Gianna and Alex are getting married!

Picture it, Port Jefferson Station, 2016. Alex started a new job shortly after graduating Stony Brook University when he met a high-energy, fun and kind Gianna when he started working at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Gianna's ever vivacious personality was a bit much for Alex at first, so you could say we didn't quite hit it off. As the months passed, we grew closer, and formed a tighter bond. The next year, Gianna and her friends were looking for a house to rent, while Alex happened to be moving out of a house only a few miles from where Gianna grew up. As fate would have it, Gianna and her friends got the house, and Gianna moved into Alex's old room. A short month later, Gianna got Bonzo who quickly became obsessed with Alex whenever he saw him... love at first sight...even more so than when Gianna first saw Alex! Alex was essential in helping train Bonzo, as Gianna had no prior experience with dogs before getting him. Bonzo brought us even closer together as time went on, and their bromance continues to this day!

After a Tom and Jerry-like relationship for a number of years, the pieces started falling into place for us, making it obvious that we were meant to be in each other's lives forever. In early fall 2019, we both realized that our futures looked brighter with each other in it and that it was the right time to seriously pursue our relationship together. On October 26, 2019, Alex asked Gianna to be his girlfriend as they enjoyed the sunset together at a beautiful overlook overseeing the Long Island Sound. Five months later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leaving us in a difficult position. Alex was living an hour away at the time, but working only 10 minutes away. After much discussion, Alex ended up staying with Gianna and her housemates through the early months of the pandemic. His lease came due a few months later, and it was no question that we had to continue living together at that point. Alex moved in with Gianna and her housemates until they were able to move out together in January of 2021. A short month later, they welcome Meatball home, desperate to have another furchild and a brother for Bonzo.

Alex and Gianna always knew they wanted to get married! Gianna had presented Alex with a 37 slide PowerPoint presentation about wedding plans in December 2021, so there was much build up anticipation to the engagement. Alex went to ask Gianna's parents for their blessing - on arguably the most important night of Gianna's professional career - with Bonzo in tow. Both of them were happy beyond belief and with that blessing, Alex began to plan the perfect surprise. Gianna had a work trip in early December and Alex planned to propose right after she got back. However, Gianna came home sick and it caused him to pivot! Finally, the stars aligned and on December 29, 2022, the long awaited day came. Alex, with the help of the Man of Honor, Sean, orchestrated a rouse for Gianna under the guise of going to dinner in Port Jefferson. When Alex and Gianna arrived, Sean said he was running late, and so Alex suggested grabbing a hot chocolate and taking a walk down by the water. As we approached the lawn of the Village Center, Alex stopped Gianna and said "When I asked you out I told you I wanted the opportunity to be a great boyfriend, and now I want the opportunity to be a great husband too." That was when Gianna noticed the marquee letters that spelt out "Marry Me" and tealights scattered across the lawn. It was the easiest "yes" of Gianna's life!