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Katie & Gavin

December 6, 2025 • Huntington, Vermont

Katie & Gavin

December 6, 2025 • Huntington, Vermont

Our Story

How we fell in love:

Picture of How we fell in love:

Gavin and I met on the Internet, though not the most romantic place you can meet, God had great plans for our love story! The long distance nature of our relationship made us grow closer exponentially, we have had to learn how to be creative in dating through our phones and have spent hundreds of hours talking, asking any question you can imagine as well as playing little games, reading together, and having movie nights! Through it all we fell quickly and deeply in love with each other, seeking God in all we do.


Navigating long distance has taught us to value communication above all else and to take care of one another just through comforting words and prayer. Gavin and I (Katie), value being lighthearted and playful, having deep conversations and admiring the most wild and interesting things. God handpicked Gavin for me and me for Gavin, answering our prayers to have a God-Fearing spouse full of very particular qualities. (Personally, I can't believe I have someone like him- there's no one quite like Gavin). Here is how our love story came to be:


I (Katie), had been following a christian woman who makes posts on Instagram where single young christian adults would gather to meet -hoping for the opportunity to date!. I had been hesitant to join in on one of these posts but, one day I did. And my lonely comment in the vast ocean of the internet was found by none other than Gavin Phoenix Iloff.

He had just found the post and was looking at all the comments of women introducing themselves. He thought it was strange that single people would try to meet through an instagram post. But then he saw my comment and looked through my profile (which is full of my art and music), Gavin felt an immediate draw to contact me. He would describe it as God pulling him to me...


This is a screenshot of the first ever text that Gavin sent me! Though he never contacted random people like this he took a chance! (Paid off quite well if you ask me)... I found the message that same night and though he didn't have a public profile that I could scroll through or even an image of himself that I could see, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get to know him, he seemed nice enough! We texted for an hour or two about all kinds of things...he was very intriguing off the bat! (P.S. this is a screenshot of the message from a little while later, while on facetime with Ruthie)

November 06, 2024

This is a screenshot of the first ever text that Gavin sent me! Though he never contacted random people like this he took a chance! (Paid off quite well if you ask me)... I found the message that same night and though he didn't have a public profile that I could scroll through or even an image of himself that I could see, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get to know him, he seemed nice enough! We texted for an hour or two about all kinds of things...he was very intriguing off the bat! (P.S. this is a screenshot of the message from a little while later, while on facetime with Ruthie)
We texted A LOT, with very long texts over that weekend (which happened to be my 20th birthday weekend). I was asking all the hard questions right away, since I knew he was interested in me I definitely wasn't interested in messing around, nor was he. We aligned on everything we would discuss, and I mean on ALL the most divisive topics. After several promises from Gavin that he would take and send pictures of himself to me, I finally received them that Sunday (about four days after meeting him). I was very pleasantly surprised to see that he was not only a highly intelligent, sweet, Godly, funny man- he was also handsome! I had already started to have a crush on him before I even knew what he looked like- This image is one of the first pictures I ever saw of him!

November 10, 2024

We texted A LOT, with very long texts over that weekend (which happened to be my 20th birthday weekend). I was asking all the hard questions right away, since I knew he was interested in me I definitely wasn't interested in messing around, nor was he. We aligned on everything we would discuss, and I mean on ALL the most divisive topics. After several promises from Gavin that he would take and send pictures of himself to me, I finally received them that Sunday (about four days after meeting him). I was very pleasantly surprised to see that he was not only a highly intelligent, sweet, Godly, funny man- he was also handsome! I had already started to have a crush on him before I even knew what he looked like- This image is one of the first pictures I ever saw of him!
Over that first week of constant texting any chance we could get, Gavin had expressed interest in video calling! And though that made me nervous, I definitely wanted to and we called that Thursday. The call went so well that when we hung up, I immediately went into my parent's room and told them how it went. I started crying from how happy I was- so thankful to have met a man this wonderful, and so fitting for me. How was it even possible to have met someone so perfect from such a random post on the internet? I would say it was God who brought us together. This picture is from after the call with Gavin, when I was debriefing all the details with Ruthie (my best friend from childhood)!

