He asked.....and I said.....

YES! I am still on cloud nine so I apologize for this post which is not about food or working out - it's about me becoming a bride and all about my future hubby.

Our story: I met Gabe in 1997. He is three years younger than me and is my High School friend Emily's younger brother. I never thought of him in that way when we were kids (14 to 17 is a huge difference). I kept in contact with Em over the years but she lived in South Florida while I was still in Daytona. My brother got married in November, 2009. At the reception, I saw this handsome guy from afar. After questioning around as to who this person was (who I caught staring at me multiple times), I found out it was Emily's brother Gabe. He facebook requested me that night.

One of our first photos together in 2010

We kept in contact over the next few months. We met one day for a study session. He offered to tutor me in math when I thought I was going back to college. He quickly realized there was no hope for me and we talked for over two hours about everything but math. He asked me out on a date and a week later. The date went very well and we saw each other again 3 days later. After date #2, I told my best friend that I was going to marry this Emily's little brother.

First Vacation Trip, June 2010

Other than me being a huge Gator fan and he being a Seminole Grad, we are a perfect match. We share the love of travel, sports and running. Gabe is also quick to call me out on my B.S. In 2010, he was accepted into Graduate school in both Miami and Tampa. We had only been dating 6 months when we started a long distance relationship which was not easy but we made it work.

Maine 2011

In July 2011, I moved to Tampa and we started our lives together.

We share a love of all things Disney - we are both Premium Passholders and go to the Mouse House at least once a month. We are also huge runDisney fans. If you follow this blog, you know this already.

Gabe always told me that we wouldn't get engaged until after he graduated. In December 2012, he graduated with his Masters Degree. I was giving him until this July, when I would have to have the awkward conversation no girl wants to start.

And then it happened. He planned on popping the question in front of my friends on Friday night at the location of our first date. He walked in, ring in pocket and guess what - we weren't there. His nerves made him hear we were there, when we were on the other side of town. He then decided to do it on Saturday night. Except at 1pm, Gabe got called into work, back to Tampa.

My Birthday was on Monday and Gabe confirmed what my favorite Champagne was. I replied, Dom Perignon or Perrier Jouet Flower bottle....then laughed and said Mumm Rose. Dom P really is my fav, so when he walked in the door with an unknown species I was confused and gave him a look. "What is that?" "A $100 bottle of champagne" "What? Why?" "It's your birthday!" (my mind instantly goes, why didn't he get Dom or Perrier Jouet if he was spending that much - I am a brat.....).  He excitedly told me about how pretty this bottle was and told me to come look at it. Tzarina Champagne comes in a black box - inside this box was another box which had ring inside. How fitting, I got proposed to by a bottle of champagne!!

New Orleans Jacksons Square, the sight of where we will exchange our vows

So we are officially getting married!!!!! All along, we knew one thing - that we wanted to do a destination wedding in New Orleans. With our crazy running schedules, we couldn't do a spring wedding. NOLA bound September 27, 2014! Gabe also picked out our wedding song already (crazy right!) - The Story by Brandi Carlise

16 months filled of destination wedding planning! This is going to be fun!!!