For many couples, sustaining a long-distance relationship is hard. But for this pair of love birds who live on the other side of the world from each other, not only is maintaining the relationship feasible, they got married without having ever met in person.
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Distance is no Barrier
Ayse, 26, who lives in Lancaster, met Darin, 24, a resident of Detroit in the United States, during lockdown. Ayse had joined a group created to pair up pen pals, and she began talking with a 56-year-old woman named Kenda.
Kenda then put her new acquaintance in touch with her son, Darin, explaining that she knew the two would hit it off. Ayse recalls:
It’s funny that I met my mother-in-law before I met my husband. We got on so well, so when she suggested speaking to her son, I thought it was a great idea – although I was a bit nervous at first because I’d seen photos of him, and he looked lovely.
Despite the five-hour time difference, the two started talking in July and soon after became a couple. She decided to go see him in the US but was unable to due to travel restrictions. They however kept the relationship going steady.
I worried it might be awkward, but we talked for hours. We have so much in common, including both being terrified of thunder and lightning, and both having owl tattoos with blue eyes.
'I still Can’t Believe it'
According to Ayse, Darin was planning to propose to her when she arrived in Detroit to see him but could not wait any longer. The two were engaged via Zoom on May 21.
They made their union official on August 19 - again via zoom - with several members of both families and friends joining in on the video call.
It’s been really hard not being able to meet properly, but in the long run it will make us stronger because we’ve had to go through all of this to be together. I don’t think anyone expected this when we started talking last year. But we’re married and it’s all completely legal and official – I still can’t believe it.
Ayse, a cleaner, has applied for a visa to join her new husband in Detroit.