November 14, 2024

Over that first week of constant texting any chance we could get, Gavin had expressed interest in video calling! And though that made me nervous, I definitely wanted to and we called that Thursday. The call went so well that when we hung up, I immediately went into my parent's room and told them how it went. I started crying from how happy I was- so thankful to have met a man this wonderful, and so fitting for me. How was it even possible to have met someone so perfect from such a random post on the internet? I would say it was God who brought us together. This picture is from after the call with Gavin, when I was debriefing all the details with Ruthie (my best friend from childhood)!
We called day after day for hours and hours- Falling for one another quickly but consciously asking as many questions as we could. We have always refused to "mess around" but have always kept the goal of courting one another. (Deciding if we could see ourselves marrying each other). This is a screenshot of our reactions to spending four hours on a video call together (just after our first call the day before)!

November 15, 2024

We called day after day for hours and hours- Falling for one another quickly but consciously asking as many questions as we could. We have always refused to "mess around" but have always kept the goal of courting one another. (Deciding if we could see ourselves marrying each other). This is a screenshot of our reactions to spending four hours on a video call together (just after our first call the day before)!
Another screenshot of a text, Gavin very clearly pursuing me- And we have always kept a very lighthearted way with each other, our personalities being ones that bounce from serious to silly very quickly, we always have so much fun with each other! It has been like I've been dating my best friend (and he would say the same) :)

November 16, 2024

Another screenshot of a text, Gavin very clearly pursuing me- And we have always kept a very lighthearted way with each other, our personalities being ones that bounce from serious to silly very quickly, we always have so much fun with each other! It has been like I've been dating my best friend (and he would say the same) :)
I was telling all kinds of people about this wonderful man I had miraculously met via the internet, getting advice and sharing the blooming love story. This picture is from when I was debriefing women from my church on Gavin.

November 17, 2024

I was telling all kinds of people about this wonderful man I had miraculously met via the internet, getting advice and sharing the blooming love story. This picture is from when I was debriefing women from my church on Gavin.
This is when my new song had come out and Gavin was reacting to the lyrics- which coincidentally were about a long distance relationship.

November 22, 2024

This is when my new song had come out and Gavin was reacting to the lyrics- which coincidentally were about a long distance relationship.
Gavin and I didn't take long to figure out that we wanted to marry each other- Though we didn't straight out say it, we individually were thinking it and hinting at it to one another. I was praying a lot about Gavin hoping that he was the one that God had for me. I have a long list of "requirements" for traits and habits that my future husband should exemplify. Gavin checked all of my boxes and more. This image is a very early on poke at one another about wanting to get married. To most this would seem very soon, but that saying "when you know, you know" rings very true to us. Though neither of us are perfect (and we both recognize our individual flaws), we felt perfect for one another.

November 29, 2024

Gavin and I didn't take long to figure out that we wanted to marry each other- Though we didn't straight out say it, we individually were thinking it and hinting at it to one another. I was praying a lot about Gavin hoping that he was the one that God had for me. I have a long list of "requirements" for traits and habits that my future husband should exemplify. Gavin checked all of my boxes and more. This image is a very early on poke at one another about wanting to get married. To most this would seem very soon, but that saying "when you know, you know" rings very true to us. Though neither of us are perfect (and we both recognize our individual flaws), we felt perfect for one another.
This day was when Gavin officially asked me to be his girlfriend (with my parent's permission of course)!

December 19, 2024

This day was when Gavin officially asked me to be his girlfriend (with my parent's permission of course)!
Gavin announcing the news in a group chat with Ruthie!

