Jessica & Gabe at Centennial Garden Gabe & Jessica embracing under huge tree Gabe kissing Jessica on the forehead in a field of flowers

Gabe & Jessica

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Twenty First of May,
Two Thousand Seventeen

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Our Love Story

Gabe

Most who know me probably figured I was in no rush to get married. I wasn't necessarily looking for love, but I wasn't not looking for love either. Thankfully, it found me instead...

Jessica

I definitely wasn't looking for anyone and actually avoided guys like the plague. I know for sure Texas was the last place I ever would have looked to find my love. But God had different plans...

How It Happened

The Missions Trip

Our unlikely story started in Baja California, Mexico. In July of 2012, God called us both to Baja to serve on a missions team to build a house for a needy family. Strangely enough, Jessica and Gabe didn’t really have any initial attraction, so to speak. So we did what normal people do in this situation. We pretty much ignored each other. Jessica claims she can't remember Gabe too well from that trip, but a lot of pictures show us interacting more than a few times.

After the trip, Jessica grew close to Gabe’s sister, Maristel, and that's where our story really started. Jessica and Maristel started talking over FaceTime and Skype. Anyone who knows Gabe's family also knows they are extremely close and Gabe is always popping in to say "hi" on Maristel's calls. After a few calls, Jessica would start to see Gabe staying to chat a little bit longer during the calls. She didn’t think anything of it.

Visiting with Friends

Soon Vinh, Betty, and Jessica planned a trip to Houston to visit Maristel and her family. To this day, Jessica denies her interest in Gabe at that time (we all know she’s lying). That trip was probably the point where things started to change. After returning home from that trip, Jessica started scheming to visit again. She went to great lengths, and even faked an internship just for a chance to return to Texas.

After the trip, our conversations began to hijack Maristel's Skype calls more frequently. Poor Maristel. Jessica soon began joking that Gabe should be her “back-up” husband. Jessica suggested if she was still single by 30, she would marry Gabe. Mommy approved but Gabe thought she was crazy. He wondered if she was really kidding or not. At this point, it’s safe to say we had made a connection. And somewhere in the back of Gabe's mind, he started thinking maybe he should hold out.

The Solo Visit

In February of 2014, Jessica visited Texas again. We think a pause is required here so you understand one thing: Jessica HATES flying! Yet, she has flown three times at this point. Okay. Moving on...

This visit proved to be a fruitful time in our relationship as friends. We really hit it off and on Valentine's Day, Gabe surprised Jessica with a card and a cute, chubby Winnie the Pooh. He went to several different stores and finally found the exact one she had said she liked.

Then Gabe took Jessica salsa dancing with family and friends... but with what he had planned, this was just a bad idea. Jessica didn't know how to salsa... or dance, actually, and the music was a little hard to hear over. So they sat down, and Gabe decided to make his "big move." With a line that Gabe will never live down and hears about constantly, he asked her out by saying, "So, do you want to give us a try?" Smooth... real smooth. Well, no one ever accused Gabe of having great game. Believe it or not, after Jessica stopped laughing, she said "yes."

The Engagement

By October of 2015, Gabe had managed to get Jessica a ring and was waiting for the right time. He ended up visiting her at the end of the month and had it all planned out. A caricature artist was booked, a beautiful restaurant with the perfect atmosphere was booked, the ring, and everything planned out... all except the day. He planned it for that Saturday, forgetting it was Halloween. Did we mention Gabe's non-existent game? At this point, you can only credit God for us being together.

So we went on a hike that day and of course Gabe wanted to turn it into an adventure. Afterwards, we were exhausted and running a bit late for the evening plans. The plan was to have the artist (Jay) waiting for us in the lobby of Ancaster Mill and approach us to have our caricature drawn. Because we ran late, Jessica refused the drawing and we sat down to eat. At this point Gabe panicked a little and had to think of a plan B. Luckily Jay waited patiently until we finished our amazing dinner. At some more coaxing, Jessica finally agreed to let him draw it. When the artist presented the finished drawing, it was a full-color picture of Gabe down on one knee proposing to Jessica.

