Welcome! We’re excited to share our next chapter with you. Getting close to 12-10-22...WHEW!

Plum and Platinum

SHE SAID: We met on Labor Day Weekend at a Tom Joyner Family Reunion in Orlando. I was hosting a table with my pastor when Latif and an Omega Psi Phi Bruh stopped by. He didn't say it at the time, but he later revealed that he saw me from a distance and had to come and say hi. Once we met, he smiled...a BIG smile...like "YES"! I thought, "I love his smile". We chatted for a few minutes, and I gave him my business card (wink ;-)). Then, I said, "let me introduce you to my pastor", and his smile slightly faded. LOL! We didn't see each other for more than a year after our initial meeting. I remember calling my friend Jack and telling him, "For the first time, I met a guy that I actually wanted to call me. I liked him immediately. That never happened to me before." To think...It all started with a butt and a smile! HE SAID: What she said! I saw a side-view of her from a distance, and I wanted to meet her. Then I saw her face and it was love at first sight. Once she introduced me to her pastor, I thought it was a case of the pretty girl enticing people to church. LOL. We didn't talk for a while, but after we reconnected, I really liked her. I eventually joined her church!

SHE SAID: It was at the Bethune Cookman/FAMU Florida Classic game more than a year after our initial meeting. I was invited to hang out in the Omega Psi Phi area by another Bruh who then walked me over to ask Latif for a ticket to the Omega after-party. Latif turned and saw me, and there was that BIG smile! We didn't know each other's names, but we remembered the faces. We were re-introduced. From there, the conversation went something like me saying, "Ohhh, you", and Latif saying, 'I meant to call you to order some shirts. I lost your number'. Then I asked for tickets to the after party for me and my plus one. Latif looked around to see my plus one and said, 'He can buy his own ticket. I'll let YOU in. He's on his own'. I laughed and said OK. That was the moment I detected interest! He then asked to have my number to order shirts. I shared my number. I didn't go to the Omega party, but a few days later he actually called...to order shirts ;-)! HE SAID: I was happy to see her. She was with her boyfriend who she left on the bench (Haha). She tried to get me to give him a ticket to the party. I told her I would let her in, but I wasn't giving HIM a ticket. Then she didn't show up to the after-party. I thought she was mad at me because I did call her, but she didn't answer or return my calls for a while.

SHE SAID: Latif invited me to an Omega scholarship event at the Crowne Plaza in Orlando. He was already there when I arrived. He was wearing a nice suit and his BIG smile. I was wearing a fantabulously fitting off-white dress coordinated with killer platform pumps...and a smile. His eyes said a lot. His mouth said little. He was still smiling as he introduced me to others. After the program ended, he mingled but left me alone most of the time! I thought, 'he must not know 'bout me.' So, I decided to leave early. I didn't think I would be seeing him again...not after that experience. He later called to explain why he had little time to talk to me. I said it didn't seem as if he was interested in talking to me, so I left. He said, 'I saw you and thought, wow, she is beautiful...but I was too stunned to say it at the time.' We chatted a bit more and though he asked for another date, I politely declined. It was several months before we spoke again. I kept "missing" his calls! LOL. HE SAID: What she said! I knew I liked her when I saw her. She looked GOOD when she walked through the door! She threw me off my game for a minute, but I recovered...and I got her!

SHE SAID: After several months of occasional conversation, we agreed to go to the gun range for shooting practice. On the day we were to meet, he called to say he injured his leg and asked if I would meet for dinner instead of target practice. Not one to be stood up, I said, 'no, that's okay.' I decided he was not ready to date me. After convincing me to meet, I was shocked to find that he really had injured his leg. Then I felt bad for him. LOL! I went to CVS to purchase products, then iced and wrapped his leg. He requested my assistance a few more times and we began to talk more...for hours. One day he said he didn't want to lose his nurse once his leg healed, so we decided to go on a real date. We started dating regularly and enjoyed each other's company enough to eventually commit to exploring our interest in each other. HE SAID: She didn't believe I hurt my leg. I could sense her pulling away, and I had to make sure she knew that I was hurt for real. When she wrapped my leg, I was like, 'Wow, I like her.' After a few weeks she cooked dinner and I liked her a lot. That was when things got real!

