How it all began,

For Dominique and Richy, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight—but it sure was love at first *follow*. It all started on Instagram, where Dominique stumbled upon Richy’s parrot influencer page. As a self-proclaimed parrot enthusiast, she was hooked. She loved the quirky videos of his feathered friends, and without a second thought, hit the ‘follow’ button. Richy, always on the lookout for a fellow animal lover, noticed her enthusiasm and soon they began chatting.

At first, Dominique was far more interested in the parrots than in Richy himself—sorry, Richy! But their friendship quickly blossomed into something unique, though, as you can imagine, it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride. For the first two years, they shared a love-hate dynamic (mostly love, we promise), all while living on opposite sides of the country. Dominique was in Knoxville, TN, finishing her bachelor’s degree, while Richy was running his exotic animal enclosure business in Murrieta, California. And if you think that made for an easy friendship, well, you’ve never tried maintaining a relationship across time zones—especially when one of you might be more interested in tropical birds than romantic connections.

But fate had a way of nudging them together when Richy received an order for one of his products from a sanctuary in Tennessee. Since he knew Dominique lived there, he figured it was the perfect excuse to pay her a visit—and *thankfully* she agreed! After sealing the deal for his business, Richy and Dominique went on their very first date. It was a moment neither of them would ever forget, and from that day forward, they’ve been inseparable.

Fast forward five years, and a lot has changed. Richy made the leap to Florida, where he now manages his business while supporting Dominique as she finishes her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree. They’ve weathered distance, career changes, and the general ups and downs of life, but through it all, their bond has only deepened. Together, they’ve learned that love isn’t always easy—but it’s always worth it. With faith as their foundation, they’ve grown as individuals and as a couple, always believing that God has been guiding them every step of the way.

Dominique and Richy have always dreamed of this day—the day they can officially call each other husband and wife. But more than that, they’re each other’s best friend, confidant, and biggest supporter. And now, after five years of adventure, laughter, challenges, and so much joy, they are beyond excited to take this next step together.

They can’t wait to share this beautiful journey with you.