The night didn't exactly as planned, but once again Jessica surprised Gabe and said "yes." It was a night we will never forget.

What's with all the Holidays??

Some people don't know this, but we met on Bastille Day. Our dating anniversary is Valentine’s Day. We got engaged on Halloween. Our wedding will take place on Victoria/May Two-Four Long Weekend Day. At this rate we are anticipating our first child to be born on Christmas or New Year's Day.

If you haven’t noticed, we seem to have thing for holidays and true love.

Bridesmaids

Melissa

As a Human Resources specialist, Melissa is always taking charge in life. She’s the maid-of-honour which mean she’s in her element when she’s bargaining with vendors and planning things. She’s ruthless but no one can deny that she’s efficient. Melissa enjoys complaining to get free things, cleaning, and watching Netflix.

Jane

Jane is a cardiac sonographer (which is just a glorified photographer for hearts). You could say she loves the gym more than her friends (only true sometimes). She survives off of triples shots of espresso and coffee. She likes rain, stars, and reading – not necessarily in that order. She’s a big nerd on the inside and a big scary man on the outside.

Maristel

Maristel is not just the only Texan Bridesmaid, but as Gabe's sister she is the only other Mexican. This girl's a one stop shop - she does it all from singing to baking a mean peach cobbler. She loves the great outdoors, traveling, and watching the Colts win with her favorite puppy also named Colt.

Mary

Some call her Murder but she’s better known as Smack-Talk. Mary is studying to be a high-school French and Math teacher (yuck). She’s the youngest of this group but a grandma at heart. She enjoys hiding her insults in compliments, bossing others around, and practicing brush lettering.

Sara

Sara works full-time as an ECE and has a passion for children. She serves on both the worship team and as the children’s director at South Bend. Sara has never met a TV show she’s never liked. She enjoys cooking and buying things on Amazon.

Thuy

Pronounced [Twee] – get it right, people! Or you could just call her “thigh”, or “thoo-ee”, or “Leo’s mommy”. Thuy is a full-time mom, full-time pharmacy technician, and part-time nail technician. Yes, she’s a very busy woman. If you want to be her friend, load up an episode of Date Line and have a platter of cheese ready – a little wine wouldn’t hurt either.

Groomsmen

Victor

Victor is in school studying sociology, and is determined to be part of every special moment. To this end, he possesses the uncanny ability to find the worst time to say hello (aka: interrupt). He has done it at almost every major event of our relationship and we are now a bit worried about our honeymoon. =O

Jefferson

He's the black man who loves watermelon but is actually Columbian - confusing, we know. Jefferson is known as both the sore winner and sore loser of our group, so just watch out for game nights with this one! He enjoys rapping, anything about soccer, and cheating at Catan.

Ryan

He’s in school to be a pharmacy technician but dresses more like he belongs in a hipster café. Ryan plays the guitar and sings in the shower. He comes armed with the hipster starter kit: wire rimmed glasses, grandpa sweaters, and hair that holds itself up. Sorry ladies, he’s not single or ready to mingle.

Wedding Events

Ceremony

  • Club Roma - St. Catharine's, Ontario
  • May 21, 2017 @ 2:00PM

Reception

  • Club Roma - St. Catharine's, Ontario
  • May 21, 2017 @ 5:30PM

Photo Gallery

Photography by Tina Lau

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McGovern Centennial Gardens - Walkway
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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McGovern Centennial Gardens
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Hermann Park Conservancy
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Hermann Park Conservancy
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Hermann Park Conservancy
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Hermann Park Conservancy
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Hermann Park Conservancy
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Hermann Park Conservancy
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Hermann Park Conservancy

Gift Registry

RSVP

Please RSVP by February 2nd

Food Selection

If you have multiple guests, please let us know how many of each selection to reserve for you/your family.

Beef

Chicken

Children Under 5*

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See you soon!