In July 2012, Katie was starting her first journalism job at the Charlottesville Newsplex as producer of Good Morning Charlottesville. Lee was the evening engineer. Lee spent many nights staying hours after his shift was over to keep Katie company into the early hours of the morning. He won her over with his gifts of delicious cheesecake and by rescuing her from a snowstorm/power outage with dinner from Cookout.

On December 8, 2018, Katie and Lee met up with Lee's family at Kings Dominion's Winterfest, for what Katie thought was just their normal annual holiday tradition. Under the guise of taking Lee's nephew to see Santa, Lee convinced Katie that they needed their own photo with Kris Kringle. Katie fought it the whole time they were in line. Much to her surprise (as is plain on her face in the photo), Lee chose that moment to get down on one knee in front of his whole family and Santa Claus, while Katie's family watched via Facetime. Once Katie got it together, she, of course, said yes!