Our love story began in the most modern way—on Hinge. I matched with Ifeanyi late November last year, and from the very first conversation, everything just clicked. He was gentle, sweet, kind, and so easy to talk to. Our chats felt like they could go on forever, and before long, we decided it was time to meet in person. Since I was living in London and he in Ottawa, we chose to meet halfway in Toronto. That first meeting was nothing short of magical. We bonded over our mutual love for food, sharing laughs, stories, and a connection that felt effortless. Ifeanyi had the gentlest vibe; he made me feel safe, comfortable, and completely at ease. He was, and still is, the best person I’ve ever met. After that day, we kept in touch, but it wasn’t until April that we officially began dating. I had told him after our first date that there were a few conditions I needed met before I was ready to commit (and honestly, I didn’t think he’d follow through). But to my surprise, he not only met every single one of them, but he also went above and beyond. He embraced my interests, made them his own, and loved them—though I can’t quite say the same for his love of football! By the time we started dating, I knew deep down that we were heading in a forever direction. I haven’t looked back since, and every day with Ifeanyi feels like the best kind of beginning.

I knew she was the one because we shared the same values, cultural connection, communicated openly, and genuinely enjoyed spending time together. We weren’t perfect, but we worked well as a team, and I knew that’s what I wanted for life. Lotanna (Sugar 😘) is someone whose imperfections I cherish as much as I admire her strength, and she has continually shown me kindness, empathy, understanding, and unwavering support, traits that are dear to me. There was this moment when I looked at her 20mins into our first date on December 16th, 2023, and it hit me—I couldn’t imagine my life without her. It wasn’t one big thing, but a million perfect little ones that added up to ‘she’s the one’.

Our proposal story is a bit unconventional, but it’s uniquely ours. The truth is, from the moment I agreed to date Ifeanyi, I already knew I was saying yes to marrying him. He was clear about his intentions from the very beginning, and his confidence in us made it easy to envision a forever together. Early in our relationship, Ifeanyi asked me one simple question: would I prefer a public proposal or something private? Without hesitation, I told him I wanted something intimate. That was the end of the conversation—or so I thought. Fast-forward a few months, after I’d met his wonderful parents and knew for certain he was “the one,” I decided to gently steer the proposal planning in my own way. I told him exactly the kind of ring I wanted and even guided him to the vendor and design that had captured my heart. After that, it was all in his hands to surprise me—and surprise me, he did. It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was fully immersed in one of my favorite TV shows (a sacred time for me, as anyone who knows me can attest). Interrupting me during a show is a big no-no, and I was already preparing to tell him off when he walked directly in front of the screen, blocking my view. Before I could say a word, Ifeanyi dropped to one knee. In that moment, the annoyance melted away, replaced with pure joy as he asked me to marry him. Saying yes was the easiest decision of my life.