December 19, 2024

Gavin announcing the news in a group chat with Ruthie!
I spent many hours working on a crocheted "business bunny" for Gavin. I had made a Christmas package to send to his base, with candy, a box full of little compliments, this bunny, a Canadian hat and a morse code bracelet with his favourite bible verse in morse beading. I wanted to show my deep affection and it meant the world to him.

December 20, 2024

I spent many hours working on a crocheted "business bunny" for Gavin. I had made a Christmas package to send to his base, with candy, a box full of little compliments, this bunny, a Canadian hat and a morse code bracelet with his favourite bible verse in morse beading. I wanted to show my deep affection and it meant the world to him.
This day is when we first said "I love you". Gavin called me and said it, not in English but in German and told me to translate it- This a screenshot of the translation. I saw the translation and immediately told him that I loved him too!! (If you didn't know Gavin speaks about four languages and continues to learn more).

December 21, 2024

This day is when we first said "I love you". Gavin called me and said it, not in English but in German and told me to translate it- This a screenshot of the translation. I saw the translation and immediately told him that I loved him too!! (If you didn't know Gavin speaks about four languages and continues to learn more).
I didn't know it then but this love I understood then already has grown exponentially through the months and hundreds of hours I've spent with him. I love him so dearly, deeper and deeper the more time I spend with him.

December 22, 2024

I didn't know it then but this love I understood then already has grown exponentially through the months and hundreds of hours I've spent with him. I love him so dearly, deeper and deeper the more time I spend with him.
My muse lol -I love to draw Gavin and make things for him! Creativity is one of the ways I like to show love, and he loves what I make and is so encouraging with all I do.

December 23, 2024

My muse lol -I love to draw Gavin and make things for him! Creativity is one of the ways I like to show love, and he loves what I make and is so encouraging with all I do.
Gavin's promises to chase me through our lives. We will not stop taking the time to appreciate one another, grow with each other, take care of and learn about each other. We believe in our relationship being like a garden, one that requires being tended to, watered, and planting seeds of affection and learning to cultivate it the way it needs to be cultivated.

January 03, 2025

Gavin's promises to chase me through our lives. We will not stop taking the time to appreciate one another, grow with each other, take care of and learn about each other. We believe in our relationship being like a garden, one that requires being tended to, watered, and planting seeds of affection and learning to cultivate it the way it needs to be cultivated.
Since we first met each other we have gone maybe only three days without video calls! We were calling all the time, everyday, multiple times a day at this point. Our schedules accommodated that amount at the time :) This is a picture from one call when Gavin was playing the electric guitar! We couldn't wait to meet each other in person, we had been talking about it for months and finally things worked out for us to meet- God provided cheaper plane tickets and he and I anxiously counted down the days till we would meet.

January 27, 2025

Since we first met each other we have gone maybe only three days without video calls! We were calling all the time, everyday, multiple times a day at this point. Our schedules accommodated that amount at the time :) This is a picture from one call when Gavin was playing the electric guitar! We couldn't wait to meet each other in person, we had been talking about it for months and finally things worked out for us to meet- God provided cheaper plane tickets and he and I anxiously counted down the days till we would meet.
Finally, the day came. My parents and I flew out from Montreal to Orlando, slept on the airport floor and then flew from Orlando to Atlanta, Georgia. I was so nervous to see him. While on the plane and then driving to his base, I was wondering what it would be like to see him in 3D. How weird it could be and how exciting, thinking about how he and I would hold hands and hug for the first time- It was a long and fun but exhausting trip. I couldn't believe I was so close to him. To seeing Gavin in real life.

