Gabby and Bradyn were entering their senior year of high school. Gabby decided she wanted to go to the homecoming dance with Bradyn. Back then, figuring out homecoming dates was always an organized ordeal so that you could hopefully spend time with your closest friends in a big group together. Before homecoming, Bradyn and Gabby had never really had many conversations. Sure, they had gone to school together since middle school, but nothing more than the occasional class together. One of Gabby's best friends, Brianna, had always been close with Bradyn, so you could say the homecoming organization had a lot to do with Gabby and Brianna wanting to be in the same group together. When the dance came around, Bradyn and Gabby showed up and throughout the night, barely said a word to each other. Bradyn was so shy and "mysterious,” as Gabby would say. Challenge accepted. Bradyn and Gabby talked and hung out more throughout their senior year and became good friends. They bonded over playing Trivia Crack and enjoyed to talk about their plans for the future. At the end of the school year, they also went to prom and walked at graduation together. Then, summer of senior year was off to a great start. Gabby and Bradyn were together almost every single day. They got to know each other on a deeper level and realized they really liked each other. As summer was dwindling down, they both knew what was coming - college. Gabby was going to the University of Iowa and Bradyn was headed to the University of Colorado. Before leaving for college, they each wrote a letter to each other. They wrote about how grateful they were for the past summer spent together. They both wrote about how they really loved each other and wanted to try and make their relationship work. After all, long distance couldn't be that hard anyway, right?

It was the first few weeks of college and both Bradyn and Gabby were doing their best to keep in touch. For those who don't know, Bradyn took an eighteen hour bus ride from Colorado to Iowa to see Gabby after two weeks away. Ask Bradyn about it - it is one of his favorite experiences to share. Long-distance seemed to be working well. Bradyn and Gabby had to learn how to make time for each other and communicate being in two different states. This came with challenges, but they figured it out. After a year and half at Colorado, Bradyn transfered to Iowa State University. Being closer to each other was a perk and the countless road trips between Ames and Iowa City began - as well as the football rivalry. Between football games, sorority formals, concerts, spring break trips together, multiple apartments and roommates, summer internships in different states - these days seemed to go by really fast. They feel lucky to have made it through one of the hardest times in their lives. It did not come without pain and heartache, but this period will always hold a special place in their hearts. It was also filled with learning, growing, and many adventures and road trips together. They learned how to communicate with and prioritize each other, and they always knew that they would make it work. After all, they had a plan in place all along.

Since the first time Gabby visited Bradyn in Boulder during college, her and Bradyn had talked and dreamt about how much they would like to live in Colorado one day together. Five years later, they made it happen. Gabby was going to be a nurse in the PICU at Children's Hospital and Bradyn was going to work as a Project Engineer for a general contractor in Denver. Living together was all they ever wanted, but it came with new challenges, especially when faced with a global pandemic, trying to make new friends in a new city, and learning to be with your partner all the time after five years of long-distance. Oh, and add a very furry, perfect golden retriever puppy to the mix. Bradyn didn't want Ivy at first, but now of course, they are each other's favorite. Since moving to Denver, Bradyn and Gabby's relationship has continued to grow stronger. They are discovering new parts of themselves together and learning how to be better for each other. Over the past five years in Colorado, they have explored all corners of the state over multiple road trips. They take pride in their Platt Park neighborhood in Denver, and have started little rituals together, even if it's a simple walk to one of their favorite coffee shops. In October 2023, they got engaged on a somewhat atypical, snowy fall Colorado day. Bradyn and Gabby love their Denver life alongside Ivy and look forward to the years to come. They are so excited to get married and spend forever together.