Richelle Grant & Cedric Williams

Engaged August 16 … and September 3, 2011!

Richelle and Cedric both attended the University of South Carolina, but didn’t officially meet until seven years after graduating when Cedric sent Richelle a friend request on Facebook. She accepted and the pair messaged each other for hours; at the end of their missives that day, he asked if he could call her. The fast friends became a couple and dated long distance (he in Nashville, and she in Charlotte) until they moved to Newberry, South Carolina, where Cedric was offered a coaching position. Three months after their move, Cedric popped the question—not once, but twice. Proposal number one happened August 16 when Cedric surprised Richelle by coming home early, sitting her down, and telling her that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He said that even though the ring wasn’t completely ready, he was. He then got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Grinning from ear to ear, she said, “Yes!” Two weeks later on September 3, Newberry College hosted its first home game, and both of their families had come to cheer on the team. After the game, Cedric thanked everyone for joining them and then got down on one knee with a small navy blue box in his hand. With their families gathered around, Cedric asked his sweetheart, “Richelle Grant, will you marry me?” For the second time, she answered, “Yes!” The couple plans to wed on June 30, 2012, at the Emanuel AME Church on Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston.

Photograph by Andreas Seibold