It all started when...

When we tell people that we grew up together (same schools, same church, etc.) they always assume that we are high school sweethearts.  That’s a lovely story…but it isn’t ours.  We were always friendly and even went to Geoffrey’s junior prom together (we have the pictures to prove it), but that was the extent of our high school romance. The friendship that grew into the love that we share today began a few years later on the campus of Sam Houston State University.  As fate would have it, Geoffrey decided to transfer to Sam, making the obvious choice to become a Bearkat instead of a lame Lumberjack.  One day after classes I was walking through “the yard” running my mouth as usual.  All of a sudden I looked up and saw Geoffrey rolling toward me on his bike.  I couldn’t help but smile…who else would be rolling through “the yard” on a bike??? He noticed me and stopped to chat.  We exchanged small talk and wished each other well.  No fireworks just yet. 

That following summer I had the good fortune of “moving on up” to the Arbors (deluxe apartment in the sky.) One afternoon while walking home from class, my roommate and I randomly bumped into Geoffrey as he was leaving the gym.  We realized that we lived in the same apartment complex and in no time at all we were joined at the hip. About a year into our new found friendship, it seemed as if everywhere we went we were having to correct random people who continuously told us how cute of a couple we were.  Was I missing something here???  When I sat down and thought about it, I realized a few things:  1. we loved being in each other’s company (and it obviously showed); 2. we supported and encouraged each other unconditionally; 3. he always put a smile on my face; and 4. I was never afraid to be myself around him.  I, Turkessia Monique Cleveland, was in love with Geoffrey DeVon Wilson.  So what did I do?  I took control of the situation by calling him up on the phone and asking, “Sooooooo do you want to be my boyfriend?” HE SAID YES… nine years later I SAID YES.

On September 19, 2015 we will finally get to say, “I Do!”

All photography provided by Nick Lapalamento.