It all started in 2022, when fate brought us together through an online dating app. After four months of messages, laughs, and getting to know each other, we finally decided to meet in person. But the first date didn’t go quite the way we’d imagined. Yemi had just moved to Plymouth and didn’t know the city well, while Shannon, a bit too nervous to suggest anywhere, let the first cafe they came across be the one they walked into. It wasn’t fancy, not the kind of place you’d expect for a first date, but in the moment, none of that mattered The second our eyes met, it felt like everything clicked into place. Yemi was instantly enchanted by Shannon he always says it was her blue eyes that captivated him, but it was more than that. It was the warmth in her smile, the way she made him feel like he was exactly where he was supposed to be. He could just tell that this was someone special, someone he’d been waiting for. For Shannon, it was the same. There was an undeniable feeling of safety, of being home, even though they’d just met. It felt like they had known each other a lifetime as if they had always been meant to find each other. Shannon, being her usual chatterbox self, barely let Yemi get a word in edgewise! But it didn’t matter. The conversation flowed so easily, and every moment felt more natural than the last. By the end of the date, we both knew that something extraordinary had just begun. It wasn’t about the cafe or anything else around us. It was the connection, the feeling that we had found something rare, something real.

Our first holiday together felt like another step into something we already knew was special. As a family trip, Shannon and Yemi travelled to Orlando, Florida with Shannon’s parents a place that has always meant so much to her. She couldn’t wait to share it with Yemi, even if it took a little persuading at first. When we landed in America, Yemi was completely overwhelmed by the size of everything, the excitement, and the fact that he was really there. Our very first stop was Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Shannon quietly hoped he would see the magic the way she always had. It didn’t take long at all. Very quickly, Orlando worked its charm, and Yemi fell in love with Shannon’s favourite place too. We explored all the Disney parks, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, and even NASA which quickly became Yemi’s favourite stop of the whole trip. We rode rollercoasters (well, Yemi did while Shannon held the bags), swam with dolphins and stingrays, and even saw a rocket waiting on its launch pad. Just like our first date, it wasn’t really about where we were it was about how we felt. Safe, happy, and completely at home together. That holiday showed us how beautiful life could be when shared, and Orlando will forever hold a special place in our hearts for the memories we made side by side

Our engagement came during one of the most exciting chapters of our lives. We had just bought our first house together and were full of excitement, pride, and gratitude for the life we were building. After collecting our keys, just two days later we found ourselves raising a glass in Morocco, celebrating everything we had created together. This was our first holiday with just the two of us and one we will never forget. Travelling to Morocco was a first for both of us, and while we were a little apprehensive and unsure of what to expect, it quickly turned into something truly magical. We watched the sunrise from a hot air balloon drifting over the desert a bucket-list moment for us both. We hiked up a mountain to reach a waterfall (much to Shannon’s dismay and yes, she may have moaned the whole way up), but she did it knowing how much Yemi would love it. We wandered botanical gardens, swam, drank cocktails by the pool, and made new friends along the way. Our evenings were filled with incredible food, dancers, singers, and acrobats every day felt like an adventure. One evening, Yemi told Shannon to wear a white dress, explaining they were going to the desert for dinner. Naturally, this made Shannon a little suspicious, but she wasn’t quite sure. As they arrived at the resort, Shannon noticed how unusually quiet it was no other guests in sight. She even asked Yemi why the place seemed completely empty, unaware that he had secretly rented out the entire resort for the evening. The drive was long about an hour and Yemi was unusually quiet, which only added to the mystery. When we arrived, we were greeted and asked to walk up a large hill. At the top was the most breathtaking view a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the desert. Suddenly, Shannon found herself struggling to breathe and announced, to Yemi’s complete panic, that she thought she was having an asthma attack. As she tried to lie down, Yemi kept gently insisting she sit up, which only added to her confusion. Once Shannon had calmed down, we stood and walked forward together. That’s when she saw it a huge “Marry Me?” sign, lit up in flames. Unsure whether she was even meant to look, it wasn’t until Yemi softly asked, “Can you see?” that everything became clear. In that moment, Yemi asked Shannon to marry him. She screamed “yes” without hesitation overwhelmed, emotional, and completely certain. Behind them stood two camels (which we later got to ride), and all around us was the quiet stillness of the desert. It felt like it was just the two of us in the world, and nothing else mattered. Later, Shannon discovered that Yemi had been so insistent she stayed sitting up because a photographer was secretly capturing the moment and the reason he’d been so quiet all evening was simply nerves. After saying yes, we sat hand in hand, calling our loved ones and soaking in the moment. We then walked down to a beautiful five-course meal, though Shannon was far too excited and overwhelmed to eat much the local stray cats were very grateful. When we returned to the hotel, the friends we’d made during the trip were waiting for us in the lobby, waving and celebrating, Yemi had let them in on the secret earlier that day. There were hugs, laughter, and so much love. It was the perfect ending to the most perfect day and the beginning of our forever.