Randi and Melvin have a modern love story for the ages. The couple met on a Facebook group and, although accounts differ on who exactly pursued who, there were sporadic back- and-forth comments in the group for about six months. It culminated in a post that Randi made that allowed the couple to comment on a side thread for nearly an hour. Melvin finally asked to take the conversation to a private message, to which Randi originally denied. Realizing it might’ve been an attempt at flirting, Randi sent him a friend request a few days later, not expecting much. However, it blossomed into a friendship with Melvin replying “Took you long enough for this friend request.”

The conversations didn’t stop there, with the pair talking nearly every minute for about three weeks. Their first date started on a Friday with bowling and didn’t end until the next day with drinks on the rooftop of the W hotel in D.C. The couple finally became official while they were on vacation in Myrtle Beach a few months later.

Melvin proposed on Christmas Day of 2020, expertly hiding his plans by making multiple references to how corny it was to propose on holidays like Christmas or Valentine’s Day, so Randi was caught completely off-guard. The couple and their children were headed out, when Melvin asked their daughters for approval before asking Randi to be his wife.

The wedding ceremony was held at the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes, hearkening back to the fact that they became an official couple in Myrtle Beach in 2017. Randi wanted a beach chic wedding, with the décor featuring pink and green colors and hints of white, copper and gold. The entire affair was planned by Stunning and Brilliant Events, with Sara McCall bringing Randi’s vision to life for the perfect wedding day.

The couple now happily reside in Maryland, where they both work for a nonprofit.

Photo by Hosanna Wilmot