In 2017, Gabriella and Raphy were both students at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. At VCU, basketball was a religion. The games were a spectacle as spirited students, alumni and faculty alike would swarm the Siegal Center to watch the Rams play complimented by mesmerizing performances by the VCU Gold Rush Dance Team. The players weren't the only superstars on the court, and it was at one of these games that Raphy first saw Gabriella. She was dancing with the Gold Rush team, her moves graceful and captivating, and Raphy thought "No way in a million years a girl like her would ever notice someone like me." But life had other plans. Everywhere Raphy went on campus, she was there too. From the library, to the gym, to class, their paths kept crossing. "She's going to think I'm following her!" Raphy complained to his roommate, trying to shake off the thought. One day, in the middle of a busy crosswalk, Raphy felt compelled to take a photo of the Richmond city scape. Little did he know, Gabriella was walking by and finally, he caught her attention. Their eyes met with a smile, and in that moment, the crush became mutual. A week or so later they attended the same campus party. Armed with some liquid courage, Raphy mustered up enough bravery to approach Gabriella. They talked and laughed and got to know each other for the first time. Everything went extremely well… except Raphy forgot to get her number! That's ok though, because the next day, as if destiny, they ran into each other at the library. What started as casual conversations, turned into study dates (where studying was scarce, but laughter and chemistry abundant), turned into dating. And the rest is history. After graduation, life took them to Northern Virginia. Raphy began his career in DC, while Gabriella pursued her passion, dancing for the Washington Commanders. They couldn't be more excited to celebrate their marriage with everyone and take the next step that started on that Richmond crosswalk all those years ago.