James and Gabrielle met at a cute little farmer’s market called Hinge. Their first date in March 2022 was at Parkville Market in Hartford. They chose Jamaican food because Gabrielle wanted to try goat. Unfortunately, the restaurant ran out, but Puerto Rican mofongo and a lot of laughter made up for it. Somewhere in the middle of the first date excitement, they learned that James lived only 10 minutes away from the condo Gabrielle just purchased - a sign from the universe nudging them forward. Not long after, their beloved fur-baby Ares entered the picture. Gabrielle fostered him at first, and James was terrified. He remembered thinking, “It’s either me or the dog.” Over time, that fear transformed into many treats, lots of snuggles, and unconditional love. James and Gabrielle grew alongside each other in real time. They supported one another through completing their Master’s degrees, internships, career changes, and homeownership. In May 2025, James invited Gabrielle for a work trip to Austin, TX, in hopes of disguising their engagement proposal. He added extra days for vacationing fun and thought he was sneaky, but the hotel didn’t get the memo. When they arrived at their room, Gabrielle remembers thinking, “Why are there rose petals everywhere? Is that champagne and chocolate?” James panicked with their luggage still in hand. The hotel got confused and set up the big surprise a day too early. As Gabrielle explored the room in confusion, James rumaged in his backpack for the ring, got down on one knee, and the rest is history. Through every milestone, big and small, James and Gabrielle built a relationship rooted in love, laughter, friendship, and unwavering support. They are excited to continue building their life together and to celebrate this next chapter surrounded by the people they love most.