February 07, 2025

Finally, the day came. My parents and I flew out from Montreal to Orlando, slept on the airport floor and then flew from Orlando to Atlanta, Georgia. I was so nervous to see him. While on the plane and then driving to his base, I was wondering what it would be like to see him in 3D. How weird it could be and how exciting, thinking about how he and I would hold hands and hug for the first time- It was a long and fun but exhausting trip. I couldn't believe I was so close to him. To seeing Gavin in real life.
The moment finally came. I was waiting outside his barracks with my parents, very anxious but equally excited. I was in a flowery blue dress, I had rushed to get ready- He could come out any minute. And then I saw him, in his black shirt and pants, walking along the balcony and my head and heart are running wild. I can't believe he is really here. We hug as soon as he comes out, he smells so good and is REAL. It feels like my brain is melting- I kept looking at him and trying to take him in. Gavin is even more handsome in real life and I'm processing seeing his blue eyes and his face in 3D. Gavin told me later that when he saw me in person for the first time that he felt his knees go weak. His brain malfunctioned and that NEVER happens to him. This is a picture of our first hug.

February 07, 2025

The moment finally came. I was waiting outside his barracks with my parents, very anxious but equally excited. I was in a flowery blue dress, I had rushed to get ready- He could come out any minute. And then I saw him, in his black shirt and pants, walking along the balcony and my head and heart are running wild. I can't believe he is really here. We hug as soon as he comes out, he smells so good and is REAL. It feels like my brain is melting- I kept looking at him and trying to take him in. Gavin is even more handsome in real life and I'm processing seeing his blue eyes and his face in 3D. Gavin told me later that when he saw me in person for the first time that he felt his knees go weak. His brain malfunctioned and that NEVER happens to him. This is a picture of our first hug.
The next day we had our first in person date- One of the best days of my life. We went to the mall and held hands, he spoiled me with little gifts of things we found while shopping. We bought matching pantera T-Shirts and went out to get lunch close by. A lovely delicious place called Fish and Bone. It was such an incredible time and absolutely surreal being with each other in person- So much better than being online- and spending time with one another online is fun enough but being in person is 100x better!

February 08, 2025

The next day we had our first in person date- One of the best days of my life. We went to the mall and held hands, he spoiled me with little gifts of things we found while shopping. We bought matching pantera T-Shirts and went out to get lunch close by. A lovely delicious place called Fish and Bone. It was such an incredible time and absolutely surreal being with each other in person- So much better than being online- and spending time with one another online is fun enough but being in person is 100x better!
We went back to the apartment with my parents to hangout :) (He had even suprised me with flowers earlier that morning, pictured sitting on the table to my left)!

February 08, 2025

We went back to the apartment with my parents to hangout :) (He had even suprised me with flowers earlier that morning, pictured sitting on the table to my left)!
We watched Lalaland together (one of Gavin's favourite movies) and then we cooked dinner together for us and my parents.

February 08, 2025

We watched Lalaland together (one of Gavin's favourite movies) and then we cooked dinner together for us and my parents.
Us holding hands while at the mall :)

February 08, 2025

Us holding hands while at the mall :)
Driving together- Gavin tried my glasses on!

February 10, 2025

Driving together- Gavin tried my glasses on!
We are very silly and laugh a LOT- we really are best friends :)

February 10, 2025

We are very silly and laugh a LOT- we really are best friends :)
Feeding each other fishy crackers- this was the night we had to say goodbye.

February 10, 2025

Feeding each other fishy crackers- this was the night we had to say goodbye.
Once again we were back to endless FaceTimes and phone calls. We didn't have an exact plan for when we could see each other again- we would wait as long as we needed to but missing him hurt on a whole new level.

