We’re Getting Married!

In the crisp October air of 2015, two college students unknowingly began a love story that would span years, cities, and countless memories. We met at Fresno City College young, full of ambition, and just beginning to write the first chapter of a lifelong friendship. At just 18 and 19, we walked to class together, shared music during our breaks, laughed nonstop, and dreamed about what our futures might hold. Our connection was instant, but like any real bond, it was tested early. Life had other plans. In 2017, Meliah moved to Las Vegas to grow her career and find her independence, while Lavell stayed behind to focus on finishing school. Our communication faded, and for two years, we lost touch. (Yes, we even survived the infamous "block list.") But God always has a way of bringing the right people back together. In 2019, after many heartfelt talks with God and personal growth on both sides, a simple message on Snapchat reopened a door that had never really closed. Just like that, we picked up right where we left off. Meliah was thriving in her career, and Lavell was pursuing his bachelor’s at Sacramento State. We visited each other, went to concerts, shared life updates, and spent hours talking sometimes until the sun came up. It became clear this wasn’t just a friendship. This was something much more. Even people we dated noticed how inseparable we were. In 2020, everything changed. The pandemic hit. Meliah was furloughed, Lavell was finishing school online, and we both returned home to Fresno. For the first time in years, we had time and space to simply be around each other. We walked through Woodward Park, sat in the car for hours just talking, and slowly realized: we weren’t just best friends anymore. We were soulmates. Our families had known it all along Meliah’s parents adored Lavell, and Lavell’s parents adored Meliah. They were just waiting for us to catch up. Later that year, Lavell began flying to Las Vegas regularly to visit Meliah. Then came a turning point. In August, while planning a trip with friends, Meliah got COVID and encouraged everyone to cancel. Lavell tested positive too. Instead of waiting it out, he made the choice to drive nine hours in a barely-working car, sick and exhausted, just to take care of her. That moment his love, his selflessness changed everything. We’ve been inseparable ever since. In 2021, Lavell asked Meliah’s dad for his blessing to date officially, and on December 6th, he asked her to go steady. With hope in her heart, Meliah left behind the bright lights of Vegas and moved to Sacramento, where we built a life together adjusting, growing, and learning side by side. That journey soon included our sweet mini poodle, Bentley Chanel Wright, who instantly made our little family feel complete. Then in June 2024, Lavell got down on one knee and asked the most important question of his life. Through tears, laughter, and a very clear yes, we knew this was the start of our forever. Now, on October 5th, 2025, we’re not just celebrating a wedding. We’re celebrating ten years since our paths first crossed. A decade of friendship, growth, second chances, faith, and love. Today, surrounded by the people who’ve loved and supported us along the way, we honor a bond that never gave up. Our story isn’t just about how we met. It’s about how we always found our way back to each other and how we’re walking forward now, hand in hand, as husband and wife.