Like many millennials these days, our story began with a swipe. Though it’s now gone the way of Cassette Tapes or MySpace - in the summer of 2016 OKCupid (OKC) was the place to be if you were young and single. Unlike the other dating apps, OKC had hundreds of questions users had to answer - making it effectively a large personality test instead of the stereotypical snap judgements and swiping. Because of that, the two were able to quickly connect over shared values and interest from the importance they both place on family to the fine artistry and culinary excellence of the Gordon Ramsay cinematic universe.

When they first connected, Brittany was experiencing her freshman year of adulthood - she’d just started a new job, had signed a lease on her first “big girl” apartment, and was living with one of her best friends. Darius was similarly facing new experiences. He had recently moved to the city after having lived his entire life in smaller towns - and though not as stereotypically outgoing as Brittany - was looking for a fresh start and to branch out and grow burgeoning community in Houston.

Though Brittany had anticipated their compatibility given their conversations and how thoughtful Darius was in answering the app’s various questions, she was still a bit wary, having watched one too many episodes of Catfish and First 48. So as any pragmatic woman would, she wanted to ensure her potential new beau was kind, understanding, and didn’t have any tricks up his sleeve. On the day of their first date, at the very time the date was supposed to start, she changed their date to a different location to - in her words - “ensure she wasn’t woman napped”. Darius, adeptly proved himself to be both flexible to her many specifications and trustworthy in the face of changing circumstances then and ever since.

Full of excitement at their growing connection, they quickly cemented their relationship by launching their relationship on social media, and deleting all the dating apps from their phones within a few weeks.

Brittany quickly learned to love the ways Darius’ demeanor compliments her own - pushing her to focus on the emotional in addition to logical aspects of decision making. The ways in which Darius complimented Brittany’s fast-paced personality with more balance was mirrored in the support Brittany provided Darius. Her ability to see more in others than they see in themselves helped him gain confidence to achieve more professionally and personally than he’d ever imagined. Her push for him to see himself as the leader she always knew him to be combined with his pull to have her slow down, be present, and admire the beauty life has to offer shows the balance they have found together. And why they are exactly what the other needs.

It is through that commitment to being the yin to their partner’s yang that Brittany and Darius have been able to overcome all of life’s challenges in the over seven years that they’ve been together - each one growing their faith in and depth of love for one another. Through lockdowns and hurricanes, personal and familial losses, layoffs and career shifts, injuries and illnesses, they have supported each other - and come out the other side stronger.

Now they are excited to embark on one of the biggest and most exciting journeys they’ve faced thus far - the melding of two lives into one. They can’t wait to have you there to celebrate with them as they take this next step…