Let the CLARKES fly!

Maurice In the summer of 2021, after accepting a job offer in Bermuda, I was visiting my mom, who reminded me that my aunt Betty had married a Bermudian. I then remembered that I had attended and performed at her wedding. We called her to share the news about my move. Though she was no longer living in Bermuda, she promised to ask her goddaughter, to help me settle in. Little did I know how much my life was about to change. Erin In October 2021, my Godmother shared that her best friend's son would be moving to Bermuda for work. This sparked a chain of events that would change my life. Despite being away in New York City for my friend's wedding, I found myself drawn to Maurice's messages, as he contacted me via WhatsApp, introducing himself. I responded that I was not in Bermuda at the moment but would return by the following weekend. Upon my return, I felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit, so I invited him to church, a decision that set the stage for our blossoming connection. MCEB From our first encounter, where our gaze spoke volumes to each other, to being asked if we were married upon ariving to church, it was clear that the sparks were flying. Since that memorable day, we have become inseparable, our bond evolving from strangers to friends, to a couple guided by faith and love. Our journey so far has mirrored each others path towards a deeper connection with God. We are grateful for our experiences so far, and the circumstances that have brought us together. We thank God every day for blessing us with each other.

It all began when my cousin, Erica aka EB2(squared), insisted on us going to Venice for her birthday. We had always talked about traveling together, but this time, she was adamant. While I was excited about the trip, I preferred other months due to Venice's floods and cold weather in April. However, Erica's determination won, citing November commitments with her mom. I submitted the time off request to my boss and she agreed, we joked that this would be my engagement trip. Little did I know, there was a twist awaiting. Although Maurice encouraged me to go to Italy to spend time with Erica, I dismissed the idea of a potential proposal since he did not have an Italian visa...or so I thought. Yet, as I embarked on my journey, spending a day in London before reaching Venezia, I never anticipated what lay ahead. Arriving in Venice, my sole focus was to make Erica's birthday memorable. We shared two days of laughter and cherished moments, until the unexpected unfolded on the third day. Amidst casual packing discussions, Erica casually mentioned a photoshoot, which caught me off guard. Despite the surprise, I embraced it, understanding it was her special day. As we met the photographer, I overheard Erica mention that she had never seen their portfolio. I thought it was strange to book a photographer without knowing their work, but I brushed it aside. A secluded island was suggested for the shoot, and as we were directed to pose facing the water, a surreal moment unfolded. With the focus on me, I initially felt perplexed as it was Erica's birthday shoot, until I turned around and saw my fiancé kneeling before me. In a daze, my mind raced, and I blurted out, "Is this it!!?" It took me a moment to process what was really happening. Overwhelmed with emotion, I found myself saying "yes" before I even reached Maurice. Tears flowed freely, breaking every fairytale scenario I had envisioned of me looking soft and angelic as I cried. After the proposal, I was on cloud nine. We celebrated with a gondola ride, cherishing the magic of the day. It's a memory etched in my heart forever, a testament to unexpected blessings and the beauty of love. To God be the Glory! *Stay tuned for the grooms version, to be shared at the wedding*