Matt and Gabriella met at Del Rey Church in 2015 and quickly became friends. Gabriella admired that Matt was so easy going and inclusive. He laughed often and loved to make goofy jokes. She was blown away by his musical talents, and admired that he used them to serve the church. On Sundays, he was always the first one there in the morning to set up and lead worship for back to back services. Sometime in 2016, Matt realized he was interested in Gabriella. He liked that she was a believer first and foremost, that she had a servant's heart, and that she was the prettiest girl at church. It also didn't help that she loved all the same movies Matt did. Silly Gabriella was totally oblivious until Matt asked her to meet him for coffee. That's when Matt finally told Gabriella that he liked her. Gabriella was flattered, but said she wanted to remain friends. She was impressed by how mature and understanding his reaction was. He didn't make her feel guilty or awkward, and said that they would "always be homies". But Matt couldn't get over Gabriella (though he tried really hard). He did everything he could to be a good friend and patiently pursue her. He prayed for God's guidance and peace over the situation. After some time, Gabriella started to observe Matt. She realized that he had so many qualities that she admired. She wanted to get to know him more but she was nervous, so she asked their pastor, Matt Jones, for his advice. Jones started meeting with Matt, who was encouraged by their conversations. Gabriella and Matt started talking more and more. At a barbecue in April, Gabriella was surprised to find that she had butterflies in her stomach when she saw Matt. All his hard work was starting to pay off! In June Matt and Gabriella finally went on their first date. They hung out constantly after that. They would walk on the Manhattan Beach boardwalk, get acai bowls, watch movies, go on hikes, or find a good bench with an awesome view.

On July 19, 2017, Gabriella and Matt made their relationship official. They got to know each other's families. They learned how to pray together and encourage one another. They sought wisdom from the older couples in their families and at their church. On February 1, 2018, Matt proposed to Gabriella at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. There was a music box, a grand piano, and rose pedals falling from the rafters. It was a surreal, beautiful moment. Matt and Gabriella thank the Lord for his sovereignty and guidance over their lives. When they look back at their story so far, they're amazed at how God has been preparing them for the covenant relationship of marriage. He was orchestrating the fine details in ways they couldn't understand at the time. In His grace and wisdom, He not only brought them together, but also blessed them with strong, biblical support systems that will help them in their marriage. Matt and Gabriella believe that marriage is a beautiful gift from God that serves as a picture of the relationship between Christ and His church. They believe that true love should be modeled after Christ's love--love that consists of selfless, steadfast acts of the will. They believe that marriage is a sanctifying, transforming relationship and a way for them to "help each other on their journey to become the persons God designed them to be" (Timothy Keller). Matt and Gabriella are so excited to make a sacred vow to God and to each other to be committed to one another, serve one another, sacrifice for one another, love one another, and encourage one another to be more like Christ. And they're overjoyed to share this special moment with you!