Caseyville Village Hall

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

It all started when I decided to act on advice from my mentor, Pastor Iriah. They say, “the most beautiful diamonds are found in the roughest places,” and that quote resonates deeply with me—because I found my diamond on Facebook 😹Ayomide was very different from the other guys I had met. He was level-headed and intentional, with a clear sense of purpose. From the very beginning, he knew what he wanted, and honestly, he swept me off my feet. Without wasting time, he asked me out on a date, which I reluctantly agreed to, thinking nothing serious would come from it. (He drove 1 hour 45 minutes to come see me, and that was a big deal for me.)Well… the date went amazingly well, and before I knew it, I was already looking forward to the next one! We talked about everything that day, and from then till now, we haven’t gone a single day without talking. What first drew me to him was his confidence and intentionality (and now I know better than to argue about directions with Ayo—he is always right 😹).Ayo and I share similar values and goals, which made it so easy for us to connect. As an inquisitive person, I asked all sorts of questions, serious and silly, and he answered every single one of them patiently. He asked questions too, and we got to know each other on a much deeper level. From the very beginning, he has been open, honest, and clear about his intentions. He is very teachable and willing to learn. He is godly, handsome, patient, kind, smart, hardworking, and family-oriented, and these are not just words; he truly lives them out.On July 4th, 2025, after much persuasion 🌚😹, I finally agreed to be his girlfriend. The first week of our relationship was a bit rocky, but with wise counsel, prayer, and intentional redirection, we got back on track, and it has been beautiful ever since.One thing we both agreed on early was that we would not date secretly but privately. The most important people in our lives knew about our relationship from the start, and we remained accountable to them. Over time, our lives became beautifully intertwined; we share our food (yes, my man can cook fire!), we speak with each other’s parents, siblings, and friends regularly, we attend each other’s churches, and now I can’t go a day without someone asking about Ayo. Lol.Most times, I don’t even remember we are in a long-distance relationship until I’m the one driving down 🌚😹 (shoutout to my man for being a great driver and never minding the distance to see his beloved 🙂‍↕️).And since Ayo came into my life, even my credit score has increased! If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is. 😹🌚On December 19th, Ayo proposed, and it was the easiest “yes” I have ever given. At that point, I already knew he was the one for me, and the confirmations just kept coming. I was completely surprised that day, everything had been planned right under my nose, yet I had no clue. 😹 He involved our family and friends so beautifully, and not a single person gave it away! In that moment, I knew I was stepping into a new and exciting season of my life.One of the most important things to us has been putting God at the center of our relationship. By His grace, along with the guidance of our mentors, pastors, parents, and friends, we have been able to do just that.We have grown deeply in love and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. We fast, pray, and study the Bible together. We also enjoy cooking (what do you think will happen when two chefs meet? 🤭), traveling, dancing, gisting, and reading together. Some books that have greatly impacted our relationship include Love &amp; Respect by Emerson Eggerichs, Model Marriage by Dag Heward-Mills, The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller, and Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts by Les &amp; Leslie Parrott.I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Pastor Iriah, PP Sugar, Dr. &amp; Mrs. Taiwo Akinyemi, our amazing parents, and our dear friends for walking this journey with us. With you, it has truly been beautiful.I am so excited about our future together. I know it won’t always be easy, but I strongly believe that by God’s grace, the love we share, and our commitment to serve one another, our journey will be blissful.Cheers to forever, Ayo mi—my Sugar boy ❤️

