Our Love Story

Over 20 Years in the Making

It all began in 1996, during freshman year at CHSAS High School. Carlos walked into Ms. Dalton’s English class, and at that very moment, Deartra knew he was the one. But fate had a sense of humor — a quick schedule change meant it was the first and last class they'd share until senior year. For the next two and a half years, they flirted from afar, exchanging glances, smiles, and teen-sized butterflies.

Then came April 9, 1999 — the night everything changed. During a basketball game, they finally spoke... and shared their very first kiss in front of the entire school. As Carlos walked Deartra to her car afterward, the song "Kiss Me" played on the radio — and yes, they kissed again, one last time before heading home that weekend.

In true Carlos fashion, he was grounded that weekend (thanks, Millie!), and when Deartra called, she was met with a firm “No!” But don’t worry — Millie ended up loving her.

That summer, in July of 1999, they made it official. They went to prom together, worked side by side at Skate on State, and became inseparable. For nearly a decade, their love blossomed — until life took them in different directions in 2007.

They parted ways, each building their own path — Carlos became a proud employee at Ford Motor Co., and Deartra opened a dance studio. Though separated, they never truly let go of each other. Everyone who knew them knew they had no business being apart — but youth has its way of making things complicated.

Fast forward to March 2017 — Deartra reconnected with Millie and mentioned she still thought about Carlos. True to form, Millie snapped a picture of the two of them and sent it straight to him. It was the spark that reopened the lines of communication after ten years of silence.

Carlos, of course, played it cool — texting here and there. But in December 2017, Deartra called and said, “We have unfinished business.” She needed closure — or maybe something more. That phone call changed everything. Overwhelmed with emotion, she sat in her car smiling... and got rear-ended! But she calls it the happiest accident of her life.

On December 27, 2017, they saw each other again for the first time in a decade. Standing outside Carlos’s home, in the snow, they hugged and cried for ten full minutes — one for every year apart. They talked for hours (which turned into three days), shared Chinese food, rang in the New Year together, and have spent every New Year’s Eve together since.

They chose to take things slow, getting to know each other again — but this time, as adults. Soon after, Deartra met Carlos’s daughters and began building not just a relationship with him, but a bond with them as well.

By 2019, they moved in together and started dreaming about the future. When the world shut down in 2020, they used that time to grow closer — finding peace, healing, and adventure in the stillness.

Then came the most exciting chapter yet. In 2021, they learned they were expecting their first child together, and in January 2022, they welcomed a beautiful baby girl. That December, during a family trip to Florida, Carlos got down on one knee and proposed on the stunning shores of Siesta Key — the same beach where they’ll say "I do."

They began planning their wedding for December 2024, but life had another surprise: another baby! Their son was born in April 2024, and though plans shifted, their love only grew stronger.

Now a family of six, they are ready to celebrate the incredible journey that brought them here. Their love story is one filled with destiny, detours, second chances, and undeniable love.

This wedding is more than just a celebration of marriage — it's a tribute to every twist, turn, and triumph in their story. If you're reading this, it means you’ve been part of that journey. So get ready — this party is over 20 years in the making!

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