Wedding Day

The Saratoga Winery

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Officially, we met at the gym.Unofficially? Hinge. But let’s be honest—“we met at the gym” just sounds way cooler, especially when your relationship ends up being built around deadlifts, protein shakes, and love. Besides, the gym was where our story really started to come alive.Back in March 2024, I came across Tristan’s profile and immediately felt something different. There was a strength about her—both literally and emotionally—that pulled me in. I pushed for a first date pretty adamantly (read: borderline persistent), and while I had dreams of impressing her over filet mignon at Texas de Brazil, Mother Nature had other plans: snowstorm. Tristan wasn’t about to risk her life for fancy meat skewers (respect), so we pivoted to Delmonico’s in Clifton Park.When she walked in, my nerves instantly vanished. Her pale skin and stunning eyes had this calm, grounding effect—like lifting with perfect form after a shaky warm-up. She was radiant. I felt underdressed... though to be fair, it’s hard not to feel that way next to someone who looks that good just existing.Before Tristan came into my life, I spent a lot of time in prayer. Every day, I asked God to lead me to the person He had set aside for me—not just someone I wanted, but someone I needed. I leaned hard on 1 Peter 5:10, reading and reciting it daily: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” That verse carried me through a season of doubt and healing. And here I am—standing beside a woman who embodies that restoration in every way. Tristan is truly an answered prayer, and I love her with all my heart.From that first night, our connection was real. No games, no pretending. We skipped the surface-level stuff and dove straight into the hard questions most couples save for year two. Neither of us was interested in just dating for fun—we both wanted a partner for life. So we talked. About the past, the future, and everything in between. We laid it all out, gym chalk and all.And from there, our relationship became...a team sport.Tristan reintroduced me to competitive powerlifting—something I hadn’t touched since high school. Together, we’ve hit PRs, faced setbacks, rehabbed injuries, and cheered each other on through some epic competitions (and gym fails that will live in infamy). We’ve also powered through Chief season, transitioning out of the Navy, and—oh yeah—a whole pregnancy.In December 2024, we found out we were expecting our daughter, Alice. She made her entrance in September 2025, and watching Tristan grow into motherhood has only deepened my love and admiration for her. Through all the chaos, late nights, and heavy emotional reps, Tristan stayed grounded, loving, and open. Her communication, patience, and loyalty tore down every wall I’d built to protect myself from the idea of marriage again.At the start, I told her I was scared. I had wounds from a previous relationship, and the idea of tying the knot again felt... daunting. But she never ran. She stayed, she listened, and she showed me—every day—that this love was different.Now, we’re heading into the next chapter of our lives headfirst—no hesitation, no fear—just trust, love, and the shared belief that we’re exactly where we’re meant to be. I know I have the best partner by my side. One who lifts heavy, loves harder, and makes every challenge feel conquerable (even if I’m still not allowed to skip leg day).

Our Story 

Photos

Samuel (Sam) Williams and I first met during our time at the S8G Prototype, where his maturity and leadership immediately set him apart. From early on, Sam proved himself to be dependable and capable, taking on challenges with confidence and leading his team to success—even under less-than-ideal conditions—while also achieving his own supervisory qualifications.

Over the years, we served together in multiple roles, went through Chief Season in 2025 side by side, and built a friendship that has lasted well beyond our time in the Navy. Sam has been a constant source of support through both the toughest and best moments of my life. He’s someone I can always rely on—a steady, grounding presence no matter the circumstances.

That’s why Sam is not only my best man, but also one of my closest friends and someone we trust deeply—he is also Alice’s godfather.

Samuel (Sam) Williams y yo nos conocimos durante nuestro tiempo en el S8G Prototype, donde su madurez y liderazgo destacaron desde el principio. Desde muy temprano, Sam demostró ser una persona confiable y capaz, asumiendo desafíos con confianza y guiando a su equipo hacia el éxito, incluso en condiciones difíciles, mientras también lograba sus propias calificaciones como supervisor.

A lo largo de los años, servimos juntos en múltiples roles, pasamos por el Chief Season en 2025 lado a lado, y construimos una amistad que ha perdurado más allá de nuestro tiempo en la Marina. Sam ha sido una fuente constante de apoyo tanto en los momentos más difíciles como en los más felices de mi vida. Es alguien en quien siempre puedo confiar—una presencia firme y equilibrada sin importar las circunstancias.

