On a humid summer night in Hollywood, FL, I found myself wrapped up in a demanding schedule as an MBA student at the University of Miami. While trying to squeeze in a workout between school hours and a finance internship, fate took a turn when I spotted a familiar face on the treadmill – one of my childhood best friends. Our random reunion turned into a conversation about the swift passage of time, from our carefree childhood to the demanding realities of adulthood. Little did I know that this chance encounter would set the stage for a transformative moment in my life. As I finished my workout, I caught sight of Gabby, a friend of an acquaintance. Her dark chocolate eyes and bubbly aura instantly caught my attention, and as I left the gym, our eyes met, sparking a mix of curiosity and excitement. Who was she, and why did I feel so captivated by her in that split second? We must've felt the same way. Not even an hour later we both followed each other on Instagram, scrolling through the snapshots of our lives. I decided to “shoot my shot”. One direct message and a couple of corny jokes later and the next thing you know we were on a first date. The venue? American Social – a night neither of us will ever forget. In the blink of an eye, a glance at the gym turned into a crush and a night out, and that night out evolved into a real connection that blossomed into true love. As time went on, we took steps to intertwine our lives. One pivotal moment came when I secured my first apartment on Las Olas, Ft. Lauderdale – a decision driven more by location than quality. In short, the place was a shithole. But a couple of days after moving in, Gabby surprised me by deep cleaning the entire place. If you know my OCD, you know this was beautiful gift – an inflection point that swept me off my feet. However, my living situation worsened, and we decided to move into a better pad together at the end of 2019, a decision that laid the foundation for many things to come. Our lives took an unforeseen turn in March 2020 when the COVID pandemic swept across the globe. This eerie time became a make-or-break test for our relationship, as we adjusted to spending every moment together under the same roof. Not only did we pass that test with flying colors, but we also decided to bring a new source of joy into our lives – a puppy named Koda. He became another brick in the wall of our building relationship. As months and years unfolded, our lives experienced their share of ups and downs. However, we always had each other’s back through thick and thin. One tactic used to help smooth the rollercoaster of life was finding time to travel and focus on each other. With Gabby being the queen of trip-planning, she handcrafted a ton of trips for us to visit and explore new cities and countries. The peak of our travels was a trip to Ireland. Timed perfectly on our anniversary, this trip carried extra weight - I saw it as the ideal moment to ask a question I couldn’t hold in any longer. Full of nerves/excitement, I proposed on the Ha'penny Bridge in the heart of Dublin on the morning of 3/14/23. The frigid Irish breeze couldn't affect the warmth of that moment, and as we blacked out in pure euphoria the only word that mattered was 'YES.' Reflecting on our relationship, I can't help but think back to that fateful summer night at the gym. Not only because it was the first time I ever laid eyes on my beautiful fiancé/future wife, but also because of that conversation I had with my late friend Louie. It’s bittersweet as he’s no longer here to witness our story unfold, yet his words about time still glow in my mind, reminding me of the impact that a single moment can have on our lives. Now, as we approach our wedding, we cherish the present and acknowledge how fast life can move. This celebration is not just about us but about all those who played a special role in our lives. We look forward to sharing this moment with each of you. See ya in the Keys!