ERIN GABE & a

WHAT MAKES A WEDDING unforgettable?

Love Story

Erin and Gabe grew up in the same small town in northern Minnesota. Childhood friends but then went their separate ways and didn’t reunite until their late 20’s. Erin was in real estate in California, and Gabe was copping in Minneapolis. Who would have known a simple social media conversation would lead to possibly the longest first date in history.

It was a crazy four days that built the foundation. Gabe picked Erin up from the airport, where their sushi date night turned into a three-hour drive to their hometown, followed by a weekend with Erin’s entire family at an ‘under-construction’ Little Lazy Lodge. In Gabe’s words, he couldn’t get enough of Erin’s family. It was an immediate connection — before Erin left to go back to California, Gabe was already looking for a way to get her back to Minnesota for the holidays.

They got to be together for their first holiday, surrounded by more family. It became very apparent that the “feels” were happening. And that’s when they knew — Gabe and Erin became inseparable and the rest is history. They set up multiple visits, flying back and forth to be with each other. The one thing they wanted with each trip was an adventure — something memorable to leave each other with until the next time they got to be together. The ‘twinkle in their eyes’, as Erin puts it. It wasn’t long and Erin was packed and headed back to Minnesota, with Gabe’s help of course. The road trip was followed by five days canoeing in the Boundary Waters. The true test. This was it — moving it all back and then decompressing in some of the “darkest skies in the world.” Gabe and Erin sat each night on their own claimed island and watched as shooting stars riddled the sky.

Months later Gabe and Erin stood in the same spot where they launched their canoe for that trip, the end of the Gunflint Trail. On a cold January day, at the end of the trail, both of their families gathered on the frozen lake to watch the next chapter be added to their love story. With a fire lit on the lake and surrounded by family, Gabe proposed to Erin.

The fact that they were surrounded by family during this time meant everything to them. Family IS everything and they both share the belief that it’s family that allows them to love and share the experiences they hold in their hearts.

What was the moment you knew you loved each other?

Gabe: There were several moments when I fell for her. They all involved her forcing me out of my comfort zone. She set up a sailing trip in San Francisco Bay with a guy she really didn’t know, who invited us to stay on his boat. I’m all about adventure, but staying with a stranger on his boat at sea had me wondering … She knew the way to my heart was to sail to a sushi spot; then life was good.

Our next trip involved her picking me up in San Diego and driving to the Baja peninsula in Mexico and going off grid with zero plans. We spent five days driving and exploring, not knowing what adventure each day would bring. We found this amazing restaurant and sat oceanside till the sun disappeared. I fell in love at that moment without a doubt.

Erin asked a group of musicians to sing “Despacito” to us, and that will forever be engraved in my mind. The third would be our canoe trip into the Boundary Waters. We both got completely lost in the moment of what we had in front of us. Days of not seeing another person. No cell service. Just us. Deep conversations while cooking over the fire. Side note: I forgot the bug spray in the truck and she still talked to me, so I knew it was real. I had found my best friend, and I continually fall in love with her.

Erin: Of course, I loved and still cherish all these trips Gabe mentioned and more, but to me it’s the small things that matter most. It’s showing up and being consistent on a day-to-day basis. It’s his willingness to go along with both my small daily adventure and my grand adventures, however outlandish. It’s him saying yes to my plethora of waterfall excursions because he knows it’s my favorite thing to do on a trip. Gabe knows how to blend in and become fast friends with anyone, even if he’s just in his “man thong.” He always keeps me laughing and makes life light and fun.

How did you know your spouse was the one for you?

Gabe: After our four-day first date at Little Lazy Lodge, I was hoping she’d still be interested in me when she got back home. So I saved up money and brought her back to Minnesota soon after that for Thanksgiving to keep the flame going. I gave her three weeks to think about our time. I knew I wanted to keep her around, so I was doing everything I could to see her. I knew from the beginning that she was special to me, but I felt like I had to pass the test for her. The subsequent journeys solidified that I needed to be with her.

Erin: I have to agree; it was our first date that willingly never ended. It set the wheels in motion, and both of us knew there was something special happening. In our wedding speeches, my family also stated they saw love brewing on that chilly November weekend. For the deerhunting opener, I invited him to meet my whole family, including my cousins and their boyfriends. I had not been the best at picking guys in the past. So I figured if he could survive a couple of days with my family and he didn’t hate them, or vice versa, he might not be so bad. By the end of the weekend, I was pretty sure Gabe and my family loved each other more than they loved me! And the rest is history.

What is the best marriage advice you’ve received so far?

Do the “things”! Always just go for it. Book the trip! I always hear people say they are waiting for the right time to go — I say pull the trigger and go! I guess I always see it as “life is too short, so go make memories.” Include your friends and family in everything you do, because they become your best support system when you both need it.

Do you have any special traditions that you incorporated into the wedding?

Fur has always been an Erickson family traditiongenerations of ‘grandma’s fur’. It wasn’t really planned, more of an unspoken. Always wear the fur!

Were there any other special touches or details from the day?

We felt super fortunate to have a close friend’s band travel from Minneapolis to play at our wedding. JRD & The Big Mistake went above and beyond. It was so special have a close friend and super talented group of musicians take the stage and entertain our entire wedding party. It gave more meaning and connection than we could have ever imagined.

What is your favorite wedding-day memory?

Gabe: Obviously, it is marrying my favorite person and best friend. After that, it was seeing all the different walks of life come together in one place and celebrate our love. We got to observe love being shared among all friends and family, and that’s what made my heart so full. Seeing everyone talk, laugh, hug one another and meet new people still gives me all the feels. It’s the way it should always be.

Erin: One of my favorite things about our wedding day is that I had my two sisters and cousins as my bridesmaids. A whole family of strong, smart and independent women who would stand by my side through thick and thin. To have these people — my people — stand up at the ceremony in love and support meant the world to me and brought a deeper connection to the day.

What did you learn from planning your wedding?

We planned our wedding in less than three months, and we could not have done it without the help of our family. Erin was given a wedding dress by her cousin, and it set the whole wedding planning in motion. We set a date at Little Lazy Lodge and it was off to the races. We lived off of organized chaos for that time being. It was exciting and challenging – we always had faith it would all come together perfectly.

What is your best advice for others who are planning weddings?

Just do what makes you happy. Every single person has an opinion on what should happen, but remember that this one day is about you. Also, allow yourself a 20-minute break from it all leading up to the ceremony. Take it all in before it happens.

We decided to do a receiving line at the wedding, where we greeted and thanked everyone as they walked back from the ceremony site to the venue. This helped to not put so much pressure on checking in with every single person before and after dinner. It also allowed us to sit at our ceremony site for a few minutes and take it all in and embrace the moment. We will cherish this time forever.