In 2021, fate brought us together at a mutual friend’s dinner party, where we quickly discovered a surprising connection: both of our parents lived in Shelby’s home city of Huntsville, Alabama - and not just in the same city, but in the very same neighborhood. Talk about a small world! We lived in different cities at the time and loosely kept in touch for a short time after. A few months later, we crossed paths again at USS Bunker Hill’s Christmas party, where Gabe made quite the entrance in a show-stopping Christmas patterned suit. As we laughed and reconnected that night, something clicked, and soon, we were making plans to see each other again. By January 2022, we knew we had something special, and we officially began dating. Since then, we’ve explored several parts of the world, shared incredible experiences, and navigated life’s ups and downs side by side. Between relaxing in breathtaking destinations and navigating a cross-country move, every moment has reinforced what we already knew: we want to spend forever together. On November 10, 2024, Gabe proposed - and with joyful hearts, we said “yes” to forever. Now, we’ve made another journey across the country, settling in San Diego as we begin this next chapter together. To all our friends and family, we cannot wait to celebrate with you in April - marking the beginning of the rest of our lives.