Alenda & Johnathan

How We Met: The Short, Poetic Version

We met where bowling balls collide,
Laughter loud and shoes unlaced,
A glance, a joke, a moment shared,
In the most unexpected place.

He wore those sweats—with a hole, no less,
Hair uncut, but jokes on point,
I passed at first (don’t judge me, y’all),
Still, fate refused to disappoint.

A second chance, a cleaner cut,
He smiled, I called, the sparks took flight,
And since that day, through every year—
We’ve loved each other day and night.

Our Story

2019

We Met

2023

He Proposed

2025

We're Getting Married

I went to the bowling alley with someone who used to be my friend. I was at the counter getting my shoes in 2019. I got my shoes and went to the group of people that me and my old friend was meeting there. Jonathan started flirting and he started making jokes and talking to me, but one of his friends was talking to me as well. His friend gave me his number before Jonathan could. Johnathan also gave me his number and told me to call him. I did not. The reason I did not talk to Jonathan first was because he did not have his haircut. He had on gray sweatpants with a hole in them and he looked homeless but he was funny. First impressions are everything to me.

I ended up not talking to the friend because he confessed that he had a girlfriend at the time. I went back to the bowling alley maybe a week or two later and here comes Jonathan with a fresh haircut some nice clothes on and that man was fine. Jonathan then sees me at the bowling alley again and said "I thought you were gonna call me." I saw him with his fresh haircut and he looked more presentable. I called him that same night and the rest was history. We were talking every day. Believe me when I say I did not let that man out of my sight since 2020. Now here we are, 5 years later!

Johnathan proposed to Alenda on her birthday, August 11, 2023.

Our relationship from Alenda's point of view....

What makes US work. We’re both funny. Like, really funny. We love to laugh, joke, clown around—especially with each other. No matter what kind of day I’m having, even when I’m upset, he somehow knows how to make me laugh. That man’s got jokes for days.

Our favorite thing to do? Honestly, just be together. Whether we’re watching movies or just chillin’, we’re good as long as we’re around each other. And when it comes to going out—wherever we’re invited? We’re there. Simple as that.

Why I decided to marry Jonathan. First of all… he gave me two beautiful kids. Second of all, I couldn’t see myself dating or being with anybody else. From the very beginning, I knew. The first time we chilled in front of his mama’s house, I looked him dead in the eye and said, “You gonna be my boyfriend… and eventually, my husband.” I had that much faith. Scared him a little bit—as it should—but I meant every word.

Why he decided to marry me. Whew, let’s just say I had to apply some pressure. I told that man straight up: “I’m not about to sit around forever. You gave me two kids, so if you don’t marry me within the next year, I’m moving on. I’m not wasting my time on someone who’s not ready to spend the rest of their life with me.” Next thing I know, on my birthday, in front of our friends and some of my family, this man is down on one knee, asking me to be his wife—because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.

What makes our relationship special? I can talk to Jonathan about anything. No judgment, no drama. He is, hands down, the calmest person I have ever met. Like, cool as a fan. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen him upset. And that peace, that connection, that real love? That’s why we’re here.