Born and raised in Savannah, GA, and by way of Boston, Los Angeles, and Nashville, Charlette found her way to Washington, D.C. in March of 2021. She didn’t know anyone and had no job lined up, but knew something, or rather someone, was waiting for her in the new city. With her degrees in broadcast journalism and television and a background in media and entertainment, she was ready to explore a city that could offer her vibrant work opportunities and a diverse, rich culture outside of the office. D.C. seemed like the right fit. Charlette is never one to steer away from adventure so she knew the move would lead to life-changing experiences and memories. She didn’t have to wait long to realize what those experiences and memories would entail.

Just three months into her move, she met Grace.

Grace, from Cincinnati, OH, had been living in Washington, D.C. for eight years when she went on her first date with Charlette. A graduate of American University, she stayed in the city and continued to build a life for herself. That life included landing a job in tech sales and excelling at it — a pivot from her broadcast journalism days in college. She continued to make new friends and still met up with old college friends. She got a cat, named Stoli, during the pandemic and took up new hobbies like riding her bike and following the WNBA.

Grace and Charlette met in true modern-day, fairy tale fashion — on a dating app, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. But that didn’t stop them from experiencing the world around them and forming an unwavering bond and support for one another. Early on, Grace attended Charlette’s flag football games and cheered her on from the sidelines. Charlette cheered Grace on as she received recognition and awards in her career. On the weekends in the fall, they rooted for the Georgia Bulldogs and the Cincinnati Bengals. Their first fall together, the Bulldogs won their first championship in 40 years and the Bengals made it to their first Super Bowl in Grace’s lifetime. They like to think them being together had something to do with that.

Their relationship hasn’t been all wins, though. They’ve faced a fair share of losses along the way. The tough times made them stronger as a couple and helped them learn to lean on each other and trust one another. Grace’s nurturing nature helped Charlette overcome difficult times, while Charlette’s empathetic personality and faith-driven perspective allowed Grace to navigate a challenging season. The two have experienced life’s highs and lows together. They have established a foundation of love where they listen to learn and understand, put each other first, and allow their differences to serve as compliments to each other instead of challenges and their similarities to deepen their connection.

This connection led Charlette to propose in Negril, Jamaica at The Caves in August 2023. Eight months later, Grace proposed to Charlette in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, on a romantic houseboat.

Their love story started during Pride month, brought them many shared friendships, and allowed them to share holidays with each other’s families. They have forged a love for playing tennis together, doing trivia, playing Yahtzee, hosting friends, attending WNBA games, and taking fabulous, tropical trips together over the course of four years. And now, they are ready to embark on the biggest trips of their lives — a trip down the aisle to make a lifelong commitment to each other in front of their friends and family!