It all started under the strobe lights at Jimmy D’s — a nightclub in Pittsburgh (because where else would true love begin?).

Rheid moved from California to play football at Duquesne and quickly became a regular (because… $1 drinks) and because Gigi’s sister, Cella, was behind the bar. If you were on her good side — and luckily, Rheid was — she made a very good bartender.

Shortly after Gigi’s 21st birthday — her first real night out (yes, really, she’s not much of a drinker) — Cella saw her newly-legal sister and immediately turned into a matchmaker. She pointed to the giant football player at the bar and said, “Go talk to my sister.”

Rheid took the challenge, Gigi didn’t run away, and here we are — eight years later, still together and still wondering what Cella was thinking.

An Italian girl from Pennsylvania and a Samoan guy from California — proving that love can start with a $1 drink and a very persuasive older sister.