Circles of love: From dating site to real life

Where did this love story begin?

Juliet: We met in 2019 on an online dating site. I was a single mom then, so I had nothing to lose. I didn’t expect to meet anyone serious, because the site seemed to have jokers, but then one day, I got a message from my now husband.

We started chatting on video from day one, and haven’t stopped ever since.

Being that this happened online, how did you build trust?

We frequently Skyped, and we set weekends for video calls. This went on for four months. We had a rule that when it was time for us to meet, Cris would come to Kenya, and he did. Though I consider myself daring, I was scared when I saw that we were developing something serious, keeping in mind the crazy stories I have heard about online dating.

But I also prayed to God to not let me open up to some joker, so I was open about how I run my day, and he was very open about his life too, from taking photos of his time in voice, videos of himself gardening with his mum, and so forth. I declined any form of monetary support before meeting him as well.

How was it meeting face-to-face?

The meeting was a big deal! He flew to Kenya one month later than planned, and he shared with me a Google track of himself. I was overly anxious and went with my best friend to pick him up at the airport.

How did your family react to the whole situation?

I have been brought up by my big sister and her hubby. One evening, my brother-in-law eavesdropped during our video chat, as I was on loudspeaker, and he heard a guy with a foreign accent. They were shocked, and, of course, asked me to be beware of meeting people online.

As time passed, they realised that it was getting serious with Cris, and they respected and supported me, especially when Cris arrived. As per tradition, he came to my home and made himself known and his intentions. He is also a straightforward person, and, I also wanted things open and clear, especially with our relationship.

How was the proposal?

The proposal came in early last year, on a rainy day, while we were in Kenya, and just like in the movies, he bought a ring (my first ring). I was so nervous to see it actually happening because there was so much happening at the same time. We were compiling paperwork for our travel/relocation during this Covid-19 era.

How was it planning your wedding in Romania?

I didn’t really have major challenges planning it, considering that I didn’t have experience of an AG office wedding. But I had to have a translator beside me, especially for the legal document. I was also lucky to have found a dress almost instantly, and above all, I have supportive in-laws, who were always there for us round the clock.

What stood out at your wedding?

Our friends in Romania, who were in couples, congratulated us with a gift of course, and a bouquet that had flowers with a special meaning to us, the newlyweds. This was the first black-white wedding there has ever been in this particular region, so we got quite some attention.

I also remember that the mayor’s clerks took longer to compile our certificate, because they had not had a Kenyan national wed in their land, so there were some things they needed to work out to merge individuals from the two countries.

We again had to stream the wedding for my people, friends and family, back in Kenya, and they were able to celebrate with us. This somewhat filled in the void of my family not being able to be there physically. We actually hope to have a bigger wedding in Kenya, though I’m not sure if it’s going to be traditional or modern.

Any regrets?

The first dress was tailor-made, and only at the last minute. I realised that it had flaws that couldn’t be fixed on time. Luckily, I was able to find a replacement at a shop in Romania.

Advice for single people searching for love online?

If you come upon a serious person, be honest from day one. That’s how you build trust. Let the other person do the same, and if it’s someone outside your culture, have an open mind, because of the possibilities of travelling and adapting to places outside your culture.