Por eso, Sam no solo es mi padrino de bodas (best man), sino también uno de mis amigos más cercanos y alguien en quien confiamos profundamente; además, es el padrino de Alice.

Samuel Williams

Pedro Gallaga is my brother, and someone I have looked up to in many ways throughout my life. From a young age, he carried himself with a level of maturity beyond his years. He achieved something I didn’t at the time—earning not only a bachelor’s degree, but also an MBA—showing dedication and discipline that I deeply respect.

Although he is younger than me, Pedro has many qualities that I continue to strive toward. Growing up just two years apart, we shared much of our lives side by side. One of my favorite memories is the year we spent in band together—it was a time when I became more aware of the example I was setting, not out of fear of getting in trouble, but because I wanted to be someone he could look up to.

Today, I’m grateful that we are reconnecting and strengthening our bond, building it back into something meaningful and lasting. I’m proud to call Pedro not just my brother, but also one of my groomsmen.

Pedro Gallaga es mi hermano y alguien a quien he admirado de muchas maneras a lo largo de mi vida. Desde joven, siempre mostró un nivel de madurez más allá de su edad. Logró algo que yo no hice en ese momento: no solo obtener una licenciatura, sino también un MBA, demostrando una dedicación y disciplina que respeto profundamente.

Aunque es menor que yo, Pedro tiene muchas cualidades a las que sigo aspirando. Crecimos con solo dos años de diferencia, compartiendo gran parte de nuestras vidas juntos. Uno de mis mejores recuerdos es el año que pasamos en la banda—un tiempo en el que fui más consciente del ejemplo que estaba dando, no por miedo a meterme en problemas, sino porque quería ser alguien a quien él pudiera admirar.

Hoy, estoy agradecido de que estemos reconectando y fortaleciendo nuestro vínculo, reconstruyéndolo en algo significativo y duradero. Me siento orgulloso de llamar a Pedro no solo mi hermano, sino también uno de mis padrinos de boda.

Pedro Gallaga

Noe is my younger brother, and with a nine-year age gap between us, I didn’t get to know him well before I left for the Navy—back then, he was just a young kid. Since then, he’s grown into a college student, and it still amazes me how much he has changed. One of the moments that really stood out to me was coming home and having him drive me around—it was a clear reminder of just how much he’s grown.

Beyond that, Noe has developed into a thoughtful and mature young man with a strong mindset and a positive outlook on life. While we didn’t have much time to build a close relationship earlier on, I’m grateful that we now have the opportunity to grow that bond and truly connect as brothers.

I admire the way he continues to see the best in life and actively pursues growth through his education. I’m excited to see where his journey takes him and always appreciate when he reaches out, not just for advice, but as a brother.

On my wedding day, I’m proud to have Noe standing by my side—not only as my brother, but also as one of my groomsmen.

Noe es mi hermano menor y, debido a la diferencia de nueve años entre nosotros, no tuve la oportunidad de conocerlo bien antes de irme a la Marina—en ese entonces, era solo un niño pequeño. Desde entonces, ha crecido y ahora está en la universidad, y hasta el día de hoy me sorprende cuánto ha cambiado. Uno de los momentos que más me impactó fue regresar a casa y que él fuera quien me llevara en carro—fue una clara muestra de lo mucho que ha crecido.

Más allá de eso, Noe se ha convertido en un joven maduro, con buena mentalidad y una perspectiva positiva de la vida. Aunque no tuvimos mucho tiempo para desarrollar una relación cercana en el pasado, agradezco que ahora tengamos la oportunidad de fortalecer ese vínculo y conectarnos verdaderamente como hermanos.

Admiro la forma en que siempre ve lo mejor de la vida y cómo continúa esforzándose por crecer a través de sus estudios. Me emociona ver hacia dónde lo llevará su camino y siempre valoro cuando se acerca a mí, no solo en busca de consejos, sino como hermano.

En el día de mi boda, me siento orgulloso de tener a Noe a mi lado—no solo como mi hermano, sino también como uno de mis padrinos de boda.

Noe Gallaga

Travis is Tristan’s brother, and from the very beginning, he welcomed me with open arms. One of the biggest things I’m grateful to him for is the role he’s played in Tristan’s life. In many ways, who she is today—and the woman I fell in love with—is shaped in part by having him as a brother.

