We're getting married!

Some love stories take years to unfold, but ours was written in the stars from the very first moment. On October 10, fate brought us together. By October 11, we met in person, and by October 12, we knew—we had found something rare and extraordinary. That first night, we sat at the Cheesecake Factory in Victoria Gardens until they closed, lost in conversation as if the world around us had faded away. But even then, we weren’t ready to say goodnight. So, we moved to Chase’s car and stayed there for hours, talking about everything and anything, as if we had been waiting our whole lives for this moment. From the very beginning, everything felt so effortless, so natural—like coming home to a love we had always known. Syra held onto Chase’s arm the entire night, savoring every second, silently wishing for just a little more time. And then, something magical happened. In the days that followed, the world itself felt different. The wind was crisper, the sky was brighter, food tasted better—because everything was colored by the joy of finding each other. We quickly became inseparable, our friendship and love intertwining so seamlessly. In each other, we found not only the deepest love we had ever known but also our truest and best friend. A week later, Chase did something that solidified what we already knew—this was forever. He asked to meet Syra’s mother. Syra explained that in her culture, once a partner meets the parents, there is no turning back—it’s a lifelong commitment. She had never introduced anyone before because of how intense that decision would be. But Chase, with a smile and the purest love she had prayed for, made her decision easy. That meeting changed everything. While Syra briefly stepped away, Chase and her mother, Anita, had a heartfelt conversation. By the time Syra returned, her mother had given Chase her blessing. And so, on March 20, 2024, we got engaged! We decided to take a year to soak in this beautiful season of engagement before planning our wedding. And now, here we are—on April 12, 2026, we will become Mr. and Mrs. Richmond! But this journey would not have been the same without our loving village of people, especially Anita—our mama, our number one supporter, and prayer warrior. We are so incredibly thankful to God for the opportunity to join in holy matrimony, surrounded by the love of our family and friends.