31.07.2023 The day we first met...
We almost didn’t meet, it was a miserable, rainy day in July—both of us were tempted to cancel going out with our friends because of the weather. Shanelle arrived first, and within 10 minutes, the rain convinced her to ditch her makeup entirely. Ayo arrived straight from work, and when he said hello, our conversation quickly revealed a connection we couldn’t ignore. From Shanelle’s 21-question interrogation to Ayo daring me to take off his durag, we talked for ages, arranging to meet again and again throughout the festival.The best part? We still have our WhatsApp messages from that day, where we both agreed, "This feels right."
04.08.2023 Our first date...
It was four days after we met, and we hadn’t stopped messaging or talking on the phone. We were supposed to meet later that week, but Ayo said he couldn’t make it. I had a feeling he just wanted to see me sooner.
I heard the disappointment in Shanelle’s voice, so after a bit of back-and-forth, I asked, "Have you eaten yet?" She hadn’t, so that was that. I said "Get ready, I’m sending a cab for you." When I saw her, she looked just as beautiful as I remembered.
He was really handsome. We ended up at a steak place and funny enough, steak is now one of the favourite things Ayo likes me to cook.We talked for hours. The conversation was easy, with none of that awkward small talk. It felt like we were just picking up from where we left off. By the end of the night, I think we both knew this was definitely just the beginning...
07.12.2024 Our engagement story...
Ayo:
I always knew that if I ever proposed, it had to be something a little extravagant. She’s secretly an extravagant lady, and I wanted something that matched her energy. I’d imagined doing it abroad, somewhere breath-taking, but when the timing didn’t work out, I knew it had to be somewhere iconic. And where in London is more iconic than Tower Bridge?Luckily, planning was smooth, but that was the calm before the storm – literally – because Storm Darragh was scheduled to hit London the day of the proposal. Typical! I had told everyone except Shanelle that they were coming out for my birthday dinner, so it was a surprise for everyone (but I’m sure some of them were guessing!).
Shanelle:
I’d always said that I’d know when Ayo was planning the proposal, but more fool me – I had no clue. The month before, he’d mentioned that we might go to a Gala on 7th December, and then he never brought it up again… until the day before! Yes, the day before, when I casually asked him if we were still going, expecting him to say no – only for him to say yes! So, the night before, I was ordering our outfits, trying to beat the 9pm cut-off for next-day delivery!Ayo:
On the day itself, I was excited and nervous. I knew she’d say yes (she’d been hinting at it for ages!), but there’s something about taking that leap. When she turned the corner, all my nerves disappeared. In that moment, seeing her smile, I felt like the luckiest man alive.Shanelle:
I was at a naming ceremony with my best friend (Lateefah, my Chief Bridesmaid), who was secretly tasked with making sure I didn’t stay talking for hours and got to the proposal on time – safe to say we were late!
When we arrived, I was confused when I saw my cousin (Melissa, my Maid of Honour). I remember just stopping and staring at her, wondering why she was there in the wrong setting! She hugged me and told me to follow Ayo. I was still stunned, trying to process what was going on. I was on complete auto-pilot, but when I turned the corner and saw Ayo, it hit me. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I couldn’t believe it! In that moment, I could feel how much this man loved me. It was the easiest ‘yes’ of my life!Ayo:
I had planned a dinner with our friends afterwards, so they all came out after the proposal to congratulate us!Shanelle:
I couldn’t believe it when I started seeing loads of our friends coming towards us! I couldn’t believe he had organised it all, even got our friends there and managed to keep it all a surprise.It was a moment we’ll never forget, one that will stay with us for a lifetime.
10.10.25 The day we say 'I do'...
This chapter is still being written, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Together, we’ll start to create some of the most memorable and meaningful pages of our story yet. Let’s celebrate the beginning of forever together, surrounded by love, laughter, and unforgettable moments.To be continued...