Our story began in Toronto, in the midst of the pandemic lockdown. We first met in the summer of 2020, outside of a local church, while in a big circle, practicing social distancing. Over the next year, we would run into each other at church and were even in the same small group, but our interactions were mostly brief, and over zoom. But unbeknownst to Rotimi at the time, Mahalet had taken a bit of a liking to him from afar. And “afar” got a lot farther, because just as they started to interact more in person, Rotimi left Canada to pursue his MBA at Wharton in Philadelphia.

Fast forward to 2 years later to the summer of 2023, shortly after Rotimi graduated, they had a fateful encounter at a friend’s games night. It was during some spirited banter that Mahalet playfully mentioned to Rotimi that “he didn’t really know her”... a comment that sparked an interest in doing just that. And though there was some hesitation on the prospect of a long-distance relationship, Rotimi just couldn't shake the feeling that there was something worth pursuing there. Rotimi decided to ask Mahalet out to dinner and we had our first date just days before he left for Boston to start his new job. And as they say… the rest is history.

Though much of our relationship has been long-distance, we have been intentional in seeing each other regularly, even if it is just for a weekend. And during this time we have had a few life changes with both of us moving to new cities, and Mahalet going back to school for nursing. Often our time together has been in Toronto, though our relationship has taken us through Barrie, Boston, Niagara, New Jersey, New York and now Buffalo making every visit and reunion special. Being long-distance has taught us to appreciate the simple joys—long conversations, Uber Eats and Amazon next-day delivery, quiet moments together, and the comfort of just being in each other’s presence. We love taking long walks through the city, watching movies, reading poetry, and praying side-by-side.

For our wedding, we’re celebrating not just our love but also the blending of two cultures! As a first-generation Nigerian-Ethiopian couple, it’s important to us that our heritage is shared with our friends and family on our wedding day! We’re thrilled to spend the day enjoying good food, sharing the fusion of our cultures with the people we love most, and, of course, stepping into this next chapter as husband and wife!