Earlier than Felix Rameshad Allen III had even heard of Brandon Aaron Marshall, Mr. Allen’s grandmother, Bertha Mae Allen, was already a fan of Mr. Marshall. She had watched him on KWTX-TV Information 10, an affiliate of CBS in Waco, Texas, the place he was a reporter.
Mr. Allen and Mr. Marshall first linked in November 2015 on the relationship app Grindr. They met on Dec. 2 at Cricket’s Draft Home + Grill, the place Mr. Marshall had invited Mr. Allen to affix a small get collectively along with his co-workers.
“It was superb,” Mr. Allen, 37, stated. “We talked and talked — I kind of stole him away for about an hour, after which he launched me to his associates.” The 2 determined to fulfill for breakfast the subsequent morning.
Mr. Allen had just lately moved again to his hometown, Waco, from Dallas, and he was planning on shifting to both New York Metropolis or Los Angeles for his profession. When Mr. Marshall discovered about Mr. Allen’s plans, he questioned if their first date may also be their final.
The subsequent day, they met at Harold Waite Pancake and Steak Home. “He introduced up a few of my information tales, which was cool,” Mr. Marshall, 33, stated. Mr. Allen had carried out his homework.
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After a number of dates, Mr. Allen needed to see the place issues would possibly go along with Mr. Marshall, so he determined to remain in Waco. The gamble paid off. In March 2016, Mr. Marshall requested Mr. Allen, “Are we like boyfriends?”
Mr. Allen recalled that Mr. Marshall “was so cautious about saying it.” He added, “I used to be like, ‘Oh, yeah. We’re collectively. We’re boyfriends.’”
In August 2016, Mr. Marshall acquired a job provide in Nashville to be reporter at WTVF NewsChannel 5, an affiliate of CBS. When he took the job, their relationship grew to become lengthy distance. By March 2017, Mr. Allen stated, “it grew to become difficult.”
Though Mr. Allen wasn’t actually eager on Nashville, he stated that he “was visiting and determined to use for jobs.” The subsequent day, his inbox was filled with interview requests. He accepted a job at TomKats Hospitality, an area restaurant group, and moved to Nashville two weeks later.
Because the couple started residing collectively and speaking about marriage, Mr. Marshall informed Mr. Allen that he anticipated him to be the one to suggest. In order that’s precisely what Mr. Allen did on the morning of Feb. 22, 2022.
Mr. Marshall was speeding to prepare for work, when Mr. Allen requested him to come back downstairs. When he did, Mr. Allen pulled out a small black field from behind their sofa that held two rings, one for every of them. Mr. Allen requested: “Will you do life with me without end? Would you marry me?”
Mr. Marshall recalled saying: “Is that this actually occurring? Are you severe?” Seconds later, he stated sure.
All through their relationship, Mr. Allen’s grandmother would typically ask about Mr. Marshall, saying, “How’s my boy doing?” When she discovered about their marriage ceremony, “she made it her mission to attend,” Mr. Allen stated. “She even flew from Texas to Tennessee, the second time she’s ever flown. The primary time was within the mid-Nineties to California.”
In March 2023, Mr. Marshall accepted his present job because the communications director for the workplace of Lina Hidalgo, the Harris County choose in Houston. The couple quickly moved to town.
Mr. Marshall, who’s from Bloomfield, Conn., graduated with a bachelor’s diploma in communications from Elon College in North Carolina and acquired a grasp’s diploma in public administration from Tennessee State College.
Mr. Allen is a sommelier and the supervisor of Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille in Cypresswood, Texas. He graduated from the College of North Texas in Denton with a bachelor’s in lodge and restaurant administration.
The couple have been wed on Sept. 23 earlier than 170 visitors on the Hermitage Lodge in Nashville. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Martin L. Espinosa, the senior pastor and a founding father of Ray of Hope Group Church.
Ayshiaki Taylor, Mr. Allen’s first pal in Nashville, and Sonia Trim, whom Mr. Marshall has identified since he was 8, served as “finest ladies” within the marriage ceremony occasion. The couple’s moms stunned them with songs for the mother-son dances: Mr. Allen’s mom selected “As a result of You Cherished Me” by Celine Dion, and Mr. Marshall’s mom selected “A Music for Mama” by Boyz II Males.
To honor Mr. Marshall’s Caribbean roots, the marriage occasion was given flags from Trinidad and Tobago, whereas soca music performed all through the celebration. “The very best a part of the marriage night time was when Felix and I have been on the dance ground, holding flags in our palms, and our marriage ceremony occasion and household walked round us dancing and waving flags as properly,” Mr. Marshall stated. “It was a particular second.”
