Below Deck's Captain Sandy, Leah Shafer's Relationship Timeline (2024)

Below Deck Mediterranean's Captain Sandy Yawn has been open about her love story with girlfriend Leah Shafer.The couple met in 2018 when the gospel singer reached out to the reality star on social media about her hit Bravo series.“She sent me a nice message that said, ‘I came across your show, congratulations, many blessings,'” the captain recalled in an interview with The Cheat Sheet in 2019, noting that the term "many blessings" quickly caught her attention.Ahead of her romance with the Below Deck star, Shafer was married to entertainer Ross Shafer for 20 years. They welcomed daughter Lauren before their split.For Leah, making her relationship with Sandy public in 2019 felt like the perfect next step in their romance. “It was definitely unexpected,” she shared with the outlet at the time. “It just happened, when you meet another soul that you connect with at such a deep level, it is unexplainable and so beautiful.”The pair continued to offer glimpses of their blossoming connection over the years. In honor of their anniversary, Sandy gushed about her partner, writing via Instagram in November 2020, "2 years ago I met this incredible soul, my true love. It’s so true couples that play together stay together. Yep this is Leah’s idea of fun, detoxing the skin with a charcoal mask!"The Bravo star later hinted that she and Leah weren't ruling out a walk down the aisle, telling Bravo in July 2021, "Yeah, you know, honestly, slow and steady wins the race. So, I do. I do [see marriage in the future]. I mean, who knows? Like, it’s only been two years. Just under two years, so let’s see."Scroll on for a full breakdown of Sandy and Leah's romance:

The twosome met when Leah sent Sandy a message on Facebook. They went on their first date later that year.

Leah and Sandy became Instagram official after several months together.

The Below Deck star moved to Colorado to be closer to her girlfriend.

Sandy and Leah shared photos from their Valentine's Day celebration.

The duo were all smiles in a sweet selfie.

After more than two years of dating, Sandy and Leah started their own podcast titled "Captain Sandy and Leah Rae Show."

"4 years ago I parked your car in Los Angeles, I kissed you and that’s when I knew I would spend the rest of my life loving you, protecting you and teaching you what the meaning of 'do overs' meant hahah I love you Leah Rae @leahraeofficial," Sandy gushed via Instagram. "You’re my soulmate and I wanna grow old together."

Leah joked in an Instagram caption that she wasn't engaged because Sandy "hasn't asked" her yet.

Sandy's short stint on season 10 of Below Deck made headlines when Captain Lee questioned her decisions. At the time, Leah defended her girlfriend after Lee said he wasn't thrilled that Sandy didn't keep him up to date.

"She has more than good manners and has been nothing but kind and supportive. Not sure why you are tweeting all of this. She left me and our home to come and take over until you were well. We pray for you and your family still and always wish you well," she tweeted in response to the Michigan native's comments.

"Home is where the heart is 😍 #Love," Sandy wrote alongside a photo of her and Leah getting cozy in front of their future house.

During an interview with Us, Sandy opened up about making her relationship work long distance.

"We're figuring it out. We're madly in love," she gushed. "Leah and I just were in Miami together and I'm like, 'We need to go once a month. We need that time.' We're three-day people. So three days is perfect and that's our goal. In those three days, it's all about us and the phones are off, which is great."

The Below Deck Med star opened up about making her relationship work while filming the hit Bravo series.

"Communication and the reality is it's only six weeks. So, it's like having something new every time you come back. It's pretty cool every time," Sandy exclusively told Us at the time. "We're building a house so [we do] a lot of visits to Florida and we're off to the Hamptons. [We are] just enjoying life because I think the older you get, the more experiences [you want]."

The Bravo star proposed to Leah after five years of dating, telling E! News about the big moment, "I shared my vision list of love I had written and wanted, then got on one knee. Then, she said 'Yes!'”

Sandy continued: “The look on her face was priceless, and my heart exploded! It was filled beyond capacity of anything I could ever imagine. Somehow I feel closer than I did before, and I can't explain it. There is an energy that I have never experienced in my life. I love her beyond; as Leah says Yawn beyond."

While discussing her upcoming nuptials, Sandy exclusively told Us, "Having Leah in my life is [all I need on our] special day and it's about us. So I'm not making it about everybody there. It's really about her. And I just love that it's on a boat."

The captain also hinted at Leah's potential cameo on Below Deck Med. (The pair previously made a joint appearance on season 3 of Bravo's Winter House.)

"Obviously, we're filming a TV show, so you don't really see a lot of [my personal life]. But yes, just stay tuned. Maybe that'll happen," she teased.

Yawn and Shafer walked down the aisle after five years of dating.

“Captain Sandy TIES THE KNOT 💕,” the captain announced via Instagram alongside a video slideshow of the pair’s nuptials. “On May 11th , we officially became Mrs Sandy & Leah YAWN. I Married the love of my life.”

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