In our seventh grade homeroom, we became fast friends! We didn't keep in touch after Mari moved to a different school district, but we reconnected in the summer of 2020 when we realized we were living 20 minutes away from each other. We had our first date on August 10th, when we went to Fort Monroe for a beach day. A year later, Gavin proposed on the beach again!
Gavin revealed that he planned the entire proposal in 24 hours! Gavin and Charly (mother of the bride) went to Ikea to pick up supplies, and set up the surprise while Mari was in class. With a blanket adorned with candles, pillows, and a sweet sign, Gavin popped the question-- obviously she said yes!
Mari is graduating from Christopher Newport University in the Spring of 2024 with a degree in Information Science, and Gavin is graduating from Old Dominion University in the Spring of 2024 with a degree in Business Management, and planning to enter the Army as an officer. After the wedding, we will likely travel for four years while Gavin is in the Army, after which we will return to the Newport News area with our fur-babies (and eventually actual babies!) Eva, our dog, and Paulie, our cat.