How we met
So - this is Femi kicking us off.
And I’ll start our story with a bit of a confession. When Courtnee and I technically first met in November of ‘22, I already had an idea of who she was. I’d seen her before (benefits of lots of mutual friends), but today was the day where I knew I’d muster up the courage to talk to this beautiful soul and woman that I had no clue would eventually become my wife.
Painting the scene. I’m at a tech conference in Texas when I spot Courtnee and our good friend Ron circling the floor. I decided to walk up to them and introduce myself to Courtnee, and to this day, Courtnee will say I came up to talk to Ron (Ron & I know what it really was...that’s a good friend).
We had a pleasant, group conversation before going our separate ways, and though I didn’t get her number in the moment, I just knew that I’d see her again during the conference -- nope, I was wrong. I spent the rest of the conference keeping an eye out, and sadly didn’t get a chance to reconnect, but Courtnee had made such an impression on me that I knew that the next time I ran into Ron, I’d ask him about her again. Fortunately, we reconnected on a dating app just a few months later in February. On Friday we set plans to see each other on Sunday, and scheduled what we thought would be a brief, fun date.
The day for our first date came at Bar Margot at the Four Seasons in midtown Atlanta. I make the drive, nervously distracting myself the whole ride there. I get out of the car and make my way upstairs, and realize that I’ve done what no man wants to do - I’ve forgotten my wallet. Y’all know Courtnee is a storyteller, and I did not want to become the man who asked this lovely lady to pay on our first date. I scramble to valet, luckily recover the wallet, and compose myself and make my way up the stairs to Courtnee.
What happened over the next 4 hours was both a blur and a lasting memory. We both agree that we each felt familiar. We talked about our families, our challenges, our hopes, and our love for our communities around us. We were in our own little world, not wanting to leave our booth or each other (except to excitedly message a friend or two). Eventually, I relented - driven only by the fear of an early wake up for a 6am flight the next morning. But by the end of the date, I was convinced I had met the most incredible woman I’d ever meet. My soul was both at peace and excited for what was to come.
“
The moment I saw him coming up the stairs, it felt like we’d already known each other for years. I knew then, I wanted to hold his hand. By the end of the date, I hoped to hold it forever.
- Courtnee
Courtnee tagging in -
Because I was living in Charlotte and Femi was still deciding on his move back to Atlanta at the time, we spent hours on the phone everyday, planning for my next short trip back to the A. I was due to come to town for 8 days in March, which would be enough time to see my girlfriends, work on a few creative projects and to go on a few dates with Femi. But unsurprisingly, when I got into town, he and I were immediately attached at the hip, hitting all the speakeasies and bookstores and coffee shops and restaurants we could think to find. What I loosely knew before traveling down was that Femi had a surprise trip planned for us on that Sunday, and I didn’t think to ask any follow up questions aside from what to wear. I was mostly just excited to spend quality time with this person who I was already so fond of.
On Sunday morning, he picks me up with coffee, I take a picture of his driver’s license to send to my mama (she don’t play) and we make our way to North Georgia. We’re an hour up the road before I start to think about where we could be headed. Then I thought, wow, I’m pretty easy to kidnap. But the whole drive, we laughed and exchanged stories about our childhood, commenting from time to time about the scenery. When we arrive in Dahlonega (just a stone’s throw away from our now wedding venue BTW) , it’s a little balmy and grey out, but still it’s a beautiful day for a vineyard tour - I thought. We pull into a gravel lot and I see alpacas and cows and horses on the left. I finally realize that we’re at an animal sanctuary.
I get excited as the curious ostrichs are roaming freely with their beady little eyes and giant wingspan. We drive just a distance further onto the clay and see a booth that reads “Otter Experience”. My brain can’t fully process what’s happening yet but anybody who’s met me in the last 5 years could tell you that otters are my favorite little animal. The way they float on their backs and use their bellies as a plate is so precious. Did you know a group of otters holding hands is called a bevy? Anyway, I’m just excited to do the petting zoo thing, and then I realize that HE brought ME here for the OTTERS! I can’t imagine what my face must have looked like to Femi but inside, my jaw was on the ground. You mean I get to see the otters up close?!? - Girl, no, you get to HOLD the otters. For the next hour, we got to interact closely with these furry little creatures I love so much. And when the otter experience was over, he whisked me to the nearby Wolf Mountain Vineyards (which we highly recommend) for a champagne brunch overlooking the vines and a long, slightly rainy walk around the property to take in the views. To be seen so clearly in the very early days of our courtship meant the world - it was the thoughtfulness that told me that I would experience more than safety and peace of mind with Femi - but playful, inner-child honoring joy. On the way back home - I knew I never wanted to be away from him again.
And in a way - that wish came true. My 8-day trip to Atlanta extended to 22 days - y’all remember when jobs used to be fully remote LOL? During that extra time, I met Femi’s parents over several dinners, we met each other’s friends and we started to build a little community for our new relationship. When I finally went back home to Charlotte - Femi came up shortly after and stayed for another two weeks. We flip-flopped back and forth between Charlotte and our hometown of Atlanta for the next several months. And after a while, as we grew in our love, we committed to moving to our home in Atlanta in August 2023.
And then what, y’all?
In the months after settling in Atlanta, we devoted ourselves to building our community – hosting gatherings, reconnecting with friends and family, and deepening our connection with each other. Despite our social nature, when it came time for the proposal, what felt most authentic wasn't a grand public gesture, but something intimate and thoughtfully planned. In March of last year, while one of us was enjoying an unsuspecting girls' night out, the other transformed our home – the space we had lovingly built together. The proposal that unfolded was perfectly us: private, emotional and deeply meaningful.
In that quiet moment in the home we created together, we committed to forever with our best friend. Now, as we prepare to celebrate our wedding day in the beautiful North Georgia mountains where we first fell in love, we're grateful for that chance meeting that set everything in motion, and excited to share this very special place with everyone we love.