Rob and Karen met on Valentine's Day in 2003. They spent the year together camping, getting to know each other and enjoying the Carolina Panthers going to the Super Bowl. It was a good year and in February they celebrated being together for a year and marriage was discussed. On Septembe16th, in 2005 Rob proposed to a unsuspecting Karen in front of parents and friends at a suprise engagement party. The date of April 22nd of 2006 was set and it was decided that the Gatlinburg area would be a good location, offering many things to do for all with the hopes of a vacation for family.