We are honored to celebrate our special day with you!

I excitedly swiped right on Tinder, never guessing it would lead me to my future husband! After weeks of talking nonstop, Matthew and I met for our first date at Horse Thief Hallow, a rustic restaurant and brewery (thanks Darian and Jess for the excellent recc!). I couldn't believe how handsome and stylish he was. The conversations and fun continued so effortlessly, I didn't want the date to end. And it technically didn't. Here we are engaged and anticipating our forever union. A few things about us. Art, love, and partnership have aptly been in our relationship from the very beginning. On our first date, I noticed paintings on display at the brewery and encouraged Matthew to get exhibited there. He shared his contact info with the hostess, and a few months later, he had several art pieces on display. The next month, an art piece sold! This just speaks to Matthew’s go-getter attitude and incredible talent. He would go on to have many more exhibitions both at Horse Thief Hallow and around the larger Chicago area, including his most recent: his second exhibition at The Museum of Science and Industry's Black Creativity Juried Exhibit. I proofread his art labels for grammar, and he edits my writing for style. We have improved each other’s writing and learned so much from each other both as writers and as partners. Matthew has always been supportive of my dreams as I've transitioned out of the classroom and into academic advising and graduate school (third time’s a charm) for counseling, just as I’ve supported his art career. I have been incredibly honored to be the muse of some of Matthew's best (not biased at all) paintings and to be on this journey of love with him. I can't wait to see all the great things in store for our future together!

I sent Ruth a superlike on Tinder for a better chance of catching her attention. Lucky we matched, a great conversation led to setting up our first date. Seeing Ruth for the first time, I was struck by her beautiful eyes and smile. It was hard to get a read on how she felt. From my perspective she was uninterested. I was starting to wonder if my efforts were failing to impress her. The ice was soon broken and became the start of our nurturing love. We shared laughter and stimulating conversation over dinner, not wanting the night to end. That night would be one of many beautiful firsts of our relationship. Ruth is caring, encouraging, and thoughtful of others' feelings. She has a great heart which was evident to me from the beginning and one of the things I love most about her. She has been supportive of my creative endeavors from the start. Ruth would encourage me, on our first date, to hang my work on the walls of the restaurant we were sitting. This led to my first show since moving back to America from Amsterdam. I would travel between Indiana and Chicago to see her in the following year, and in this time meet her friends and family. I had not had much exposure to Eritrean culture before meeting Ruth. The pride she holds for her heritage is admirable and has helped to educate me about her upbringing and loved ones. There is much more that I look forward to learning about Ruth in our journey. Through favor from the universe looking down on us and inside of us, Ruth has become my closest friend, fiance, and soon-to-be wife!