We met through Stellar Robotics, going to dozens of competitions and spending hours at meetings for the team. We got along well, though someone who didn't know us might not have said so. We bickered constantly and were always trying to get on each other's nerves, Gabby continually distracting Orion trying to work on CAD and Orion usually making fun of Gabby in some way or another. We went on our first date on September 3rd of 2018. The car ride to the Toledo Zoo was the most awkward half hour, but by the time we left dinner, we never wanted the date to end. As soon as Gabby got back to her dorm, she immediately called Lindsey (her now maid of honor) and talked for two hours about how perfect the date was. Every date after that only got better, and we have been on a lifetime's worth of adventures in less than a year and a half, so our future is bound to be even better.
On April 22nd 2019, I woke up having no clue it was going to be one of the greatest days of my life. It was a Monday, and slightly chilly but beautiful outside. I remember I had just sat down in my writing class when Orion texted me asking if I wanted to go out that night. I said yes, suggesting we go somewhere outside since it was supposed to be nice outside. He suggested going to the lake, which I eagerly agreed with, having no clue what he had in mind. As I got ready for our date later that night, I had a small inkling that he might propose, but I brushed it off because he had said he was going to wait until May. He picked me up, all smiles and jokes like normal, and we drove up to Luna Pier on Lake Erie, where we went on our second date. It is one of our favorite spots, and the absolute best place to watch the sunset. We had gone up several times, so I didn't really think anything of it that he took me up there. When we got up to the lake, we walked down the short beach, and then back onto the pier. We wandered to the end of the pier, reminiscing about spending hours here on our second date where we just talked until it got too cold to speak. Orion stopped here, and I suggested taking a picture together. He said we should wait for sunset, in a few minutes, so we walked back down the beach and right at sunset, he hugged me and whispered, "I have something to ask you." He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, when I started crying and laughing. I said yes, obviously, but it wasn't very intelligible as a minute or two later, he looked at me and asked, "Did you say yes?" We of course celebrated at Chick-Fil-A because would we really be us if we didn't toast our engagement with chicken nuggets? #classy.
We set the date for the wedding hours after we got engaged. December 14th, 2019. It is an absolute whirlwind trying to plan a wedding in less than eight months, but it is actually happening and nothing has exploded yet. We are so looking forward to spending the best day of our lives with the best people in our lives, and we hope you all enjoy it almost as much as us. All of the information for the day is available under "The Day's Schedule" so please go there for all of the details. This will be the most stellar wedding. #OhHappyDeYoe