Seven years ago, fate—or rather, my sister—decided that Wagner and I needed to meet. My sister, who works in the beauty industry, had long admired the Gadabout family. She had heard nothing but wonderful things about Wagner and saw an opportunity.
One day, she reached out to Wagner directly and said, “I really want you to meet my brother. are you interested?” Wagner, ever practical, responded with hesitation—not about me, but about logistics. “I love to meet new people, but Im never moving to phoenix, she told my sister. Despite that, she agreed to at least take my number.
My sister, knowing me better than most, confidently handed over Wagner’s number and told me, “Start texting her. You’ll love her.” Trusting her instincts (and knowing I had a pretty smooth game), I did just that. We texted back and forth for weeks, and at some point, I discovered a crucial detail—Wagner had a deep love for McDonald’s. Seizing the moment, I sent an obscene amount of fries & nuggets straight to her salon. It was a bold move, but it worked.
Eventually, we decided to meet in person. I came home early for Christmas on December 23rd, and we planned to meet at Kingfisher for dinner. But that night, Wagner, after a couple of cocktails, made a last-minute request: “Actually, can you come pick me up here?” So I left my parents’ house early and drove to a little house party her family throws every year.
As I pulled up, I was greeted—immediately—by three very excited, slightly tipsy women: her mother and two of her close family friends. Thank God her dad and sister stayed inside, as tensions (and nerves) were already running high. Finally, Wagner made it to the car, and we headed to dinner, where I indulged in oysters and a martini, and she sipped champagne (or so I think).
After dinner, we had loose plans to meet up with mutual friends, but instead, we ended up at Shooter’s, just the two of us. That night, we sang karaoke—“Summer Lovin’,” naturally—and she kissed me.
From that moment, we were inseparable. We spent every minute together before she had to leave for her annual Christmas trip to Mexico. When she returned, we started a long-distance relationship, navigating the miles between Phoenix and Tucson for a couple of years.
Then, in March 2020, the world changed. We were at a cabin with my family when everything shut down. With nothing else to do and the Arizona spring in full bloom, I decided to quarantine in Tucson with Wagner. What was supposed to be two weeks turned into two months, and two months into two years. We spent our days playing outside, trying new hobbies, and making the most of an unexpected pause in the world. I worked remotely, helping my clients navigate the uncertainty of the times, while she returned to work under strict circumstances.
By the time the world reopened, it was clear—Wagner was the one. I had the flexibility to go back and forth, so I stayed in Tucson, commuting to my condo in Phoenix when needed. We built a life together, knowing this was it.
And then, the moment came.
I bought a beautiful ring, and together, we traveled with her family and close friends to Paris, London, and, most importantly, the Champagne region of France. We wined and dined like royalty, soaking in every moment. One morning, on what I thought would be a short stroll (it turned into a four-mile walk), I proposed in front of a breathtaking chateau.
Her sister, always a step ahead, had arranged a stunning table filled with Veuve Clicquot, the champagne house we had visited the day before. We spent the rest of the day calling our loved ones, celebrating through tears of joy, drinking, eating, and toasting to our future.
And now, here we are, planning our wedding and counting down the days until we celebrate with all of you.
We can’t wait to share this next chapter with the people we love most. See you in October!