On a cozy night in early October 2018, fate brought us together through Bumble, a dating app where, at the time, the woman made the first move. Before a conversation even started, Gaby couldn’t help but burst out laughing when she noticed a familiar quote in Luke’s profile: “Built like a steakhouse, but handles like a bistro.” Having spent many happy hours watching Futurama in high school, she felt an instant connection. With her heart racing, she typed a simple but enthusiastic, “FUTURAMA!!!” before quickly closing the app, hoping for the best. To her relief, Luke responded warmly, and from that first message, our story began.

We had our first date on October 6, 2018. We met for lunch at the Gliderport, then wandered down to Black’s Beach, fully clothed but completely open to where the day would take us. We walked along the water, talking the entire time, with Gaby laughing at Luke’s playful humor. It felt so easy, like we’d known each other for years.

From there, everything fell into place. Luke met Gaby’s newly adopted, energetic pit bull, Lincoln, during a casual date at the farmer’s market. We started spending more time together, meeting each other’s friends, and making unforgettable memories. Just two months after we first met, Luke invited Gaby on a special trip—an island camping adventure on Catalina. It was there that Gaby realized just how serious Luke was, and her heart knew she was ready for this exciting journey together.

By January 2019, we made our relationship Facebook official, and in July, we took the next big step—moving in together. That same year, we added a new member to our little family, our sweet cat, Mia. In March 2020, we faced the uncertainties of the pandemic hand-in-hand, learning to navigate life together after just nine months of sharing a home. During that time, the outdoors became our refuge. Our first backpacking trip to Mount San Jacinto in June 2020 sparked a love for adventure, and we’ve since shared many more camping and backpacking trips, even getting freediving certified. Catalina became a special place for us, where we’ve returned several times for camping, snorkeling, and peaceful escapes.

In February 2024, while backpacking in the breathtaking wilderness of Patagonia, Argentina—a place Gaby had always dreamed of visiting—Luke got down on one knee and Gaby nodded ‘Yes,’ sealing a moment we’ll never forget.

Now, a year later, in February 2025, we can’t wait to celebrate this new chapter of our lives as husband and wife, surrounded by our loving family and friends. Our journey has been filled with love, laughter, and adventure, and we’re so excited for all the beautiful moments still to come.

Love,

Luke and Gaby