February 15, 2025

Once again we were back to endless FaceTimes and phone calls. We didn't have an exact plan for when we could see each other again- we would wait as long as we needed to but missing him hurt on a whole new level.
My parents and most people who were close to us knew that Gavin and I had wanted to get married around June 2026. We had decided that would be a good time to do that and seemed like a reasonable timeline for how long Gavin and I had known one another! BUT as Gavin and I had been talking and praying about it, we felt like maybe we should look at getting married sooner. June 2026 looked so far. Not to mention that Gavin isn't the most free to go anywhere anytime being that he is in the army. The best times for him to get leave were October and December, and the thought of waiting until October or December 2026 was painful. Long distance is hard and our thought process was, "well, if we already know that we are going to be married, why wait?" So after consideration and prayer the idea of getting married in December 2025 started to take hold. We decided we needed to discuss this with my parents and so March 1st we did. Gavin and I told them about our thoughts and plans. Both of my parents had already had an idea that this was something we were considering, but the formal meeting was necessary to talk it through. Shockingly and amazingly they understood. They had peace about Gavin and I getting married sooner than planned! God's hand has been on our relationship and blessing us- Practically anyone we spoke to about our decision to get married this year has had peace about it. We were quite sure this was what God had for us. (The next day the wedding plans begun! since we had only 9 months to plan- this is a text from when I was trying my mom's dress on to see if I would like it for my wedding)

March 02, 2025

My parents and most people who were close to us knew that Gavin and I had wanted to get married around June 2026. We had decided that would be a good time to do that and seemed like a reasonable timeline for how long Gavin and I had known one another! BUT as Gavin and I had been talking and praying about it, we felt like maybe we should look at getting married sooner. June 2026 looked so far. Not to mention that Gavin isn't the most free to go anywhere anytime being that he is in the army. The best times for him to get leave were October and December, and the thought of waiting until October or December 2026 was painful. Long distance is hard and our thought process was, "well, if we already know that we are going to be married, why wait?" So after consideration and prayer the idea of getting married in December 2025 started to take hold. We decided we needed to discuss this with my parents and so March 1st we did. Gavin and I told them about our thoughts and plans. Both of my parents had already had an idea that this was something we were considering, but the formal meeting was necessary to talk it through. Shockingly and amazingly they understood. They had peace about Gavin and I getting married sooner than planned! God's hand has been on our relationship and blessing us- Practically anyone we spoke to about our decision to get married this year has had peace about it. We were quite sure this was what God had for us. (The next day the wedding plans begun! since we had only 9 months to plan- this is a text from when I was trying my mom's dress on to see if I would like it for my wedding)
Gavin was so thoughtful, he gave me a journal for us to take turns writing in. This was so we could write about our experiences during our relationship. To memorialize the journey together.

March 22, 2025

Gavin was so thoughtful, he gave me a journal for us to take turns writing in. This was so we could write about our experiences during our relationship. To memorialize the journey together.
Gavin is such an incredible leader and caretaker. He loves me so well and chooses me despite my imperfections. We are always learning more and more how to love each other the way God designed. We seek to care for one another with grace, humility, joy and selflessness.

April 01, 2025

Gavin is such an incredible leader and caretaker. He loves me so well and chooses me despite my imperfections. We are always learning more and more how to love each other the way God designed. We seek to care for one another with grace, humility, joy and selflessness.
I made a little care package for Gavin's birthday, this is the birthday card I wrote him :) (please disregard my handwriting lol)

April 13, 2025

I made a little care package for Gavin's birthday, this is the birthday card I wrote him :) (please disregard my handwriting lol)
A little drawing of us as Bear & Bunny. We love to call each other that. Gavin is my Bear and I am his Bunny !

April 14, 2025

A little drawing of us as Bear & Bunny. We love to call each other that. Gavin is my Bear and I am his Bunny !
Us being sillyyy

April 19, 2025

Us being sillyyy
We had to plan for when we would have Gavin properly propose since we are long distance after all! The plan was to go to a cabin in upstate New York with my whole family and Gavin would fly up from Georgia to stay at the cabin with us. This was for multiple purposes but the main ones were that we wanted Emma and Ben (my siblings) to meet Gavin, for him to propose while we were there and for he and I to spend more time with each other. The day to see each other finally came!! I was nervous but not nearly as nervous as I was the first time I saw him. This is a picture of me in the car on the way to see him and pick him up from the airport. I was so excited and I had no idea which day he would propose but I knew it would happen soon.

