Pristine Chapel Lakeside

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Ryan and I first met in the summer of 2009 in Texas while out with a friend. We exchanged numbers and began to talk and text everyday. Ryan lived in Atlanta but told me he grew up in Florida and made it very clear he was a Florida boy at heart. I use to laugh at him because his Florida accent but he felt the same way about my country Texas accent. So one day Ryan asked was I afraid to fly I replied no and asked why. He then tells me he wants to fly me to Atlanta&nbsp;to visit him for the weekend. I was surprised but excited. We had been talking nonstop, and the idea of finally spending real time together sounded perfect. A few weeks later, I landed in Atlanta, nervous but eager. Ryan met me at the airport with that big smile I had already fallen for but in person, our connection was even stronger. We spent the weekend exploring the city, laughing about our accents, and realizing how natural it felt to be around each other. That trip was just the beginning. After that, we made visiting each other a regular thing. My last trip to Atlanta Ryan asked me is this really what I wanted I said yes, he then says leave all your things and just take your purse. I looked at him like he was crazy. I hesitated for a moment, trying to process what he was saying. Leave everything behind? Just take my purse? It sounded crazy, but I could see in his eyes that he was serious. “Trust me,” he said. “If this is really what you want, you don’t need to bring anything else. Your stuff will be here when you come back—if you come back.” I took a deep breath. I had already made up my mind about moving, but this was different. It was a test of commitment, of trust. After a moment, I nodded, grabbed my purse, and walked out that door with him. That was the moment I knew there was no turning back. So, with my dad’s encouragement and my heart set on being with Ryan, I started making plans to move. My mom still wasn’t thrilled, but I reassured her that I wasn’t making the decision lightly. The day I packed up and left Texas was emotional. I was excited about starting a new chapter, but leaving home wasn’t easy. Ryan was waiting for me in Atlanta, and the moment I saw him, I knew I had made the right choice. Settling into a new city had its challenges, but Ryan made it easier. He showed me around, introduced me to his friends, and made sure I felt at home. Every day, I fell more in love with him and the life we were building together. Times were tough in the beginning, but we made it work. Our one-bedroom apartment was small, but it was ours. I got a job at the hospital, and every paycheck was carefully planned—I saved as much as I could and sent money home for my daughter. As the months passed, we worked hard to build a stable life. Eventually, we were able to move into a two-bedroom apartment, knowing my daughter would soon be joining us in Atlanta. That moment felt like a milestone—not just for me, but for us as a family. We were creating something real, something lasting. From the moment they met, Ryan and De’Azmin were inseparable. He loved her like she was his own, and she adored him just as much. Watching them together warmed my heart—whether it was him helping with homework, playing games, or just making her laugh, their bond was undeniable. It meant everything to me to see how naturally he stepped into that role. He wasn’t just my partner; he was becoming family in every sense of the word. Life was everything I had hoped for. I finally had my own little family. We traveled together, made memories on family trips, spent holidays in Texas, and celebrated birthdays in Florida. Every moment felt special because we had each other. My family adored Ryan. My mom, who had once been unsure about me moving, now saw how happy I was. And my dad—he was over the moon. He finally had the son he never had before. It felt like everything had fallen into place, and for the first time in a long time, I was truly happy. With happiness comes challenges, and we weren’t an exception. Like any couple, we had our ups and downs, but over time, the bad days started to outweigh the good. No matter how much we tried, we couldn’t seem to get back to where we once were. In 2014, Ryan and I made the difficult decision to part ways. The love was still there, but something was missing. We both needed space, so we went our separate ways. Even though our relationship ended, our bond never fully broke. We remained friends, and Ryan never stopped being a part of De’Azmin’s life. He was there for her—school, summer track, cheerleading, everything. No matter what, he stayed in her corner, and for that, I was grateful. Fast forward to 2017, and out of nowhere, Ryan asked me if I wanted to grab something to eat with him. I was caught off guard and, honestly, a little hesitant, so I kindly declined. But then, I started noticing little changes. He was checking on me more often, calling frequently, sending good morning texts, and even having flowers delivered to my house. I was confused. We had been co-parenting and keeping things strictly friendly, so why now? When he asked me out again, I agreed—this time, I needed answers. That night, as we sat across from each other, he finally opened up. He told me how much he still loved me and De’Azmin, how proud he was of the woman I had become, and how much he missed his family. Hearing those words after all those years apart stirred something in me. I had moved on—or at least I thought I had—but in that moment, I realized a part of me still missed him too. My mind was all over the place—I was confused, sad, and even a little hurt. I didn’t know how to feel after hearing him say all of that. The truth was, I still loved him, but after everything we had been through, I wasn’t sure if going back was the right decision. I looked at him and said, “I just need some time to think.” Ryan just smiled, leaned back, and said, “Take all the time you need, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.” That smirk on his face told me everything I needed to know. Ryan and I took things slow this time, and it felt different—better. We had both grown, and it showed. De’Azmin was overjoyed that her daddy was back home, and seeing them together again made my heart full. Ryan had changed in ways I hadn’t expected. He showed a softer, more intentional side, and I loved that about him. He wasn’t just telling me he wanted his family back—he was showing me. For my 38th birthday, we decided to take a trip to Jamaica. We were excited, ready to relax and celebrate. As soon as we landed, we checked into our room, changed, and headed straight to the bar to soak it all in. As we were leaving the bar, we suddenly heard familiar voices. Before I could react, my brother-in-law Marquis and sister-in-law, Keria, popped out from behind a tree, grinning from ear to ear. We were so shocked I screamed, “I’m about to pee on myself!” Everyone burst out laughing, and I couldn’t believe what was happening. Ryan walked off with that same smirk, clearly surprised as I was. I hugged my sister-in-law and brother-in-law so tight, still trying to process it all. “This is crazy! Y’all really got me!” I said, shaking my head. The trip had already started off unforgettable, and at that moment, I knew this was going to be one of the best birthdays ever. Saturday was packed with adventure. We spent the day doing excursions in Ocho Rios, making the most of every moment. By the time we got back, we were exhausted but excited for our dinner reservations. We showered, got dressed, and headed downstairs, ready to enjoy the evening. On the way, Ryan said he wanted to make a quick stop at the beach. I wasn’t having it. “I just showered,” I complained. “I don’t want sand all over me.” But Ryan and Marquis kept insisting, practically dragging me toward the shore. As we walked along the beach, Marquis suddenly started playing Nothing in This World by Keke Wyatt and Avant—my absolute favorite song. At this point, I was tipsy, so I wasn’t thinking too much of it. I just started singing along, feeling the music. Ryan sang with me, smiling the whole time. Then, right in the middle of the song, he looked at me and said, “Oh, you do?” Before I could even react, he dropped down on one knee. Everything around me disappeared. My heart was racing, my mind was spinning, and all I could do was stand there in shock. I said yes! It was the happiest day of my life. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I looked at Ryan, the man who had been my love, my best friend, and now—my future husband. Everything we had been through led us to this moment. The years apart, the growth, the love that never faded—it all made this even more meaningful. Standing on that beach, under the Jamaican sky, I knew without a doubt that this was exactly where I was meant to be.

Delon & Ryan

Delon & Ryan

D&R

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception