Our love story began in the summer of 2019—two young, evolving college students at Florida Gulf Coast University. Our paths had crossed a few times as we embraced campus life, but the moment that truly brought us together was an event he was performing in. Gabriel was modeling in a fashion show to raise money for one of the student organizations on campus. Little did we know, that night would mark the beginning of our lives becoming beautifully intertwined. A few days later, we connected on a dating app. (Yes, we know—go ahead and get your giggles out now. Turns out we’re one of the rare success stories!) From there, we began to truly get to know each other. We asked the big questions early on: Are you a Christian? Where are you from? What’s your story? Do you have family nearby? What are they like? And of course, the classic “What’s your favorite color?” (That last one’s a joke—but we did get around to it eventually.) In those early days, it felt like nothing could keep us apart. We spent every moment we could together, outside of our school and family responsibilities. We went on sweet little dates, had funny and serious conversations, and simply enjoyed being in each other’s presence. As time went on, our bond deepened. Gabriel would help Cassie with her Resident Assistant duties, making arts and crafts to decorate the dorm hallways. She would join him on his late-night Krispy Kreme runs—always with a little car karaoke—and show up to support him at his fraternity events. Eventually, our families became part of our story too. Knowing how important family is to each of us, we made it a priority to experience each other’s worlds—meeting the people who shaped us and sharing the stories that made us who we are. Unknowingly, every moment we shared was pointing us toward a future together. Weeks turned into months, and months into years. We grew—individually and as partners. Even before we were engaged, we made decisions with our future in mind, because deep down, we both knew the person beside us was “the one.” And above all, we know there’s one reason everything aligned the way it did: God. As our relationship evolved, so did our faith. We strengthened our relationship with God both individually and together, slowly building the foundation we wanted our future to be rooted in. We started attending church, joined Bible study groups, and invited God into every step we took as a couple. So here we are. This love story started with us—but it’s been shaped by so many: God, our families, our friends, and every person who’s crossed our path along the way. Thank you for being part of our journey. We’re so grateful—and we can’t wait to continue writing this story, side by side, until death do us part.