Colton and Sheetal's paths before they met could not have been more different . He was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended school at the University of South Carolina and Stephen F Austin State University, before ultimately taking an offer at a CPA firm in Houston, TX. She hails from Arusha, Tanzania, and was assuredly destined for the UK or India before her father's last minute decision to take a chance on the United States. She attended Houston Community College and University of Houston and landed an internship at the same CPA firm in Houston where they first met.
Colton was a first-year associate and Sheetal was just starting her internship at the firm. Sheetal's first impression of Colton was of a silly guy who mistook someone at her table for the person he was supposed to meet, while his first impression of her was of a shy girl from Africa who was afraid to speak up when she needed help.
Over their time working together, their affection for each other grew (although it took a while for either to acknowledge it!). Colton saw in Sheetal a fiercely loyal, proud, and dedicated woman who would do anything for her family, including taking extreme measures to ensure that she saved enough to pay for her tuition while she finished school. Sheetal saw in Colton, an intelligent, helpful and funny man who was good at what he did and was willing to help those he cared for. Their shared dedication toward those they care for drew them closer and closer until, to no one's surprise but their own, Colton finally confessed his feelings to Sheetal.
Despite their different backgrounds, they quickly bonded over their shared passion for their work, dedication to their family and close friends, and ability to find humor in almost any situation. Colton knew very quickly that this was the woman that he wanted to marry, but due to their cultural differences, COVID, and all of the other trials and tribulations of the past few years, neither was certain if their dream would ultimately become reality. Finally, in 2022, they received their family's blessings and hope began to grow for their future together. Colton then proposed and they were officially engaged on April 13, 2023.
Her father's dream was always to see her get married in their hometown of Arusha, but unfortunately he passed before he was able to see that become a reality. To honor his memory, they decided to get married in Arusha.
It's been a long, winding journey to arrive at where we are, but we are so excited for the adventures yet to come and we cannot wait for you to join us as we mark the beginning of the rest of our lives together!