May 01, 2025

We had to plan for when we would have Gavin properly propose since we are long distance after all! The plan was to go to a cabin in upstate New York with my whole family and Gavin would fly up from Georgia to stay at the cabin with us. This was for multiple purposes but the main ones were that we wanted Emma and Ben (my siblings) to meet Gavin, for him to propose while we were there and for he and I to spend more time with each other. The day to see each other finally came!! I was nervous but not nearly as nervous as I was the first time I saw him. This is a picture of me in the car on the way to see him and pick him up from the airport. I was so excited and I had no idea which day he would propose but I knew it would happen soon.
And there, it happened. The choice to marry him was the easiest choice I'll ever have to make. He asked to go on a walk and led me into the woods. Long and almost rainy we talked and made our way to a secluded spot next to a lake.

May 02, 2025

And there, it happened. The choice to marry him was the easiest choice I'll ever have to make. He asked to go on a walk and led me into the woods. Long and almost rainy we talked and made our way to a secluded spot next to a lake.
He took a piece of wood and carved our initials into the top with the knife I gave him for his birthday. I added what was written on the bottom with sharpie and we stood together and talked. We hugged and spoke good words over each other in the quiet beauty of the trees, wind and lake. He had set up a phone and was recording our time and I kept thinking it could happen any moment.

May 02, 2025

He took a piece of wood and carved our initials into the top with the knife I gave him for his birthday. I added what was written on the bottom with sharpie and we stood together and talked. We hugged and spoke good words over each other in the quiet beauty of the trees, wind and lake. He had set up a phone and was recording our time and I kept thinking it could happen any moment.
And then it did. He said that he wanted me to be his home forever, and asked me to be his home. To marry him. He got down on his knee and tears poured down both of our faces. I only had glanced at the ring but focused on my man. His beautiful blue eyes were shining and the sun broke through the clouds. I don't even remember what I said but it certainly was a yes as I fell to my own knees and cried with him. So happy and together. He picked me up by my hands, pulled my glasses from my face and brought me in for our first kiss. We had decided to wait until he proposed and it was a wonderful thing to wait :)

May 02, 2025

And then it did. He said that he wanted me to be his home forever, and asked me to be his home. To marry him. He got down on his knee and tears poured down both of our faces. I only had glanced at the ring but focused on my man. His beautiful blue eyes were shining and the sun broke through the clouds. I don't even remember what I said but it certainly was a yes as I fell to my own knees and cried with him. So happy and together. He picked me up by my hands, pulled my glasses from my face and brought me in for our first kiss. We had decided to wait until he proposed and it was a wonderful thing to wait :)
We had a beautiful time together at the cabin and we loved, LOVED spending time playing games, talking, laughing, getting to be close and in person. This was a lovely and thoughtful gift made and given to us by David Long who will be marrying Gavin and I. He is like a second father to me :)

May 03, 2025

We had a beautiful time together at the cabin and we loved, LOVED spending time playing games, talking, laughing, getting to be close and in person. This was a lovely and thoughtful gift made and given to us by David Long who will be marrying Gavin and I. He is like a second father to me :)
Gavin with Banana Duck- (a stuffy with a long list of inside jokes behind him)

May 03, 2025

Gavin with Banana Duck- (a stuffy with a long list of inside jokes behind him)
Gavin and I playing a game together! (also those shot glasses hold our daily pills lol)

May 04, 2025

Gavin and I playing a game together! (also those shot glasses hold our daily pills lol)
Memory

May 05, 2025

Since then we have been preparing for a lot of changes, marriage, moving and figuring out how to love each other well and pushing through the last few months of long distance. We are counting down the days till we get to spend the rest of our lives together!! We can't wait to begin our adventure and enjoy life with our best friend and love by our side :)

May 05, 2025

Since then we have been preparing for a lot of changes, marriage, moving and figuring out how to love each other well and pushing through the last few months of long distance. We are counting down the days till we get to spend the rest of our lives together!! We can't wait to begin our adventure and enjoy life with our best friend and love by our side :)