Wedding Day

Church In The Circle

Ceremony

Southern Tier Brewery Cleveland

Reception

We’re so excited to share this special chapter of our lives with you! As we prepare to say “I do,” we invite you to explore our wedding website, where you’ll find all the details about our big day— from the venue and schedule to travel information and our love story.   Thank you for being a part of our lives and for your love and support as we embark on this beautiful adventure together. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!   With love,   Gabrielle & Jalen

Welcome to Our Wedding Journey!

Our Wedding

Before we gather together to celebrate the love between Gabrielle and Jalen, it’s only fitting that we take a moment to reflect on the beautiful journey that brought them together. Love stories are often filled with twists and turns, serendipitous moments, and a sprinkle of fate—and this one is no exception. From the first spark of connection to the heartwarming moments that solidified their bond, Gabrielle and Jalen have created a tale that is uniquely theirs. It’s a story of the kind of love that inspires everyone around them. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and discover how two remarkable individuals found their way to each other, creating a love that shines brighter than any star.

Gabrielle has been performing since before she can remember, but she never recorded her original music. Well, in 2020, she decided it was time to change that. She began working and recording her debut album, Nostalgia, at Bulkley House. Little did she know, this decision would change her life forever. During one of her recording sessions, Jake Shiffman was in a session across the hall with Tay Fuego and heard “Energy”. He was blown away and invited her to have a meeting with Sayless Entertainment. All the while, Gabrielle’s future husband had just signed with the same team. They met briefly at a launch party for Sunbird Studios. Gabrielle arrived late, but Jalen took notice to her instantly. He leaned over to Maulik Kellogg (The Best Man) and said, “Who is she?” From then on, Jalen made it his mission to make her his own.

Chapter One: The Beginning

In March of 2021, the entire Sayless Entertainment team came together for Sayless Day. At Sunbird, each artist recorded music, networked and had more time to get to know each other. This was the day that J-Work and Gabrielle NICOLE had their first collab. J-Work approached Gabrielle and asked her to sing the hook to his song “It’s Alright”. She was honored and a little nervous. She’d never been on a rap song before and wanted to deliver. Once the nerves subsided, she jumped in the booth and gave it all she had. J-Work was smitten, but what he didn’t know was her nerves were mainly due to the huge crush she had on him ever since the launch party.

After the first initial meeting, Jalen and Gabrielle were secretly pining for one another. With every shoot, performance or event, their crushes grew stronger and deeper. Neither one had the courage to act on their feelings, so they remained friendly. On July 4th, 2021, J-Work invited Gabrielle to come see him perform at a beach party. She instantly accepted and got straight in her car. The party was full of people and Gabrielle knew no one except J-Work, so she stayed close to him. The night kept going, the party was getting to its peak and it was almost time for the fireworks. While the two were talking and vibing, Jalen took a leap of faith, a deep breath and said to Gabrielle “You know, I kinda have a crush on you…” Gabrielle blushed. She couldn’t believe it, he actually liked her. The guy she couldn’t stop thinking about for months just told her he has a crush on her. She smiled back and said, “It’s crazy that you say that because I’ve had a crush on you since Sayless Day.”

Chapter Two: The First Kiss

The timing of this conversation could not have been more perfect. The sun was setting and everyone was getting ready for the big show. Just as the fireworks were beginning to start, Jalen held Gabrielle’s hand and looked her deep in the eye. The moment was right in front of them and Jalen seized it. Fireworks.

Now, Jalen and Gabrielle have shared their feelings for each other. They kissed under the fireworks and the sparks were flying. Although their feelings for each other were very loud, they did a pretty good job at keeping things private. It was exhausting to keep the secret, but it gave them time to truly enjoy each other without any outside noise. Soon this secret love would have no choice but to enter the spotlight. On August 27, 2021, there was a surprise birthday party for Jake Shiffman and TayFuego at Sunbird. Jalen and Gabrielle arrived separately to not cause suspicion. They played it cool for most of the night until one small slip up caught the eye of Jacqueline Shiffman. Gabrielle and Jalen were spotted sharing a kiss on the roof! Unsure of what she had witnessed, Jacqueline kept this to herself. Jalen and Gabrielle eventually left the party together, causing a stir. This party was just one of many appearances that weekend. The couple was booked and busy making it almost impossible to hide their obvious chemistry. That Saturday at J-Work’s album release party for “Clock In”, their ability to hide it would truly be tested. The audience was packed and hardy at Shadows Lounge to hear the newest release from J-Work. Among the list of guest performers was Gabrielle NICOLE. She rocked out in a quick set to get the crowd ready for her beau’s headlining moment. But, there was one overlooked detail that quickly gave their secret away. In the crowd was Jalen’s dad and step-mom, Jamar and Jennifer, and they took one look and knew, “There’s something going on between those two…”

Chapter Three: The Secret Is Out!

