𝓐 & 𝓙

It started about 10 years ago at a Halloween party. A Ukrainian boy noticed a Turkish/Bosnian girl from across the room, but both of us could have only dreamed that one day we would be standing here, getting ready to spend forever together. Although we didn't talk much that night, our paths would soon cross again. Months later, fate brought us back together at a bonfire. We were both too shy to say much, but the clear memory was when I noticed I was rambling on and on about space and the stars and he was the only one who was listening. The next day, he added me on Snapchat. From there, everything changed. We quickly became inseparable, spending countless hours together at the public library. We found happiness in the little things and used any excuse we could to see each other. Because of our different religious backgrounds, our journey wasn't without obstacles. For YEARS, we kept our relationship hidden from parts of my family, and there were moments when the future felt uncertain. Even then, we never stopped choosing each other. Those years taught us patience, resilience, and the kind of love that grows stronger through life's challenges. (As a result, I had premature gray hairs. Guess I deserved that lol). When we officially became boyfriend and girlfriend, our nights were filled with long paragraphs, sharing our dreams, our fears, and all the reasons we loved each other. Looking back, we were just two teenagers falling in love, without realizing we had already found the person we would spend the rest of our lives with. After high school, we attended different colleges, and distance became our next challenge. It wasn't always easy, but it reminded us that love isn't measured in miles. Eventually, we found our way back to the same campus, making it easier to build the life we had always imagined together. Along the way, we created memories we will treasure forever. From spontaneous road trips to New York, trying new foods together, and celebrating countless milestones, he pushed me outside my comfort zone in all the best ways, and together we discovered that life's greatest adventures are often the ones you never plan. After graduation, we promised to keep growing, not only as a couple, but as individuals. We became gym partners, biggest supporters, and constant reminders to always choose kindness, grace, and each other. One of the happiest milestones in our story came when I finally shared our relationship with my family. After years of waiting, we were finally able to embrace this chapter openly, and it felt like an entirely new beginning. When his career brought him from Chicago to Washington, D.C., distance briefly tested us once again. Before long, I packed up my life to join him, and together we built a home filled with love, laughter, and eventually, the cutest puppy we could have ever dreamed of. Looking back, it's hard to believe that ten years have passed since we met. Somehow, it feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. We have grown up together, celebrated life's highest highs, navigated through the lowest lows, and chosen each other every single day. Every challenge has strengthened our love, every adventure has become another favorite memory, and every chapter has brought us closer to the life we are building together. Now, as we prepare to say "I do," we are filled with gratitude for every twist, every surprise, and every moment that led us here. Here's to the next chapter and to a lifetime of adventures together!