The two met in August of 2016 at the University of Dayton when Gabi was a freshman and Joe was a sophomore. They noticed each other in Economics class on the first week of school and luckily, they got paired up for a group project where they had to spend the remainder of the semester meeting at the library. Slowly, the short encounters in class led to a friendship, which led to much more. By March of the same school year, they were attached at the hip. They spent most of their days together, whether it was getting a coffee in between class, game nights, going out to the bars, or date nights in with Joe making his "famous" breakfast burritos. The two would spend their summers apart in Chicago and St. Louis, always eager to see each other again. Early on, they both knew each other was the one and their families and friends agreed. They continued dating all throughout college and continued long distance throughout summers and Gabi's senior year. After a horrible 2020, going through a worldwide pandemic and the abrupt loss of Gabi's dad, the couple decided they couldn't be apart any longer and finally ended up in the same city again - Chicago! Flash forward to February 2023, on Gabi's 25th birthday, Joe surprised her by popping the question. She instantly said yes and ensured the entirety of Lincoln Park heard her squeals, scaring off all the birds in the meantime. Wedding planning began (as if Gabi didn't have it planned since she met him at 18) and in July, they started their newest journey out west in Denver. They are enjoying their newly engaged life and are looking forward to all of the festivities to come in 2024!