Our story begins on a December night in 2022. Joshua was casually swiping through Bumble when one girl in particular caught his eye, needless to say he swiped right. A short time later to Joshuas delight Gabrielle matched with him. Joshua decided to break one of his rules and beat Gabrielle to the punch by DMing her on Instagram before she could message him on Bumble. Although this was very out of character for Joshua there was something about Gabrielle that intrigued him. Gabrielle took an immediate liking to Joshua and found his straightforward approach traditional and charming. Gabrielle and Joshua began talking often and she found Josh to be extremely easy to talk to and he was always making her laugh. They quickly realized they had many mutual interests especially when it came to their shared faith.

With completely opposite schedules Gabrielle and Joshua found it difficult to find a day that worked for them to meet. But....as the saying goes third times the charm and the two were able to agree on a date!

On May 5th, 2023, Cinco de Mayo, Gabrielle and Josh set a date to meet at Chop Shop in Smithtown. Little did they know that this first date would be the beginning of something amazing. From the moment they sat down in that cozy booth on that Friday night in May, they both felt an undeniable connection. A glass of white wine and two Tom Collins later, lots of laughter and conversations that deepened. Hours seemed to slip by as they shared stories and dreams.

By the end of the night, it was clear to both of them something amazing was about to happen. In the company of each other, they realized they had found the person they were meant to spend the rest of their lives with. That evening, they didn’t just find the love of their lives; they found their future and their best friend. And from that moment on, the rest of their story was written in the laughter, the love, and the bond that would only grow stronger with each passing day.

One day before their one-year anniversary, Joshua planned a surprise proposal for Gabrielle in the stunning town of Positano, Italy. The couple had spent the day wandering through its picturesque streets, enjoying the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.

As the sun began to set, Joshua led Gabrielle to a quiet terrace overlooking the sea. With a private dinner and a photographer waiting for the moment, Joshua dropped to one knee and asked, Gabrielle, will you marry me? With tears in her eyes, Gabrielle responded with, yes!!

Gabrielle and Joshua celebrated their engagement by spending the next two weeks exploring Europe together. From vineyards of Tuscany to the historic streets of Florence and finishing off the trip with family in Joshuas hometown in Portugal, each destination felt like a dream. Exploring Europe had always been a dream of Gabrielles, and Joshua made it come true. But as incredible as their travels were, nothing could compare to the life they were about to begin together, stepping into the start of the best chapter of their lives.