D & A

The story begins with a boy from Florida and a girl from North Carolina—neither of them looking for love, more so just looking for a good time. They were both invited, at the last minute, to board a cruise ship with a friend. The night was young and the music loud in the Carnival Sunrise nightclub. That’s when everything changed. Dorian: “We met on Carnival Cruise Lines. Crazy enough, neither of us were even supposed to be on the ship. My half-sister messaged me about a month or so before the trip, letting me know she had a last-minute cancellation—and I was never one to turn down a trip. At the time, my life was in a place where I felt love wasn’t something in my foreseeable future. The first day on the ship was just what you’d expect, but the second day… that’s the day my life completely flipped. I had to look at her three times to make sure I wasn't crazy, but seeing Aliah in that club raised questions I’d never asked before. ‘Did I remember to get that one wrinkle out of my shirt?’ ‘Do I have anything in my teeth?’ And the biggest question of them all—‘Am I ready for love?’ Despite all these questions, her smile shined so bright on me that the stars in the sky lost a little glow. I knew from the first hello that this woman was the one I needed in my life—the one I wanted to support, protect, and encourage for the rest of my days. Ever since that day, we’ve been inseparable, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Aliah: “In the spring of 2023, I was invited by my friend Shi to go on a cruise after someone canceled last minute. What I didn’t know was that this spontaneous trip would change my life forever. On the night of May 22, 2023, we went onto the boat as strangers and came off in love from the moment we saw each other in the club that night. The moment our eyes met again—again & again—we both felt a spark we couldn’t explain and ended up talking for hours…4 a.m. 😅 We realized very quickly that what we found was something truly special. From that night on, it was clear God had placed us both on that cruise for a reason. We became each other’s best friends first and fell in love along the way. We have experienced the highs & lows together, yet there is no other person we would want to go through situations or experiences with than each other. Our love for each other continues to grow every day, and we both challenge each other to be our best selves because we know we are capable of accomplishing anything we set our minds to. We always support each other in anything we decide to take on & always communicate when we need to discuss an issue.” From that unforgettable night in the club, Dorian and Aliah have been inseparable. A week after the cruise, Dorian bought a plane ticket to visit Aliah in North Carolina. Even though the first flight was missed, he still made it—because nothing was going to stop him from seeing her again. They tried new things, laughed endlessly, explored new places, and even got a puppy. Then, one fateful day, the boy decided to become a man. He realized that to navigate this crazy world, he needed a woman strong, radiant, and God-sent—and thanks to the Lord and that smelly Carnival cruise… he found the woman God intended for him. Every day since that cruise has been a reminder that when God writes your love story, it’s always right on time.