, Ava graduated from law school and moved back to Greenville, South Carolina, ending five years of long-distance! The two are enjoying the beginning of their careers and lives together, along with their dog, Bear, and their kitten, Obi.