We're excited to celebrate our love with all of you!

As per usual, Gabby was 10 minutes early for class on that first day of Freshman year at Holy Trinity. Just as Mr. Boglio passed through the G's, who strolls in, Joe. In natural fashion: tie loose, penny loafers slipped on with the back folded in, platsic bag ruffling in hand filled with his sandwhich and chips. Joe sat just to the left of Gabrielle. Over the course of the year there was not much conversation between the two except giggles here and there with the class and side comments about the teacher. It wasn't until April when Holy Trinity held their annual walkathon when Joe and Gabby had their first full blown conversation about what else of course, but her brother Nick and how much Joe loved him and how much he loved Joe. Fast forward to another month - it's the night before Gabrielle's biology regents and she receives a text from Joe with some excuse that he texted Gabrielle because "he heard she liked him". Since this day, Gabrielle never went another day without a text from Joe. The next morning we both arrived to school and said hello before our tests. As our test were over and just as the two were waiting to catch the buses home, they shared a hug. Funny thing is, Joe was never supposed to be in Gabrielle's history class that year. The guidance department made a mistake and placed him in the regular history class instead of Honors. What a mistake that was.....

It was early July and Gabrielle and Joe had been anticipating this day for a while, the day they would hang out for real in person. Gabrielle was too nervous to meet with Joe alone, so she rallied her best friend April to come along. Gabrielle and April planned every detail, what Gabrielle would wear, how she should wear her hair, how/when they would arrive, etc,. They woke up that morning and it was raining. Gabby and April did not stop doing the rain dance as they prayed and prayed that the rain would stop. Someone above was praying as well. The rain stopped and Gabrielle and April finally arrived at the fair. Shortly after, Joe pulled up with his friend Jordan as well. Side note: Jordan was very good friends with April.... I know small world and a perfect situation. They spent the night enjoying fun games and crazy rides. Their first ride alone without their friends was the Ferris Wheel. Gabrielle and Joe were both super nervous and both had butterflies. Just before they left, they rode the zipper, which was not on the top of Gabrielle's list. Of course Joe's phone fell through the cracks and dropped all the way to the ground and broke into pieces. Shortly after, a wind strom hit the island and Joe and Gabrielle waited in a nearby pizzeria until they were picked up. Once Gabrielle arrived home, Joe called Gabby from his house phone and they talked all night until early morning when Joe fell asleep.

Joe had invited Gabrielle to the movies one Friday night. They were planning to see the movie SALT at Broadway Mall Movie Theatre. They decided to eat in the food court. Joe bought them pizza, but Gabby was too nervous to eat. Of course Joe asked if he could have her slice. Earlier that day Joe had just gotten his braces off, and was learning how to eat with a retainer. Rule of Thumb: probably not the best idea to take out your retainer for the first time on a date. But, Gabby didn't care. She really liked him and was just laughing at everything he did the entire time. The movie was great, not that either one could focus on the movie. They held hands the entire time. their hands were sweaty and they were both shaking for the entire 90 minute movie. When the movie was over they picked a table in the food court to sit and chat until their mom's arrived. They talked about how much they enjoyed their night and being with each other. Then, Joe said " how is your brother going to react when I tell him 'I'm dating his sister"? Gabrielle was shocked and then Joe said "Will you be my girlfriend?" Gabrielle didn't hesitate and said yes right away. They both left with the biggest smiles on their faces.....

Just 19 days before celebrating 10 years together, Joe's brother Richie was planning a visit home to see the Family. Gabrielle was told that they had a family lunch planned at Prime. Side note: Joe and Gabrielle had always wanted to visit their family members that had passed, especially visiting the resting place of his uncle Joe. For some reason Joe thought that the morning before they met the family for lunch was the perfect time and for some reason Gabrielle didn't think anything of it. So there they went off to Queens at 8am. As many unfortunately know, Calvary cemetery is very large and Joe and Gabrielle were driving in circles for almost an hour. They finally found their destination; heals, blown out hair and all, Joe and Gabby took a stroll through the cemetery to say a prayer to their loved ones. They then started their journey to the family lunch. Gabrielle knew her way around the North Shore and did think that the path he chose was strange and long. We entered Hicksville, a very familiar location to Gabrielle. Just as they hit Newbridge Rd. Gabby received a FaceTime call from her nephew. Joe said "let's show AJ where his daddy went to high school" and it was at this point that they pulled into the Holy Trinity High School parking lot. Side note: Gabrielle, her 3 brothers, Joe and his 2 siblings all went to Holy Trinity as well. As they pulled into the lot Joe pulled his car up in the front and got out. At this point Gabby's nephew was wearing a onesie that said "Aunt gabby, will you marry uncle joe?". It was then that Gabby looked up from her phone and saw Joe down on one knee. Gabby immediately dropped the phone and couldn't hold back her tears. She said yes! Joe hired a photographer to capture this moment and spent the afternoon with them taking photos all over the grounds where they first met. They have now set a date to become one. On 10.8.2022 they will be dating for over 12 years and can't wait to finally call each other husband and wife.