Gabriella Taghian and Matthew DeNave’s relationship, which began as college teammates at Boston College, culminated in their marriage in May 2026, marking the end of a multi-year journey that navigated long-distance challenges, demanding careers, and personal growth.
The couple first connected during the summer of 2019, shortly after Gabby graduated and Matt was completing his senior year studying biology. Both had been on Boston College’s swim and dive team—Matt as a swimmer and Gabby as a diver—though their relationship had been largely professional until Matt reached out to Gabby while interning in Boston. Their initial dates took place in local venues including Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria in Chestnut Hill and a restaurant in the Prudential Center, where mutual interest quickly blossomed.
By December 2019, they were officially a couple, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020 forced them into a long-distance relationship, with Matt returning to Holland, Michigan, to finish his studies remotely and Gabby staying in Westwood, Massachusetts. Despite the distance, they committed to maintaining the relationship, with Matt eventually relocating to Indianapolis for work and graduate studies while Gabby continued working locally as she prepared for medical school.
In 2022, after Gabby was accepted to Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the pair moved in together in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The demands of medical school—early shifts, long hours, and frequent schedule changes—presented new challenges. Both adapted their routines to support each other, with Matt adjusting his schedule to align with Gabby’s and managing household responsibilities. Matt completed an MBA remotely, took up new hobbies, and often prepared meals to make the intense periods of medical training more manageable for Gabby.
Their partnership drew strength from a shared sense of teamwork, a dynamic they had developed during their time as college teammates. They instituted regular “state of the union” discussions every six months to reflect on their relationship and individual goals, drawing on Jesuit values of reflection instilled during their college years.
In October 2023, Matt proposed to Gabby following an impromptu trip to meet her parents in Boston, securing their blessing before organizing a surprise engagement surrounded by family. The couple celebrated their wedding on May 9, 2026, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, a week before Gabby’s medical school graduation. The ceremony, held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, was officiated by a Jesuit priest with longstanding ties to the couple.
After the wedding, the newlyweds relocated to South Boston, where Gabby began a seven-year surgical residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The couple emphasizes the importance of appreciating everyday moments amid their busy lives, underscoring the teamwork and mutual support that have defined their relationship from college days to their professional careers.