It all started the way every great love story does, with a broken washing machine and a bit of questionable flirting.
We crossed paths at an apartment complex in Savannah. Nicole was the fiercely independent tenant who could fix just about anything with a screwdriver and some sass.
Gabe was the maintenance man who “just happened” to check on things that didn’t always need checkin’…though to be fair, that washing machine truly was on its last spin.
How a Lass with Fire Met a Lad with Sawdust on His Boots
We’d passed each other countless times. Little glances, polite smiles, that spark of curiosity each time. Every encounter left us both wondering, who is that?
For Gabe, it was the pink-and-yellow dress that did it. Call it love at first sight.
Then came the balcony moment, the kind of thing straight out of a modern fairytale, except Nicole wasn’t letting her hair down.
She was probably laughing too hard at something ridiculous with her roommate, hanging halfway over the railing with zero awareness that Gabe was watching them underneath (jk..she knew).
For Nicole, it was hard not to notice the guy with the toolbelt and the easy smile. “Dang,” she thought, “who’s the maintenance guy, and why’s he so cute?” She would say to her roommates.
Eventually, fate (and a little online magic) brought us together. One message led to one hangout, which turned into one laugh, and then, well..one night that never really ended.
Not long after we started dating, Nicole was still at university and headed home to The Bahamas for the holidays. Gabe, deciding that “short-distance” still counted as too much distance, did something bold. He got his passport and traveled internationally for the very first time, just to see her. He even messaged Nicole’s mom to plan the surprise and flew down to ring in the New Year.
Of course, you can’t get anything past Nicole. She spotted Gabe’s location at the Miami airport and immediately grew suspicious… but the surprise still landed, and that trip sealed what we already knew: this was something real.
Now it’s the 3 of us: Nicole, Gabe, and Dobby, our cat, our pride and joy, the true personality of our wee home. From one shared bedroom to an apartment, and now a house, we’ve built a life full of laughter, love, and late-night snacks.
Together, we’ve adventured from the Colorado mountains all the way across the pond to the cobblestone streets of Barcelona. It was the summer of 2024, when Nicole stood as maid of honor for her best friend (Valentina's) wedding. That’s where fate had one more trick up its sleeve. Have you heard?
When Vale’s bouquet went flying through the air, it didn’t land where anyone expected. Because, yes, Gabe caught it. He wasn’t even close to the front. The superstition turned out to be right: that we are the next to be wed.
We’re known as “the old couple,” the ones with open doors, extra chairs, and a house that always feels full. This next chapter is just beginning, and we’re so glad you’re here to celebrate it with us. See you soon!♡