Truly, I have found the one whom my soul loves 🤭

That phrase is popular, but for me, this journey didn’t just start with a feeling. It started with God!Before I ever met Angel, Heaven had already made her known to me. So I chose to trust Him and not force anything. I held onto that word, even when I didn’t fully understand how it would unfold.In May, 2025, we matched on Facebook Dating (yes… Facebook 😄). What first caught my attention was her bio; it was centered on God. That alone stood out. In a world where a lot of things are surface-level, hers was different. It was intentional.Then I looked through her pictures, and I was captivated by how beautiful Angel is, yet something deeper felt familiar, and it made me pause.I was tempted to send her a direct message, but I didn’t want to force anything. So I simply liked her profile and said to myself,“If she is for me, we will match.”The very next day…We matched!✨ The First DateFour days later, we had our first date at the St. Louis Museum.I came prepared with flowers in hand, on time, and dressed simple. What I thought would be a short date turned into over 5 hours of deep and meaningful conversation.Angel was simple, direct, and joyful, and yes, she had a lot of questions 😄. But I loved that. It showed depth. It showed intention.We talked about everything like our values, our goals, our past experiences, and our families. From the very beginning, we were aligned on something important:We were both committed to honoring God in our relationship—no sex until marriage.We ended the date with lunch (fun fact, the whole date was less than $50 😊).At the end, I asked her:“Are you attracted to me?”She said,“I’m getting there.” 😂From that day till now…We haven’t stopped talking!💛 Becoming UsAfter a few more dates, I asked Angel to be my girlfriend.She said yes on July 4th, a day of freedom in more ways than one. 🇺🇸✨From that point, everything began to grow intentionally, prayerfully, and with clarity.Angel is a rare gem. If you’ve ever met her, you already know. When she walks into a room, you feel it; her presence is undeniable. She is family-oriented, loving, respectful, bold, and deeply rooted in God. Angel is also incredibly beautiful, always smiling, radiant, warm, joyful, and effortlessly kind. There’s something about her that lights up every space and makes everything feel a little brighter. Being with her has brought so much happiness and ease into my life with her delicious delicacies, amazing food, and sweet treats that honestly, I’ve even added about three pounds, lol, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.One thing I quickly realized about us is how much we genuinely enjoy doing life together even in the simplest ways.We love cooking together; it’s one of the ways we create memories in the simplest moments. Whether we’re trying new recipes or making meals from scratch, the kitchen becomes our little space of laughter, teamwork, and love.We also love talking on the phone sometimes for hours that feel like minutes. Even across the distance, those conversations became our bridge, keeping us close, deepening our bond, and making the miles feel almost invisible. Whether it’s heartfelt conversations, quiet prayers, or uncontrollable laughter over the simplest things, those moments mean everything to us.More than anything, we cherish the gift of being present with each other talking, dreaming, planning our future, and sharing life one conversation at a time. Even in the distance, we found closeness. Even in the waiting, we found joy.Because yes…This has been a long-distance relationship (LDR). 😄But distance never stopped the connection.Honestly… I am the lucky one. I am the graced one.💍 The ProposalLess than three months into our relationship, God spoke again.With the guidance of mentors and spiritual counsel, we walked in obedience. We didn’t rush it, we listened, prayed, and sought wisdom.And in December, just five months into our relationship…We got engaged. 💍“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten…”— Joel 2:25That verse means so much to me, because it reflects God’s faithfulness in ways I can’t fully explain.🙏 Our FoundationEven in a long-distance relationship, we were intentional about building on God.• Prayer &amp; Fasting“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17• Studying the Word TogetherGrowing spiritually through consistent Bible study.• Reading Together 📚We’ve been reading an average of two books per month as part of growing intentionally in love, faith, and purpose.Some of my favorites includes:The Meaning of Marriage — Timothy KellerLove &amp; Respect — Emerson EggerichsHidden Keys to a Loving, Lasting Marriage — Gary Smalley🤍 With GratitudeI want to appreciate the people God used in our journey:Andy, Pastor Iriah, Pastor Phoebe (Shugzzz), Pastor Mark, Taiwo &amp; Kenny Akinyemi, Pastor Emmanuel, friends, and family.Thank you for your love, prayers, and guidance.✨ The Beginning of ForeverFrom a revelation…To a match…To conversations…To love…To partnership…To an engagement…God wrote our story.And this is just the beginning. 🤍

“When you know, you know.”

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

We want your stay to be as comfortable and stress-free as possible, so we’ve put together a list of reasonably priced hotels near our wedding venue. Feel free to explore their websites to find the option that best suits your preferences and budget! ✈️ Travel from the Airport to the venue.For guests flying in, the closest airport is St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), which is conveniently located about 24 minutes from our wedding venue.Once you arrive, you can easily reach the venue by car. Ride-share services like Uber and Lyft are readily available at the airport, and rental cars are also a great option if you plan to explore the area.The drive is smooth and straightforward, taking you across the beautiful Mississippi River into Illinois and directly toward Caseyville. Whether you’re arriving during the day or evening, you’ll find the journey quick and convenient.As you make your travel arrangements, please share your plans with us—we’d love to stay informed and assist where needed. 🤍

DoubleTree by Hilton Collinsville/St.Louis has a fitness center, garden, a restaurant and bar in Collinsville. With free WiFi, this 4-star hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. The hotel has an indoor pool and an ATM. At the hotel, the rooms are equipped with air conditioning and a TV. Guests at DoubleTree by Hilton Collinsville/St.Louis can enjoy a buffet breakfast. St. Louis Gateway Arch is 12 miles from the accommodation, while Laclede's Landing is 12 miles from the property. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is 19 miles away.

DoubleTree by Hilton Collinsville - St. Louis

Located in Collinsville and with St. Louis Gateway Arch reachable within 12 miles, Hampton Inn St. Louis/Collinsville has a fitness center, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a garden. The property is around 11 miles from Laclede's Landing, 11 miles from Edward Jones Dome and 11 miles from Lumiere Place. The hotel provides an indoor pool and a 24-hour front desk. The rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a hairdryer. Old Courthouse is 12 miles from Hampton Inn St. Louis/Collinsville, while Fox Theater is 14 miles from the property. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is 19 miles away.

Hampton Inn Collinsville

Offering a fitness center, La Quinta Inn & Suites Collinsville- St.Louis includes complimentary WiFi access. The St. Louis Gateway Arch is 9.9 mi away from the hotel. All rooms include a 40 inch flat-screen cable TV and a work desk. A microwave, refrigerator and coffee machine is equipped in each room as well. At Collinsville La Quinta Inn & Suites you will find a 24-hour front desk. The hotel offers free parking to all guests and meeting facilities for events. Complimentary breakfast is offered to all guests of the hotel and features waffles, muffins, fresh fruit, juice and more. Edward Jones Dome and Lumière Place are within 9.9 mi of the La Quinta Inn & Suites Collinsville- St.Louis. Lambert- St.Louis International Airport is 19 mi away.

Angel & Ayomide

Angel & Ayomide

Travel

DoubleTree by Hilton Collinsville - St. Louis

Hampton Inn Collinsville

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Collinsville - St. Louis

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Edwardsville by IHG