Our story began long before we ever imagined it would lead to a lifetime together. We first met as teenagers in the era of MXit, a detail that speaks to just how many years have passed since we first entered each other's lives. Back then, we were simply two friends navigating our own separate worlds. As time moved on and life unfolded, we eventually lost touch, yet we remained quietly connected through the years via Facebook and Instagram, never knowing that fate was simply waiting for the right moment to bring us back together.
That moment arrived unexpectedly at the end of 2022. What started as a simple reaction to an Instagram story quickly evolved into a conversation that would change our lives forever. While the debate continues to this day over who truly "slid into the DMs" first, we are quite happy to keep that mystery as a playful part of our history.
Just a week later, fate intervened when we bumped into each other at an event in our hometown of Pietermaritzburg. Seeing each other again after so many years felt remarkably familiar, as if no time had passed at all. It was one of those rare instances where everything simply felt right. Numbers were exchanged, and soon our days were filled with endless WhatsApp conversations, allowing us to discover one another all over again in a completely different light.
By the end of January 2023, we went on our first date, and from that day forward, every piece of the puzzle fell perfectly into place.
Our connection reached a beautiful turning point in July 2023 at a Tamia concert. In a moment that felt truly undeniable, we fell completely head over heels for one another. Not long after, on August 13, 2023, Kyle officially asked me to be his girlfriend. Since then, our journey has been defined by laughter, joy, and a love that grows deeper with every passing day.
Our path has been anything but ordinary, often defined by the distances we’ve traveled to be together. We have navigated life across different cities, with me in Pietermaritzburg and Kyle in Secunda, and even across different continents while Kyle works in Saudi Arabia. Through every mile, every late-night call, and every moment spent apart, our bond only grew more resilient. We proved that distance is no match for a love that is meant to be.
On July 12, 2025, amidst the beauty of an estate in Stellenbosch, Kyle asked me to spend forever with him. It was the easiest "yes" I have ever given, a moment we had both been dreaming of, perhaps without even realizing it.
We often say we wish we had found each other sooner, but we know now that what is meant for you will always find its way back at exactly the right time. We feel as though we have loved each other for a lifetime already, and we are overjoyed to finally begin our chapter as Mr. and Mrs. Shaw. We are so grateful to have you join us as we celebrate the start of our forever.
