Garrett was in Michigan. Gabrielle was in Virginia. Neither of them expected love to come through a VR headset, but sometimes, the most unexpected connections are the most meaningful. Gabrielle was exploring the virtual world for the first time on an app called AltspaceVR. She wandered into a user-created space called “Journey to the Cove” and started snapping a few avatar selfies — until she noticed another avatar behind her. Embarrassed, she apologized and struck up an awkward conversation with the stranger, who turned out to be Garrett. That simple moment turned into something extraordinary. From that night on, the two spent hours talking in VR, FaceTiming, and learning everything about each other from hundreds of miles apart. For six months, they built a connection that was real, raw, and unlike anything either of them had ever experienced. Eventually, Gabrielle gave Garrett a bold (and honest) ultimatum: “Let me come meet you in person or let’s stop wasting each other's time.” Garrett was hesitant at first, but realized what he stood to lose. In February 2021, Gabrielle flew to Michigan and stayed in Bay City. Garrett picked her up from the airport — but only after she made sure he wasn’t, you know… a serial killer. They spent three unforgettable days together, and when it came time to say goodbye, it was incredibly hard. The next day, they met again in VR, just like always — only this time, Garrett was different. Quieter. Sad. Missing her. And then, right there in virtual reality, he asked her to be his girlfriend. Gabrielle said yes. From there, their relationship kept growing — full of love, trust, laughter, and goofiness. Six months later, after many visits back and forth, Gabrielle was able to telework and spent a full month in Michigan. The following trip took them through Virginia and then to Florida, where they visited Disney World and introduced each other to their families. After flying back to Virginia, something started to shift. Garrett began job searching in the area — just to see if anything would stick. And sure enough, it did. He landed a job, moved to Alexandria, and the rest is history. Then, in June of 2024, Garrett proposed in front of the hotel in Bay City where they first met in person — the place where everything began. From virtual worlds to real life, from strangers to soulmates — our love has been silly, trusting, evolving, and above all, real. We can't wait to continue this adventure together as husband and wife.