It is easy to be infatuated with someone when they are at their best, but will you stay true when they are in distress? Daniel has always been there for Hannah when she needed him the most.
They were introduced through a mutual friend when Hannah moved to Baton-Rouge, LA for grad school in 2016. While they bonded over their shared experiences as students of African descent, it was an illness that solidified their love connection. Hannah shares, “A few months after we met, I become seriously ill. That was the turning point in our friendship. He took care of me just like my mother would, and for the first time, I did not miss my mom as much. That was the moment I fell in love with him. We haven’t been apart since.”
Their bond continued to grow stronger as they supported each other through the ups and downs of graduate school. Daniel soon realized he was ready to ask Hannah to be his “best friend forever,” and pulled off a cute impromptu proposal that involved searching for a “missing gift.”
For their engagement shoot, they wanted to keep the feel classy and timeless. Hannah says, “The theme of our shoot was a ‘classic love story.’ We wanted the shoot to symbolize elegance, royalty, and to manifest the purity of love.” Read more about their love story, charming proposal, and future plans below.
- Couple: Hannah & Daniel
- Occupations: Hannah: Nurse. BSN, RN, and Doctor of Nurse Practice Student at Emory University; Daniel: Mechanical Engineer
- Wedding date: Initial wedding date is July 2nd, 2020 but now postponed to November 25th 2020 due to COVID-19
- Wedding location: Ashton Gardens, Atlanta, GA
How did you meet?
Daniel and I were introduced through a mutual friend when I moved to Baton-Rouge, Louisiana, for graduate school in 2016. He was introduced to me as a fellow African that could assist me if I needed it. I did not know anyone in Louisiana, so I was happy to be connected to someone that could be of help. When we met, I had no inclination that he would become my husband. He quickly became “my person,” and they say when you know, you know. Well, I did not know. I tried to fight my feelings for him in the beginning up until I fell sick.
Until I met him, my mother was the only person that could make me feel better whenever I fell ill. I sound like a big baby, but she was the only person that could bring me comfort in those times. A few months after we met, I become seriously ill, and that was the turning point in our friendship. He took care of me just like my mother would, and for the first time, I did not miss my mom as much. That was the moment I fell in love with him. We haven’t been apart since.
Tell us your proposal story.
I had planned to propose to Hannah at a private romantic dinner filled with flowers and candles. However, it did not work that way because I was too nervous. After a nice bath, we were both in our bathrobes getting ready for our date, and here I was a complete wreck. I decided I could not hide this secret anymore. I could not go on another minute without asking her to be my best friend forever.
I asked her to help me look for a “gift” I bought her. I was in the middle of relocating to Atlanta to be with her; therefore, my room was a bit messy. I used the messy room as an excuse to convince her of why I could not remember where I placed the gift. Here she was frantically opening boxes and looking for the “gift.” While she was busy searching, I located the ring box I had hidden and got on one knee. It took her approximately ten minutes to realize that I was on one knee. When she finally turned around, the rest was history.
Describe your engagement session. Did you have a theme?
The theme of our shoot is a classic love story. We wanted the shoot to symbolize elegance, royalty, and to manifest the purity of love. Our wedding Planner Sola Oshikanlu spent over three hours with the photographer to discuss inspirational pictures and the theme of the shoot. It was a two-day shoot and was conducted at two different locations. The first location was at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Buckhead with gold elevators and chandeliers that elevated the ambiance. The second shoot took place in a Jewish synagogue at The Temple in Atlanta. It is a serene place with beautiful artwork, and it’s filled with historical artifacts. It was a show- stopper and attracted a lot of attention. The shoot was professional, and Atta and his team made us feel extremely comfortable.
What did you do on your first date?
On our first date, Daniel baked cupcakes and asked me to meet him after work at downtown Baton-Rouge. He took me on a picnic at the park where we ate burnt cupcakes that he made. Tell me, how can anyone burn cupcakes? It was romantic, simple, and thoughtful. It was everything and more.
What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?
Our favorite thing to do as a couple is to travel to new and exciting places to create lasting memories. We also love to play an African game called “Ludo” and “Owari” and be competitive. He hates it when he losses which he always does. “Who is the Captain now?”
How has wedding planning been so far?
When it comes to our wedding planning, I can’t take any credit. My wedding planner, Shollah from Uniqueeventsbyshollah has been my lifeline from the beginning. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been stressed and overwhelmed, but she has been a shining light through this darkness. Not only is she exceptional at wedding planning, but she also offers emotional support at any-time free of charge. Our wedding date had to be postponed from July 2nd, 2020 to November 25th, 2020. The date is appropriate as it falls one day before the Thanksgiving holiday. We are grateful to God for making it through this pandemic and the ongoing civil rights issues of the ‘Black Lives Matter” movement. In these uncertain times, we are praying for a COVID-free season in November and we look forward to our special day.
Tell us what you’re looking forward to most on the wedding day.
I am looking forward to displaying my custom wedding dress by Bridal by Nona. We are looking forward to celebrating with our loved ones and dancing all night long. We also look forward to sharing our vows and officially being husband and wife. “Best friends for life.”
Vendors
- Photographer: Atta Junior- Shots by Atta Junior
- Wedding Planner: Sola Oshikanlu Unique Events by Shollah
- White Polka Dot Skirt: Shopoyemwen
- Makeup Artist 1: Sofowora Tomilola
- Makeup Artist 2: Lauren Sinclair- The Look By Lahluvie
- Hair Stylist: Joyce Acker
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