Travis and I share a similar love for random knowledge—we’d both do well in a trivia game—but where he really stands out is in his mechanical skill and practical know-how. Time and time again, I’ve reached out to him for help with household or mechanical issues, and he always seems to have the answer. Even more than that, he offers that help with patience and a welcoming attitude that never makes me feel out of place for not knowing something.

I’m incredibly thankful for the way he’s helped me grow and fill in those gaps, and even more thankful for the role he’s had in Tristan’s life. I’m proud to call him my brother-in-law and honored to have him standing by my side as one of my groomsmen.

Travis es el hermano de Tristan y, desde el primer momento, me recibió con los brazos abiertos. Una de las cosas por las que más le agradezco es el papel que ha tenido en la vida de Tristan. En muchos aspectos, la persona que ella es hoy—la mujer de la que me enamoré—está influenciada por haberlo tenido a él como hermano.

Travis y yo compartimos el gusto por el conocimiento curioso—seguramente nos iría bien en un juego de trivia—pero donde realmente destaca es en sus habilidades mecánicas y su conocimiento práctico. Muchas veces he acudido a él en busca de ayuda con problemas del hogar o mecánicos, y siempre parece saber exactamente qué hacer. Aún más importante, ofrece su ayuda con paciencia y una actitud tan amable que nunca me hace sentir mal por no saber algo.

Estoy muy agradecido por cómo me ha ayudado a crecer y a llenar esos vacíos de conocimiento, y aún más por el papel que ha tenido en la vida de Tristan. Me enorgullece llamarlo mi cuñado y es un honor tenerlo a mi lado como uno de mis padrinos de boda.

Travis Cichocki

Wedding Party

Q + A

Albany International Airport

For guests traveling to celebrate with us, the closest airport is Albany International Airport, located at:<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/BXh9DYLVUahQZrFR6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">737 Albany Shaker Road</a><a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/BXh9DYLVUahQZrFR6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Albany, NY 12211</a>From the airport, our home is approximately a 25–30 minute drive, depending on traffic.We recommend arranging a rental car or rideshare service for convenience. Please plan accordingly when booking your travel, and feel free to reach out if you need any assistance with directions or transportation options. Para los invitados que viajan para celebrar con nosotros, el aeropuerto más cercano es Albany International Airport, ubicado en:<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/BXh9DYLVUahQZrFR6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">737 Albany Shaker Road</a><a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/BXh9DYLVUahQZrFR6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Albany, NY 12211</a> Desde el aeropuerto, nuestra casa está aproximadamente a 25–30 minutos en automóvil, dependiendo del tráfico.Recomendamos coordinar un auto de alquiler o un servicio de transporte (como Uber o Lyft) para mayor comodidad. Por favor, tenga esto en cuenta al planificar su viaje, y no dude en contactarnos si necesita ayuda con direcciones u opciones de transporte.

The Venue - The Saratoga Winery

Our wedding will take place at <a href="https://www.thesaratogawinery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Saratoga Winery</a>, a beautiful and inviting venue nestled in the heart of Saratoga Springs, New York. Known for its rustic charm and warm atmosphere, the winery offers a perfect blend of elegance and comfort. Surrounded by scenic countryside, it provides a relaxed setting where guests can enjoy great wine, local character, and a memorable celebration with us.The venue features both indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing us to celebrate together regardless of the weather while still enjoying the natural beauty of the area. Its welcoming ambiance and unique setting make it a special place for gathering with family and friends.From the airport, The Saratoga Winery is approximately a 30–35 minute drive, depending on traffic. Nuestra boda se llevará a cabo en <a href="https://www.thesaratogawinery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Saratoga Winery</a>, un hermoso y acogedor lugar ubicado en el corazón de Saratoga Springs, Nueva York. Conocido por su encanto rústico y su ambiente cálido, el viñedo ofrece una combinación perfecta de elegancia y comodidad. Rodeado de un paisaje pintoresco, brinda un entorno relajado donde los invitados podrán disfrutar de buen vino, el carácter local y una celebración inolvidable con nosotros.El lugar cuenta con espacios tanto interiores como exteriores, lo que nos permitirá celebrar juntos sin importar el clima, mientras disfrutamos de la belleza natural de la zona. Su ambiente acogedor y su estilo único lo convierten en un lugar especial para reunirnos con familiares y amigos.Desde el aeropuerto, The Saratoga Winery está aproximadamente a 30–35 minutos en automóvil, dependiendo del tráfico.

Tristan & Luis

Tristan & Luis

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