We’re so glad you’re here! This website is your go-to guide for all things related to our special day. Whether you’re traveling from near or far, everything you need to celebrate with us can be found right here. Here’s what you’ll find on our site: 📅 Event Details – Date, time, and location of the ceremony and reception. ✈️ Travel & Accommodations – Details on our reserved hotel block at The Inn at Fox Hollow, nearby airports, and transportation tips. 🥂 Our Stories – How we met, fell in love, and got engaged. 💌 RSVP – Let us know if you’ll be attending. 🎁 Registry – Your presence is the greatest gift we could ask for, but if you’d like to give us a gift, we’ve set up a cash registry. 👗 Dress Code – What to wear to match the vibe. 📸 Photo Gallery – Moments from our journey. ❓ FAQs – Answers to common questions to help you plan. We can’t wait to celebrate this joyful moment with the people we love most. Thank you for being part of our journey!

We met at Christian Cultural Center's Food Pantry on February 7, 2023 — at the end of a long and emotionally exhausting day. I had spent the afternoon conducting one-on-one interviews with several women — each of whom, unbeknownst to me, had recently lost her husband. One after another, they opened up about their grief, their strength, and their stories of love and loss. I listened with compassion, but also with a heaviness in my heart — because I, too, had walked that road. I lost my husband in 2021. Proverbs 11:25 “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” By the time the final interview ended, I felt completely depleted. The emotional weight of the conversations — paired with the quiet ache of my own loss — had caught up with me. I was ready to leave, to find stillness, and to regroup. Just as I was preparing to head out, one of our dedicated volunteers gently approached me and said,
 “Annette, there’s one more person waiting. Would you be willing to see him?” Without hesitation, I said "No." I was tired — emotionally, spiritually, and physically. But she looked at me gently and whispered, “Please...just see this last one.” Something about her tone, her sincerity, made me pause. Against every instinct, I said, "Ok." Moments later, Cedric walked in. He entered with such calmness and ease, and when our eyes met, something shifted. The exhaustion didn’t vanish, but it softened. There was a peace in his presence that I wasn’t expecting — a grounding energy that immediately put me at ease. What was meant to be a quick meeting turned into a two-hour conversation. We talked about life, purpose, faith, and yes — loss. But also about healing, growth, and the beauty of second chances. It was the kind of conversation that flows effortlessly when hearts are aligned. Looking back, I know that encounter wasn’t accidental. I believe God aligned that moment — a tired heart, a final meeting, and the gentle beginning of something beautiful.

Many of you may have already watched — or will be watching for the first time — the animated video of our engagement, featured in the Gallery section of this site, and wondered, “What’s the story behind it?” I’ll take this opportunity to share how this creative expression came to be. As many of you know, I’m a theatrically trained stage actor and, for this engagement, I wanted to tap into my artistic and creative side. I knew I wanted to tell our story in a way that was heartfelt and imaginative, so I felt inspired to create an animation that depicted our journey. From the moment Annette interviewed me, to our season of dating, and finally transitioning into the present-day engagement. It was as if she were watching herself come to life in a cartoon. The animation begins with where it all started: CCC’s food pantry. Though we met in 2022 and had our first real conversation during my volunteer staff interview on February 7, 2023, we didn’t go on our first date until July 15th. From there, our love grew steadily — through simple, meaningful dates like long walks in the park or along the Long Beach boardwalk. Over the course of a year and a few months, it became clear to me: I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Annette. Proverbs 18:22 “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” In October 2024, the production I had been performing in for the past couple of years was concluding its three-city California tour with a final engagement at the Great Star Theater in San Francisco. I knew I wanted to do something unforgettable, so I flew Annette out on Delta Air Lines with the idea of proposing to her on the mountaintop overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. I had planned to pick her up from the airport myself, but due to rehearsal, I couldn’t — not quite the entrance I had in mind. But of course, real life has its twists. On October 14th, we drove toward that mountain, expecting to see a sun-filled blue sky just like in the animation — but to no avail. The mountain was completely covered in dense fog, with zero visibility. We waited for a couple of hours at the top, hoping the clouds would dissipate, but that didn’t happen. The entire time, Annette had no idea what was going on. I now had to improvise because the weather wasn't quite cooperating. So, I drove back down the mountain and decided to stop at a nearby park adjacent to the bridge, casually telling Annette we were just there to take a few pictures. I set up my tripod with my phone to capture a wide shot, provided her with my iPad so she could watch the animated video, and even used her phone to film a close-up. She still had no idea what was coming. With everything in place and Annette by my side, you’ll see in the live footage, the moment was still incredibly special, even without the view I had envisioned. That’s the story behind the animation — a creative glimpse into a journey that’s been filled with love, spontaneity, and God’s timing. We hope you enjoy it as much as we’ve enjoyed living it. With love, Cedric