Gabby and Sam McWhorter

Mar 24

In Luv 01

A Paper Eliza Love Story

Gabby and Sam McWhorter, living in Birmingham, Alabama, and married on May 25th, 2025

Was it love at first site?

Gabby McWhorter: Haha maybe not first sight, but by the end of our first date we were both very much crushing. I 100% knew we would date after that first date and by the 2nd official date (we'd hung out casually maybe 3 times in between), I knew I'd be falling in love ASAP.

where was your first date?

GM: We went to dinner at Le Fresca, walked out to the parking lot after dinner, and his car had been towed. He thought I had played a prank on him. Like hehe silly first date prank...wut?! But it ended up being a great test to see how he'd handle it and he was a champ. We ubered to the lot to pick up his car and I thought for sure he'd just want to end the date, but we proceeded to get ice cream and sit in the car outside my house for like 2 or 3 more hours. Then facetimed when he got back to his apartment after HA - like we were so obnoxious.

where was your first kiss?

GM: At his apartment! I can't remember exactly how many, but I think he waited like 8 hangouts/dates before he kissed me. I literally said "about time" after we kissed.

how did you know he was the one?

GM: Initially, because he just didn't annoy me AT ALL. I know that sounds silly, but he just made me happy truly at all times. Even when we had hard moments, he consistently reminded me how much he loved me and loved being with me. It was just one of those things that made me think "ohhhhh this is how it's supposed to feel!" So easy from the start.

who said they loved each other first?

GM: Sam did sitting at my house one day after church (weirdly) soon after we started dating and I obviously immediately said it back. We just knew so early on ha, it's so cringey to read our texts in the beginning, we said it SO quickly LOL.

what is your proposal story?

GM: About a month before the proposal, Sam suggested we have a fun day to celebrate 4 years of my business. This immediately made me think he may be proposing, because it felt too planned out for him to bring that up. He proceeded to drop so many little hints in the following weeks, but I just kept talking myself out of it actually happening - I just didn't want to get my hopes up! The day came came and I was not feeling good at all and I think it was The Lord's protection because it fully distracted me all day and I forgot about all the hints or the possibility of a proposal that day.

We went to prayer that morning at our church, had breakfast, drove to Chelsea to go antiquing (had to get me out of Homewood so we wouldn't accidentally run into any family members who came in town), then I asked to take a nap because I was feeling so gross. He said he was literally sweating the entire nap because he couldn't believe that I was actually this oblivious, but I really was. He then left to go get ready for dinner and told me I needed to be ready in an hour. I proceeded to lay on the couch for another 30 minutes entirely unaware I was supposed to be getting ready for my proposal LOL. I got ready so fast, hated my outfit and hair, but Sam was rushing me out the door to take me to "drinks before dinner". Thankfully my roommate wasn't far behind with more outfit options for me to change into - shout out, Ally!

On the way to dinner I finally remembered that he was possibly going to propose but in the same moment talked myself out of it again because he was so unbelievably calm and turned to him and said "Do you think you'll be nervous whenever you're proposing to me?" He says his stomach actually flipped over when I said that because we were literally one minute away from him proposing, he goes "Nah, I think I'll be good" HA. He then asked if I had my keys to my studio because he wanted to take a picture of me there for his story "to celebrate 4 years" and even this wildly odd request didn't make me think anything. We pull up to my studio and he walks me into the lobby where there are flowers EVERYWHERE, a ton of candles, and my best friend who lives in Louisiana taking photos! The ring was sitting on a table in the lobby with a beautiful letter he read to me which ended with a proposal and me saying yes!! It genuinely was perfect.

Ally swooped in with the outfit change and makeup for me to touch up with since I was balling. Our out-of-town families came soon after and we were able to celebrate. I was then told we were going to dinner with our families at East West around the corner, but was walked upstairs to a party of ALL our favorite people. I think there were maybe 75 people or more all gathered to celebrate! It was genuinely the best night and I could not have been happier or more impressed with how well Sam planned everything. Absolutely perfect!

where was your wedding?

GM: May 25, 2025 in New Orleans! The most fun day of my life.

describe your paper eliza vision in 3 words.

GM: Fun, unique, and sentimental

Were there any elements, icons, illustrations, or themes that you felt represented you and your spouse that you wanted to include?.

GM: We wanted our suite to represent New Orleans, our venue, and really commemorate the day well! We included some fun, silly things like a spray tan gun for my job, a dumbbell for my workout-fanatic-husband, and a sno ball because we're both obsessed (plus, it's very New Orleans), but mostly just focused on a design that helped us freeze that day in time forever. I'll cherish our suite for years to come, it's so beautiful and Eliza is just wildly good at what she does. The process was a breeze and everything came together just as I imagined!

fave pic back at our first date spot.JPG

Gabby and Sam's (unbeknownst to them) first photo together in 2019 before meeting (officially) years later | 2. Their wedding invitation suite | 3. Their wedding day in New Orleans | 4. Engagement photos at their first date location, Le Fresca | 5. Their wedding day | 6. Their first official photo together