I have found the one whom my soul loves. – Songs of Solomon 3:4I have found the one whom my soul loves. – Songs of Solomon 3:4

Both raised in Youngstown, Ohio, their lives overlapped early on without either of them realizing just how meaningful those moments would later become. Olonzo remembers first seeing Doriyon around middle school at the downtown YMCA, where she was practicing basketball with her mom. She caught his eye early, but he was too shy to say anything at the time. Doriyon, focused on the game, had no idea she had already caught his attention or the seed that had been planted. In the summer of 2008, as teens, their paths briefly crossed again. While both were standout basketball players in the area, Doriyon was navigating a difficult season after three ACL tears, which led to a year away from the game and her first job at the Yankee Kitchen, a local diner. One day, Olonzo’s dad, who was a regular, brought him in. This is the first time Doriyon remembers meeting Olonzo, and she vividly recalls him catching her eye. So much so, that she disregarded his dad’s joking warning to “stay away from this knucklehead” and had one of their mutual friends from her high school boys’ basketball team connect them. Doriyon and Olonzo soon realized they lived less than half a mile from one another and began spending time together on Youngstown Christian High School’s outdoor court. But their budding love-and-basketball-style romance, and Doriyon’s summer, came to an abrupt end after about a month when she invited Olonzo over without permission and her mom caught him sneaking out of the TV room. A summer of being grounded brought that chapter to a close—but little did they know, it had planted another seed for a much greater story to come. Though they went on separate paths—both playing college basketball in Pennsylvania and later living in different states (Doriyon in North Carolina and Olonzo in Georgia and California)—their journeys would eventually bring them back together where it all started. In 2020, both Doriyon and Olonzo found themselves back in Ohio, and it was finally time for those planted seeds to grow. An exchange on Twitter at the start of COVID shutdowns sparked a conversation that quickly turned into hours of FaceTime calls day after day. During this time, they laughed, reminisced, and truly got to know each other in a way that felt both natural and intentional. By Easter, they saw each other in person for the first time since high school. In classic Olonzo fashion, after one perfect day, he sent a text that read, “We go together.” Doriyon, a bit more cautious, needed a little more time, but by April 28, 2020, they made it official and have been inseparable ever since. As their relationship deepened, so did the realization that their lives and connections ran deeper than they ever knew. For example, when Doriyon was young, she and her mom lived in her aunt’s upstairs duplex apartment on the south side of Youngstown. They later discovered that this had been Olonzo’s dad’s first apartment, and Doriyon’s aunt fondly remembered Olonzo’s parents spending time there while they were dating. Since then, their journey has been defined by growth, partnership, and purpose. In 2021, they moved to Washington, D.C. together, stepping into a new chapter side by side. They have since traveled the world, creating memories across cities and countries while building a life rooted in love, faith, and support. Through every transition and milestone, they have remained a team.

From the very beginning of their relationship, both families gave their full stamp of approval. Olonzo’s mom welcomed Doriyon with open arms and quickly became an honorary member of the “Golden Girls” (the name Doriyon’s family lovingly uses for her grandmother and two great-aunts in Youngstown). Doriyon’s parents let the high school mishap slide and happily welcomed Olonzo into the fold. Lil Dave (Doriyon’s younger brother) and Andre (Olonzo’s older brother) also gave their stamps of approval and have created memories while visiting the couple in D.C. Doriyon and Olonzo are especially grateful that she and his dad were able to meet when she worked at the Yankee Kitchen, and they know he is watching over them from above. In 2024, Olonzo decided it was time to make things permanent and asked Doriyon’s parents and brother for their blessing. They all enthusiastically said yes. Later that year, during a family cruise with their parents and brothers to Catalina Island and Mexico, Olonzo’s mom helped keep Doriyon distracted while the rest of the family prepared for the proposal. At the top of the island, with a picture-perfect backdrop and surrounded by both of their families, Olonzo asked Doriyon to do life together forever—what she describes as the easiest “yes” ever—marking the beginning of their next chapter. Now, as they prepare to be married in Pasadena, Maryland in September 2026, they reflect on a journey shaped not by chance, but by God’s perfect timing. They feel incredibly blessed to have found one another and are grateful to share their love and this special season with each of you. “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” — Proverbs 16:9