On October 17, 2025, Jalin and Jovan took destination weddings to a whole new level. The couple rounded up 125 of their loved ones and had them travel to Solar de Levada in Prozelo, Portugal, to celebrate their love.
But long before that special moment took place, the pair first crossed paths in 2018 when they were working together at General Motors in Detroit. While they kept things strictly professional, they were brought together in a more romantic fashion during a night out with friends a year later. A conversation about what he recalled with the sharpest memory of her from their time at GM impressed Jalin, and the two ended up talking the entire night. A first date the next weekend would turn into a connection that put them on the road to the altar.
ESSENCE: Once you entered into a relationship in 2019, how did you both know you’d found your person?
Jalin: Early in our relationship, I prayed for a very specific sign to confirm whether Jovan was truly the one. The sign I asked for was simple: that he would show up to a fundraiser skating party for a nonprofit I volunteered with. When he walked in—ready to skate—I felt like I had my confirmation. Another moment that meant so much came in 2020 when I lost my job. During that difficult time, Jovan was incredibly thoughtful and supportive. He bought me wine and sat with me watching Real Housewives of Potomac—despite the fact that he doesn’t drink and had absolutely no real interest in the show. His kindness and willingness to simply be there for me showed how deeply he cared, and it reassured me that together we could weather any storm.
Jovan: I knew Jalin was special early on. The effort she put into planning our dates really stood out. One that comes to mind was during Sweetest Day, she took me to a Marvel museum because she knew how much I enjoyed comics. It was perfect. Watching someone listen to things I was interested in and trying to connect with me in that way made me feel truly loved.
What was the proposal like in Sicily?
Jovan: Nothing went according to plan until the final moments. Jalin was in London for a study abroad program, and we talked about the dream destinations we wanted to visit. Italy was one of them, and the Sicilian islands really stood out during my research. I bought tickets for us to travel, but our Uber driver took a long way to the airport, two hours longer than Uber said the ride would be, causing us to miss our flight. I had to text the photographers, who were already in Sicily, to update them on arrangements because they were setting up for our engagement photos. I rebooked the flights, and we were able to get to our hotel. I told Jalin we were going on a museum tour, and luckily, she didn’t check, or she would have known something was up since the museum was actually closed that day. Our photographers worked with the local police to block off the street, and we were the only ones there. I got down on one knee and instantly forgot the speech I prepared, but thankfully, she said yes.
What are a few things you guys love to do together?
Jalin: We love exploring new places together—especially through food and travel. We also enjoy spending time outdoors, whether it’s going for a walk or hiking together. We enjoy each other’s cooking and like making meals together. We also have a book club with just us, where we read and discuss our favorite books.
Why Portugal?
Jalin: We LOVE Portugal, it is one of our favorite vacation destinations, and we wanted to share that love with our friends and family. Once we saw our venue (thanks to TikTok), we knew it was the perfect place for our wedding.
Jovan: We love all of the Black expats in Portugal, too. Many of the vendors and people who did Jalin’s hair and makeup were from the United States and had moved to Portugal.
What were your favorite moments from your wedding day?
Jalin: The entire day was so magical that it’s truly hard to choose just one moment. Jumping the broom was incredibly special for us—a beautiful way to honor our culture, even while celebrating abroad. As true foodies, we were also blown away by how excellent the food was. Good food and great music made for an unforgettable time. The cake-cutting was another absolutely magical moment we’ll always cherish.
Jovan: Jumping the broom was one of our favorite moments. Being the first guests to do so within the venue’s 300-year history was special. The DJ blended Caribbean soca, dancehall, afrobeats, and hip hop so well that I felt the entire diaspora was represented in one night. I enjoyed watching our table captains keep the energy up throughout the night. Lastly, the cake-cutting and fireworks felt truly magical. One of my friends felt like they were at Disney World.
What are your hopes for your future as husband and wife?
Jalin: We hope that the joy and love we felt on our wedding day continue to show up in our relationship every day. Above all, we look forward to building a lasting legacy together and creating a loving family filled with peace and happiness.
Jovan: I’m excited to see each version of who we grow into throughout our marriage and to fall in love over and over again.
See all the photos from Jalin and Jovan’s big day in Portugal in this week’s Bridal Bliss.
Vendors
Planning: @inviteonly.events
Invitation Suite: @andreadesignsstudio
Day of Stationery: @the.socialarchives
Makeup: @frankyraw
Hair: @thebrandonshavon
Photography: @qfilmpt
Content Creator: @icapturephotography5
DJ: @djpaparooster
Ceremony dress: @houseofrenhue
Reception dress: @via.mermaids
Styling: @thelex.label