Nadia Tiffany Gakou and Jonathan Samuel Masci’s relationship began with a somewhat awkward introduction in August 2018 at a networking event for incoming graduate students at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Paired for an icebreaker exercise, their initial interaction was marked by a brief misunderstanding over exchanging contact information. However, the two reconnected later that evening during a graduate student boat cruise around Manhattan, where they spent the time talking and getting to know one another.
Masci, 31, originally from Manhasset, Long Island, had relocated to Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood to attend graduate school. He earned a master’s degree in public and nonprofit management and policy from NYU Wagner in 2020 and holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Cornell University. He is currently a full-time law student at NYU School of Law. Gakou, 30, who grew up in Manhattan’s East Village, completed her master’s in health policy and management from NYU Wagner in 2021 after earning a bachelor’s degree in health science from Stony Brook University. She works as a program manager for an emergency medicine residency program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Their bond deepened significantly following the loss of their parents. Gakou’s mother passed away in 2019 and her father in 2015, while Masci’s father died of cancer in 2022. Both provided support to each other during these difficult times, strengthening their connection. Masci has described Gakou as “someone very special,” a sentiment that led him to ask her out on a formal date in December 2022. The couple spent the day at the American Museum of Natural History, followed by a walk in Central Park and dinner at a favorite local restaurant, Pappardella.
Their shared interests in New York City’s cultural institutions, including the New York Public Library’s Young Lions and The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Apollo Circle, became a cornerstone of their relationship as they explored new restaurants and attended social events together. A pivotal moment came in March 2023 during a pre-planned trip to London. The vacation revealed their chemistry and strong communication, reinforcing their commitment to one another.
In September 2023, Masci moved to Midtown Manhattan, inviting Gakou to live with him by year’s end. When her cat, Waffles, visited the apartment in January, he quickly settled in, prompting Gakou to begin moving sooner than planned.
Masci proposed in Paris on May 14, 2025, orchestrating a surprise on their hotel balcony at the Shangri-La Paris, which overlooked the Eiffel Tower. With flowers, candles, a violinist, and professional photographers in place, Gakou was invited upstairs by a note and accepted his proposal.
The couple was married on June 27, 2025, at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. The ceremony was officiated by Tanya Pushkine, a civil minister ordained through the Universal Life Church. Their reception featured 160 guests and concluded with a kick line to Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York,” underscoring the distinctly New York City character of their celebration.