The only things holding humanity together were eye fatigue and emotional instability. But amid all the chaos, one random decision to join yet another Zoom service group brought two strangers—on wildly different paths—into the same digital square. Almost five years later, that breakout room led to this wedding. Their ships didn’t pass in the night—they passed in a Zoom breakout room. And one ship definitely took more notice than the other. Let us explain. From the moment Scottlee saw Gabriella pop into the Zoom, he caught feelings. Was it stir-craziness? Infatuation? Who can really say? At the end of the call, everyone exchanged Instagrams “to keep in touch,” as was the custom for homebound 18-year-olds. Meanwhile, Gabriella… barely remembers this moment. She probably accepted his follow just to be polite. Scottlee lived in North Carolina. Gabriella was in Virginia. Despite their states sharing a border, their lives never intersected until that day in a Dutch international field service group. From then on, Scottlee became a quiet observer. He didn’t shoot his shot but admired from afar, thinking, “Wow, she seems like a really quality person.” Gabriella lived her life, completely unaware she had an Instagram admirer. In 2022, Scottlee moved to New York to serve at Bethel. Life shifted, but he never forgot that Insta-crush who occasionally brightened his feed. By 2023, Gabriella had moved to Maryland to start a new chapter. She remembered seeing his Bethel posts and occasionally noticed his adventures—but her romantic radar was still on another wavelength. Both kept growing—spiritually, emotionally, personally. They refined their goals and deepened their relationships with Jehovah, both hoping to someday find someone who shared those goals. Then came 2024. Gabriella and her sister Emma visited Bethel to explore if it might be somewhere they’d like to serve. They loved it and planned another trip. While brainstorming who they might know in NY, Gabriella remembered: “Wasn’t there some guy from that Zoom group?” She messaged him to see if he wanted to hang out with them. Scottlee was thrilled! But his Bethel assignment ran overtime, and he had to cancel. That night, he went to bed feeling like he’d missed the moment he’d been waiting on for five years. But that wasn’t the end. Two weeks later, Gabriella messaged again—this time with big news: she’d gotten a job, a place to live, and was officially NY-bound. She asked if he could help her move. Naturally, Scottlee said yes. Once she was settled, Gabriella began noticing just how kind, spiritual, and thoughtful Scottlee really was. She found herself observing him from a distance—until eventually, she invited him and some friends over for dinner to try and win him over with her cooking. (It worked.) Cue the montage: • Boxes were moved. • Sparks flew. • Rats invaded. • Boxes were moved… again. • Mutual interest grew. • Soup was delivered. They quickly saw that this was the kind of love they’d dreamed about—one built on love, depth, and shared purpose. With Jehovah at the center, they were both ready for the real thing. Then, one freezing night in December, under the Brooklyn Bridge while ice skating, Scottlee asked Gabriella to be his girlfriend. She said yes. His response? “Let’s goooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!” After months of dating, laughing, praying, and growing together, here they are—ready to make it forever. Scottlee and Gabriella are so thankful for everyone who’s played a part in their love story and can’t wait to celebrate with you—whether in person or virtually. It’s all come full circle. What started on Zoom is being sealed for life… and streamed live in yet another Zoom meeting. And in 2025, what’s more romantic than that?