We're Getting Married!

You remember when your parents told you not to meet people from the internet? Weeeellllll, maybe you should....... after a few conversations of course! What do you do when the bars, clubs, and even the grocery stores don't work? Rob: Free dating apps! I went online, and since this was my first foray into the online dating scene, I wasn't paying for anything. Facebook Dating was my last resort, and on my profile, I was specific: I was looking for someone INCREDIBLE! After countless swipes left on what I was sure was another failed experiment, I found her! This beautiful woman is someone I just had to have. She's fine, y'all know that already, but I'm talking I wasn't sure she was even real because Facebook dating wasn't it, AT ALL! Here she was- "THE ONE." I had to shoot my shot. Ashley: "Hey, I am INCREDIBLE!" was my response to his swipe right, you know with MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY! We got to talking, and it was the vibes for me. We communicated back and forth for a while before deciding to meet to catch a movie near me. He didn't come dressed to impress lol (Rob: I thought I was killing 'em!) but I gave him a chance anyway. After the movie, we spent countless hours thru the night talking about our love and admiration for music and everything in between.

Bowling, movie nights, dancing in the moonlight, game nights, and many fun nights with friends and family, I asked Ashley to be my girlfriend at Enchant Christmas village in DC on December 10, 2022 (Ashley: He had to ask twice because I wanted to hear my full name lol). Although we've had many memorable date nights and celebrated birthdays in an intimate setting, we wanted to say our favorite had to be the paint and sip night. As soon as we got there, we knew we were gonna have a ball!! We sat side by side, brushes in hand, sipping our wine and laughing, and our paint night became an unforgettable experience. The atmosphere was lively, with pleasant music playing in the background and the sounds of brushes stroking the canvas filling the air. We talked and joked, enjoying each other’s company as we brought our artistic visions to life. Our paintings may not have been like Picasso's, but they were uniquely ours, reflecting our crazy personalities and styles. We admired each other’s creations, playfully teasing and offering words of encouragement. The evening was filled with laughter, creativity, and quality time together. As we left the studio, we couldn’t stop talking about our experience. It was our first time doing this, and it was incredibly fun! The paint night was more than just an enjoyable date – it was an opportunity for us to bond, be creative, and create lasting memories together.

Planning to propose to your forever person is not for the weak. I went through TONS of steps to make it all work. First, there was ring shopping and let me tell you! I'm probably a certified gemologist by now! After finding the perfect ring for my queen, I realized that finding a location for a romantic setting while ensuring our closest family and friends could witness this moment added even more pressure. I put some miles on the car, going back and forth to locations. Then, secretly connecting with Ashley's mom, whom I had never spoken to wasn't as frightened as I thought. I practiced that call for days before asking for Ms. Sharon's blessing. Shoutout to Exie for making it all happen. Once I had the ring, the venue, the blessing, and all of our friends lined up, all that was left was the actual day. After months of planning, running around, and being a little sneaky (cause you can't get anything past Ashley), I asked Ashley (Rob: only once this time, the cool points were out the window) if she would do me the honor of being my wife and she said yes! Thanks to everyone who helped from the ring, to the venue, to coordinating getting Ashley out of the house and even sitting with me while I panicked minutes before. We are excited to invite you to help us write the next chapter in this story by attending our wedding. #TurnHER2Compton #ForTheRecord Where words fail, music speaks.” ― Hans Christian Andersen