You know how they say, 'Chances are, you’ve already met your soulmate'? Well, that was certainly the case for Nate and Ayanna. As a freshman at UCLA, Ayanna often found herself at the same campus events as Nate, a senior at the time—completely unaware that their lives were already being woven together. As a campus photographer, she even unknowingly captured a few photos of him (see gallery for proof!), never realizing she was documenting the man who would one day become the love of her life. They passively followed each other on Instagram, exchanged the occasional smile and wave, but it would be years before they truly saw what had been there all along. In 2019, fate stepped in once again when Nate reached out to Ayanna on Instagram, complimenting her recent photography work. They quickly bonded over their shared love of the art form, as Nate was just beginning to explore it himself. After months of exchanging texts and phone calls, they decided to meet for their first date—despite living on opposite sides of California (Nate in the Bay, Ayanna in LA). Nate spent a week in LA, and from the moment they met in person, they were nearly inseparable. Sealing the deal? Nate showed up with fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies, both of their favorite dessert, a thoughtful gesture that made their first date even sweeter. From that point on, they chose to make the distance work. As the years passed, their physical distance grew when Nate was accepted into grad school at the University of Michigan. Though it wasn’t easy, they embraced the challenge, using it as an opportunity to travel and build a shared love for adventure. Over the past five years, they’ve explored Hawaii, New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Istanbul, Toronto, Mexico, London, Paris, Germany, and even took a spontaneous trip to Ohio, just so Ayanna could finally experience the infamous Waffle House. Then, in April 2024, Nate took a big leap—one that had been long anticipated by both of their parents. He asked for Ayanna’s hand in marriage, setting the stage for the next chapter of their love story. Two months before his graduation, Nate flew back to LA for Ayanna’s birthday and gave her the best 28th birthday present ever; a beautifully planned, heartfelt proposal (check it out in the video above!). Through it all, their journey has been guided by faith, love, and an unshakable bond. After five years of long distance, they finally closed the gap in June, proof that true love knows no bounds. And now, as they step into this next adventure hand in hand, we are thrilled to share that Nate and Ayanna are officially husband and wife! 🎉❤️ They exchanged vows on September 25th, 2024, marking the beginning of their beautiful forever. This year, on September 20th, 2025, they will gather with their closest friends and family for a wedding celebration—one that will not only honor their love but also commemorate their first year of marriage. It’s a chance to celebrate, reflect, and dance the night away in the name of a love story that was always meant to be.