Growing up on the east coast, Gabrielle and Ryan shared the same dream: to find the love of their life. In Los Angeles, the city of dreamers, they found the worst pizza they've ever tasted in their lives—but, also, each other.

When Ryan attended a party in summer 2019 that Gabrielle was invited to but refused to attend because people would be there (she’s a woman of principles), he took this socializing opportunity to extol the virtues of the 2015 Nancy Meyers film, The Intern. Most people were wondering who had invited this eccentric writer, but Gabrielle’s friend in attendance took a picture of Ryan (without his consent, it should be noted) and told her about this fellow at the function who shared her idiosyncratic taste in movies. It was love at first digital recognition of Nancy Meyers’ most underrated film.

After meeting, Gabrielle and Ryan were friends for a while. Ryan found himself wondering why the only woman he wanted to talk to was Gabrielle. He didn't know what this meant, in spite of all the rom-coms he'd watched. Gabrielle decided to just wait him out, hoping one day Ryan could connect his feelings to his actions. (Cut him some slack, the man was only *checks notes* 34-years-old at the time…)

After attending a screening of Titanic as friends (?), Ryan summoned the courage to ask Gabrielle out on a date – he genuinely had no idea if she’d say yes. She responded, “Ryan, I went to see Titanic with you!” — which, dear readers should note, is not an answer. She followed up this text with a second one, saying, “Of course I’ll go out with you.” This was all done via text message because Ryan was what the Greatest Generation would call “a coward.” Gabrielle and Ryan’s first date was on March 1, 2020. (A wonderful omen.)

When the pandemic lockdown started thirteen days later, a lot of people re-evaluated their lives. Ryan decided to try something new — dating a woman who actually liked him! Four and a half wonderful years later, Ryan proposed marriage to Gabrielle, and she said, “No, no, no, no, no” (because her nails weren’t manicured) before finally saying, “Yes.” They will be married in Los Angeles on April 11, 2026. For their honeymoon, Ryan is hoping they can go to Wilmington, North Carolina to visit Dawson’s Creek filming locations. Gabrielle is undecided (about where she wants to go on their honeymoon — she’s committed to getting married as of 8/20/25).

Oh, yeah, back to when Ryan met Gabby… They were at a fiction reading where Ryan was about to share a short story about a talking baby who rips off adult faces and wears them. He was kind and charming as he talked to Gabby, saying something a bit sarcastic or (what he imagined to be) clever, perhaps trying to shock her. In return, Gabrielle was unflinchingly sassy and empathetic—a rather unique combination of personality traits. Ryan didn't realize it until months later, but what he felt in that moment — talking to her for the first time — was the kind of peace that can last a lifetime. He knows he will spend the rest of his days trying to be as captivating and funny as his bride-to-be. He will fail, but it will be a lot of fun to try.

When asked to add to this recollection, Gabby said, “I think I barely spoke to you.”