Our Love Story
How We met
His POV
It was Detty December 2022, and Manny was in Lagos for the first time in 11 years. He meets up with his friend who’s hosting a party at a popular beach club in Victoria Island. While there, he was introduced to a group of friends, one of whom struck up a conversation with him. She asking questions: Who are you? What do you do? Values? What are your intentions in life?
Manny thought it was friendly conversation.
It was, in fact, an interview.
Little did he know, he was being “carefully screened” . After deciding he passed the preliminary background check, she told him she knew someone he absolutely had to meet. There was only one catch, she lived all the way in Los Angeles. She promises to make an introduction and they continue on all hanging out. Manny invites her group of friends to a Christmas party his aunt is hosting the next day. While at the party, she brings up her friend in LA again. This time, she call’s Meraiah on facetime and makes an introduction on the spot.
Her POV
It’s Detty December 2022, and Meraiah is skipping out on all the detty festivities this year. She’s in her home in Los Angeles spending time with close friends and family this festive season. Her friend called from Nigeria saying she had met a guy at a beach club and wanted them to exchange numbers. Meraiah had already evicted herself from the dating scene at the time, so she took the idea with a very light heart.
The next day, her friend called again, this time on FaceTime. She gives Meraiah a heads up that she’s at a Christmas party with the guy from yesterday and really thinks they should talk. Before Meraiah could even process it, she pans the camera to Manny who’s standing next to her as he introduces himself.
Immediately after the call, her friend added them both to a group chat together, and what was supposed to be a simple introduction slowly became daily conversations, endless phone calls, and a connection neither of them saw coming.
OUR FIRST DATE
The month that followed was filled with endless phone calls. One that every long-distance relationship can relate to. The kind of conversations where you say goodnight, keep talking for another hour, say goodnight again, and somehow end up discussing childhood memories at 2 a.m. The more they talked, the more they realized they shared similar values, the same vision for life, and the same desire for a meaningful relationship.
Manny flew from Houston to Los Angeles to finally meet her in person. On February 11th 2023, he pulls up to her house in a red dodge challenger. She stepped out in a beautiful brown midi dress. He looked sharp. She looked stunning. The nerves lasted about five minutes, as they broke out laughing about her dislike Dodge cars lol. He opened the door for her leading into a lively Tulum inspired
restaurant, where the two spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing and completely loosing track of time.
The chemistry they built over the phone carried effortlessly into real life. His laugh captivated her, and her smile softened his heart. By the end of the first date, it was clear. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when…
IT’S OFFICIAL!!
May 20th 2023, Meraiah is in Houston visiting Manny. He planned a dinner date at Mastro’s Steakhouse, where he reserved the perfect table with a dreamy waterfall view. Conversations were flowing, emotions were high, and it was the perfect night for Manny to make his intentions clear.
Manny shared a heartfelt speech as he pulls out a customized promise ring 🥹. He expressed how deeply he wants to build a future with her and reassures her of his intentions. From the beginning he has been so intentional about their relationship, showing up fully present and pouring his all in. With happy tears flowing down Meraiah’s face (our bride is definitely a crier), he asked, “will you be my girlfriend?”
She said yes!!!
THE DREAM PROPOSAL
If you know Manny, you know planning vacations isn’t exactly his gift from God but this time, he showed up differently. He planned a road trip! A relaxing weekend getaway or so she thought…
Picture this, a stunning top-floor beach front condo in Rosarito, Mexico. Sunsets, sea breeze, amazing eats and romantic vibes. The couple had a chill first night in the city. The next day was dinner at a beachside restaurant and the couple got ready and headed out. Manny leads Meraiah into a beachfront castle with, rose petals, candle lights, and soft music playing. Her stomach drops, instinctively feeling the significance of what is about to happen. Manny drops to his knees, presents to Meraiah a burgundy ring box with her dream engagement ring (mind you, designed entirely by him). He tells her why the love he holds for her is unique and will stand the test of time.
And then he asked the question that changed everything: “Will You Marry Me?”