J-Work took the stage and started doing what he does best. The crowd was hyped up to hear this new music from one of Cleveland’s finest. Then, J-Work and Gabrielle NICOLE took the stage together for the very first time. The chemistry between the two was electric. It was while performing the remix to Gabrielle’s “Animal” and the song that started it all, J-Work’s “It’s Alright”, that the jig was finally up.  The rumors were silenced and the secret was out. There was no hiding it. The two artists had become one on stage. If that wasn’t enough to set the record straight, Jamar noticed something that only he would have noticed, as if Jalen planned it as a way to tell his dad,  “She’s the one”  You see, the jersey that Gabrielle wore in theme to J-Work’s aesthetic was, in fact, a jersey given to him by his dad! Jamar saw the jersey and knew immediately.  The secret was out.

Chapter Four: We’re Engaged!

Chapter Five: It’s A Girl! 

Our Story

Engagement Night

…then 2 became 3

Photos

Arianna Thomas-Lewis

Maulik Kellogg

Samantha Valentina Chesney-Deanes

Kylo Czaplicki

Maleha Bethley  Eryka Roberts  Natalie Spratt  Jacqueline Shiffman  Andreia Shlepr  Stephanie Clark Kamarie Black

Bridesmaids 

Honorary Bridesman: Tyrell Graves

Demetrius Jones Dominique Darling Che Pitts Jake Shiffman Daniel Czaplicki Brian Finkelberg Tayvon Thompson

Groomsmen 

Skylar Roberts Summer Roberts McKenzie Spratt Mahogany Spratt

Flower Girls

Kha’Juan Kellogg Jabhari Kellogg

Ring-bearers 

Nalani Bethley Laila Tyson Londyn Tyson Morgan Moore Kylan Wilson Kaiden Wilson

Ushers

Wedding Party

Q + A

We’re excited to share some great options for where you can stay during our wedding weekend. We’ve created a one stop shop of recommended hotels and travel information to remove the hassle of planning your travel needs. Thank you for being a part of our special day; we can’t wait to celebrate with you! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Check back in September for Ceremony Parking information!

A few quick details to remember: The Cleveland Marriott East is the host hotel for the weekend. Staying at the Marriott will place you right at the center of all the wedding celebration festivities! There are King singles @$149/night and Queen doubles @$169/night. Click the booking link today to reserve your room: deadline to book is Oct. 03, 2025

Cleveland Marriott East

Due to the distance from the ceremony to the reception, there will be a shuttle bus to transport guests on the day of the celebration. The Bus will leave from the hotel promptly at 1:30pm on the day of the ceremony and will bring you back to the hotel following the ceremony. Seating is limited so please reserve your seat today! * *To reserve: include your interest by filling out the shuttle request form included in your invitation. For questions and concerns, please feel free to reach out via email.

Wedding Day Shuttle

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Check here to preview the reception menu!

COMING SOON

Dear Family & Friends, 

Dress Code: Black Tie Formal

Theme: Red Carpet Royalty

Colors: All Black Preferred

We kindly ask that you embrace this dress code as it will add to the joy and elegance of our celebration. Your presence means the world to us, and we want everyone to feel as beautiful and special as the day itself! Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we can’t wait to celebrate together! With love, Gabrielle & Jalen

For women, black tie formal attire typically means wearing a floor-length evening gown or a sophisticated cocktail dress. Elegant accessories, heels, and formal hairstyles are often part of the ensemble.

Overall, black tie formal attire is about elegance and sophistication, creating a refined atmosphere for the occasion.

I am elated to stand beside Gabrielle and Jalen as they celebrate the journey of their love. Before God and their most trusted family and friends, they will take their vows. As we all are invited to stand as witnesses, we are asked to present our most elegant black tie attire to commemorate this sacred moment. As Maid of Honor, I must stress the importance of this request from the Bride. We thank you and cannot wait to experience the full manifestation of God’s grace in their life together. Until then with love , Arianna Monea’

Gabrielle & Jalen

Gabrielle & Jalen

Attire

Dear Family & Friends,

Dress Code: Black Tie Formal

Theme: Red Carpet Royalty

Colors: All Black Preferred

What is black tie?

Message from the Maid of Honor