Lopez Love Story

In 2015, Jelani took an unforgettable trip to Miami with his friends—and from what everyone says, it was nothing short of epic. During that trip, he met Aliyah through her best friend, Desiree, who happened to be Jelani’s coworker back in Charlotte, NC. Interestingly enough, all three of them went to the same college, just on different campuses. At the time, Aliyah was living in Miami while Jelani was still based in Charlotte. Their first meeting happened over drinks at Miami’s iconic Fat Tuesday's, followed by a relaxing hangout on the beach with friends. After that, they went their separate ways—Jelani back to Charlotte, and Aliyah continuing life in Miami. Eventually, they reconnected on social media. In 2021, Jelani made the first move and slid into Aliyah’s DMs... but they never connected. One year later, Aliyah messaged Jelani after finding out he had moved to Atlanta, where she was visiting family. Jelani drove 45 minutes to pick her up and took her on a date. Two days later, they went on another. From that point on, the two were nearly inseparable. Though long distance had its challenges, Aliyah’s flexible work schedule made it possible to visit Atlanta often. Communication was key! They remained intentional about getting to know one another, nurturing their connection, and building their relationship with faith at the center. In December 2023, Jelani made a bold move—literally—and relocated from Atlanta to Maryland so he and Aliyah could start building a life together under one roof. Aliyah and Jelani found their church home at "The Well" in Rockville, Maryland and built community they now call family. They remained intentional about keeping Christ at the center of their relationship. They grew independently and together, getting to know the good, the bad, and the ugly. Their bond only grew stronger as their greatest strength was communication. Then, on April 2nd, 2025, during a dreamy getaway to Barbados, Jelani got down on one knee and proposed. The moment was captured on video and followed by a stunning photoshoot. Just nine days later, on April 11th, 2025, Jelani and Aliyah said “I do.” He knew exactly what he wanted—and so did she. Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Lopez!