Whereas a lot of town was returning to work after a restful vacation break, Aisha Buford-Morrison and Terrell Johnson have been doing one thing way more thrilling.
The couple was given the primary marriage certificates of 2025 and wed in a ceremony Thursday on the George W. Dunne Prepare dinner County Workplace Constructing downtown.
“We’re good for one another,” mentioned Buford-Morrison, 26. “It’s meant to be.”
Johnson and Buford-Morrison, who dwell in South Chicago, initially matched on Tinder in 2019 however didn’t meet for a minimum of a month afterward. Via enjoying video video games like Grand Theft Auto and Mario Kart and watching anime, the couple received to know one another. Upon assembly in individual, the connection solidified.
“Once I seen her, time stopped,” mentioned Johnson, 28. “That was the perfect second of my life. Each time since that second, even now, standing in entrance of you all, continues to be the identical.”
Buford-Morrison’s date with Johnson was her first ever, she mentioned, so she battled nerves that settled because the date went on. All through their relationship, they’ve loved going for walks and bike rides on the seashore, and every mentioned they grew to become higher individuals.
By their third anniversary in August 2022, Johnson was able to suggest. However Buford-Morrison’s grandmother’s well being was declining, and he didn’t really feel it was the best time. She died in October 2022. Johnson proposed the next August on the anniversary of their first date in the identical park the place it passed off.
That they had deliberate to get married in Might, considering there was no likelihood of profitable the lottery. Now, they’re planning a reception with family and friends and a honeymoon someday this 12 months.
Standing in entrance of a “Simply Married” backdrop Thursday, they exchanged kisses, posed for footage and confirmed off their rings to household and buddies.
“Actually heartfelt to see my little woman all grown up,” Buford-Morrison’s dad, David Morrison, mentioned, watching his daughter take photographs holding a bouquet of flowers in a glowing white gown .
Greater than 200 {couples} entered the lottery by Prepare dinner County Clerk Monica Gordon to be the primary couple within the county to marry in 2025. On Dec. 27, Buford-Morrison and Johnson received the decision telling them they’d received.
Together with the primary marriage certificates of the 12 months, they have been offered with prizes and goodies from sponsors of the competition, together with cooking classes from the Chopping Block, marriage ceremony dance classes from Duet Dance Studio and tickets to a comedy present on the Chuckle Manufacturing facility.
“I’m shaking my head ,’No,’ we’re not prepared for that but,’” Buford-Morrison’s mom, Pat Morrison, mentioned of the day they received the decision. “However she was going, ‘Sure, sure we’ll do it!’”
Toyothy Whitfield, Johnson’s mother, shared an analogous stor.y She was asleep after her in a single day shift when the couple received the decision.
“Everybody else in America knew,” Whitfield mentioned. “We discovered on the final minute. I’m glad he discovered his one.”
Watching her son get married to Buford-Morrison, she was nonetheless mystified.
“[I thought] ‘Wow, they’re actually doing this,’” she mentioned. “I’ve watched how they’re with one another. It’s a wonderful factor.”
