I didn't expect to meet my future husband that night. Lexi wanted to go out for drinks and have a girls night. We started at Bar Louie at Partridge Creek, and she had the idea to bar hop around the area. Little did I know, she had a plan to meet up with Zach and Albert in downtown Rochester. We got to 423 Main Bar Grill, grabbed a seat on the rooftop, and ordered two margaritas. She quickly told me that "Zach and his friend were coming to stop by." I rolled my eyes and said I wasn't in the mood to hang out with them. Seconds later, they walked up the stairs, and Albert snagged the seat closest to me. I gave him the cold shoulder for the night, telling him I was not interested in getting to know him and played hard to get. The next day, I headed back to Holland, and I got an Instagram follow request... from Albert. I quickly accepted the request with no hesitation. The next few months, Albert and I spent many sleepless nights FaceTiming, texting, and calling, getting to know each other over long distance. He put in the effort to come visit me in Holland as much as he could. After a few months, we took our first trip to Las Vegas in January of 2022. We had the best time, and it is one of my favorite memories of us together. We spent most of our time supporting Detroit sports teams, him teaching me how to golf, and taking mini vacations throughout the year. Seven short months later, I decided to move back to the east side and move in with Albert in our current home. After a little over three years of dating, Albert took me to Scottsdale, AZ for my birthday and finally asked me to marry him. Saying yes was an easy and fast decision. Being with Albert is the best decision I have ever made in my life. I am so grateful for him every day, and I cannot wait to look back on all the memories we share, especially our wedding day.
Well, my story starts a little before Gabby’s. My best man, Zach, was talking to bridesmaid Lexi one day, and like a true wingman he brought me up in conversation and mentioned that I was single. Lexi immediately said, “I have the perfect match for him!” (That’s just what I think happened) That match, of course, was Gabby. Zach showed me a picture of her in the summer of 2021, and from that moment on, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I knew instantly that I wanted to meet Gabby and learn everything about her. Fast forward a couple of weeks to August 14th, 2021—we finally met at 423 Grill rooftop bar in Rochester, MI. What Gabby didn’t know was that the whole thing was a setup. She thought she was heading out for a girls' night with Lexi… surprise! Zach and I showed up. We shared drinks, laughed a lot, and even did karaoke. (Yes, me… doing karaoke. If you know me, you know that’s not my thing.) But something about that night—and about Gabby—felt different. As the night came to an end, I knew I had to see her again. Even though she lived in Holland and I was in Shelby Township—190 miles apart, nearly a 3-hour drive—there was no doubt in my mind: she was worth every mile. And I made that drive many times. From date nights to Red Wings games, trying her favorite shrimp cocktail at new restaurants, to vacations and road trips, every moment with her felt like home. Eventually, I asked her to move in and be closer to me and her family. And after three amazing years together, I knew it was time to ask the big question. She thought we were headed to Arizona for her birthday trip—but I had something else planned. I brought her to see a beautiful view overlooking the Scottsdale mountains. She hesitated to check it out at first, but I convinced her to walk over. And right there, in that perfect moment, I asked her to marry me—and she said YES! Now, here we are, planning our wedding and getting ready for the next chapter. We’re so excited to celebrate with you and honored that you’ll be part of our big day. Thank you for being here. We hope you have the most unforgettable day with us—June 20, 2026.