We're Getting Married!

Gabbi and Dylan first met in middle school, though their lives didn’t truly intersect until freshman year of high school. Their only real memory from those preteen years was at 6th grade camp, where Dylan mercilessly teased Gabbi for a minor meltdown over not having cell service—a moment that still makes them laugh. It’s funny how small moments can become shared jokes that last years. Fast forward to high school, and Dylan began what he calls his “two-year mission” to get Gabbi’s attention. He tried everything: asking her friends if she liked him, finding excuses to talk to her, and even surviving the ultimate blow—Gabbi once posted a photo of herself with his dog, claiming she loved the dog more than him, and they weren’t even talking yet. Somehow, that all worked out. After eight months, Dylan finally scored their first date, accompanied by two chaperones, of course. Later came their first homecoming dance, where butterflies and nerves were unmistakable. Just a few months later, on June 1, 2017, Dylan asked Gabbi to be his girlfriend during the ride home from an ice cream date, her favorite, in Lexington, Michigan—the perfect start to their love story. High school dating brought countless memories. Gabbi traveled to cheer Dylan on at football games, while Dylan teased Gabbi for refusing to dance at Homecoming or Snowball. Ice cream was a weekly tradition, Dylan walked Gabbi to every class, and their favorite class placed them side by side, allowing Dylan to “flirt”—mostly by trying to cheat off her Kahoot answers. After graduation, they savored one last summer in Michigan, spending almost every day together. Life pulled them apart geographically—Dylan joined the Marine Corps in Yuma, Arizona, and Gabbi began college at UNC Charlotte—but not emotionally. They wrote letters, FaceTimed nightly, and counted down days until visits. When they reunited, they made every second count: attending the Marine Corps Ball, exploring the San Diego Zoo, hiking, and staying out laughing until Gabbi had to catch a flight. Dylan once surprised her at 3 a.m. during a layover, bending rules just to steal a few hours together. They visited her dorm, made day trips to the mountains, and even went to Cypress Gardens—the Notebook filming location—which later became the site of their engagement photos. Distance was tough, but virtual dates became cherished routines: watching movies, dining “side by side,” and dreaming of their future together. Those years apart only strengthened their love. Eventually, life brought them permanently together. Dylan completed his service, Gabbi graduated, and they built a life side by side in Pooler, Georgia, with their dogs, Charlotte and Hank. A year later, Dylan bought his first home in Bluffton, South Carolina, with Gabbi by his side. After nearly two years living together and seven and a half years of love, Dylan planned something unforgettable. On January 4, 2025, he took Gabbi to the Christmas light show at Brookgreen Gardens. Surrounded by twinkling lights, he got on one knee and asked the question that marked the start of their next great adventure. Beneath the glow of the season, Gabbi said yes, and their journey to forever officially began.