SHE SAID: We had been dating for several months. He asked me out to Jazz Tastings for Valentine's Day. I said yes. Up to this point, we had not "defined" our relationship. We enjoyed each other's company, and we hung out fairly often. We previously stated we were not ready for a relationship...so we thought. While we dined with LIVE jazz in the background, the owner of the establishment asked couples who were celebrating Valentine's Day with their true "boo" to raise their hands. I noticed Latif slowly begin to raise his hand while looking at me with that BIG smile, and though surprised, I joined him and began to raise mine. Next thing, our hands were in the air. Latif, through his BIG smile, said, "I guess we're officially a couple". I said, smiling, "I guess we are". We toasted and that was the beginning of what our family and friends have followed over seven years...off and on; up and down (LOL). HE SAID: I already loved her when we acknowledged we were a couple. It was a nice evening and the right time to make it official. We've had some challenges over the years while trying to be "us". We decided to stop "running from" and start "running to" what we have and our love.

SHE SAID: Let's start by saying that he really surprised me...I mean like shocked-shocked! Of all the surprises I've experienced, this was by far the best one ever. It was simple, sweet, sincere, and the most special moment ever. On a night when I was exhausted from Cooks family reunion festivities, it was a beautiful moment that revived my energy and made me too excited to fall asleep. Seriously, I totally forgot that I was tired! Before he proposed, I had been dozing off while watching TV. Suddenly, there was an unexpected but hearty hug, a gentle kiss, and a whispered "I love you, Dr. Cooks". With eyes still closed and sleepy, "Aww, I love you too, Mr. Taylor". Then, a bright light shone in the room forcing me to open my eyes, and I saw the most beautiful diamond ring in a perfectly lit ring box. It was made just for me! My head popped up like a Pez dispenser (LOL), eyes now wide open and mouth open in shock as Mr. Taylor held my hand and said, "I love you very much, Dr. Cooks. Will you marry me?" I was repeatedly stuttering and saying, "are you...are you serious, Mr. Taylor?". "Yes, Dr. Cooks. I'm serious. I love you very much. Will you marry me?" Me (still stuttering and stunned for a couple of minutes then realizing I had not answered), "I love you, too, Mr. Taylor". Then I said yes!! Can I describe the feeling? No, but I can say it was one of the most tender and sweet moments we've experienced together. The air was thick with sincere love and the most precious remnants of nervousness from this big man with a BIG smile and a giant heart. Even the fact that he was nervous was beautiful! Everything led to this moment where nothing mattered except the love we share. We knew it was right and we knew it was God. And with that, we became engaged and more excited than I would have thought possible. So, I smiled all night, not interested in sleeping, while my Fourth of July sparkled with a new diamond engagement ring from the man I love. Life with him has been like Heaven ever since. When love's fire works, we can pledge to love forever...and We Do!! HE SAID: I love her, and I always knew I wanted her to be my wife. She just didn't believe it. I was nervous (Will she say, yes...Will she like the ring?), but I was ready. This wasn't the initial proposal plan, but it was the way it was meant to be. The plan was to propose at the family reunion, but there was too much going on. It wasn't the right time. I'm happy she said yes.

There is probably no term that better describes our relationship, our journey, our love, and our wedding plans than Taylormade. We are pretty aware of what we want, what we like (or not), and what we are willing to do at this stage in life. Our plans, ideas, and events will be "Taylored" to make December 10, 2022, the Best Day Ever for us! Some things will be traditional, some will be modern, some will be unique, and some will be repeats...but all will be done the way The Taylors have envisioned to ensure a wonderful day for us, our family, and our friends. Speaking of family and friends...we're so very blessed with an abundance of love. After much prayer and planning, we were able to find ways to share all events scheduled for this day with everyone who RSVP'd. Thank You, God! This means that if you RSVP'd to attend the wedding ceremony, you are invited to attend both post-ceremony celebrations (Small Plate Reception AND After-party)!! However, anyone not on the RSVP list will not be allowed to attend the ceremony or the post-ceremony celebrations. Thank you for your timely response which helped us to shift a few details to ensure that all can enjoy all festivities. Thank you for understanding our efforts to be inclusive and respectful of everyone. Regardless of which part of the evening you share with us, we will have a great time. One last note on our Taylormade affair...we will exercise preventative precautions. All attending guests will be expected to wear masks, specifically in the church spaces per their protocol. Masks will be available for those who need one. Of course, they won't be required while eating. While we would love to celebrate with all of you, we completely understand decisions to decline attendance due to unwillingness to wear a mask. We look forward to a Taylormade celebration of our union as husband and wife. We are grateful to God and to you for being a part of this moment in our lives. Love and Blessings, Fay and Latif