VOLENTE + RYAN

It all started when a tall fella named Ryan swiped right on a petite gal name Volenté and they matched in a distant digital land called Bumble. Digital flirtation turned into an IRL first date under the dimly lit ambience of Umbrellaco in West Hollywood. She thought he was handsome, charming, clever and sweet with a great sense of humor. He thought she was beautiful, super smart, kind and funny.

Born and raised in San Mateo California, Ryan went to college at UC Santa Barbara where he formed some of the greatest friendships possible (spoiler alert they are all still best buds to this day). After college, he moved up to San Francisco. A few years of creating memories and experiences followed, and he decided to move to Los Angeles. Ryan had been living in Los Angeles for less than two years when his life changed forever. 

Born in Johannesburg South Africa and immigrating to North Carolina at age 9, Volente went to college at UNC Charlotte and lived in Charlotte for several years before moving to Los Angeles. She was also fortunate to make life long friends in both North Carolina and California. She always felt drawn to California and would often say “I just have a feeling my person is there”. Ryan was her first and last Bumble date after being in LA for just shy of a year. I guess sometimes we just know. 

When their second date at the Ghetty museum left them laughing at their failed maze attempt (what was thought to be an actual maze was in fact a miniature sculptural one) both of them knew they may have found their person. They went on several more dates exploring the city and started falling in love. Their first apartment together was a one bedroom apartment in West Hollywood that was right up the street from Umbrellaco. 

After three years of loving one another, growing and exploring together, the covid pandemic hit the world. They made it through that devastating world event even stronger and decided they were ready to become pawrents. Fluffy boy Shiloh aka ShiShi aka ShuShu aka Shi entered their lives on December 26 2020 and further solidified their bond and love for one another. Since that day, Shiloh has brought even more love (and floof) into their lives than they thought was possible. They learned and continue to learn so much about each other and themselves through him. He is a light in their world. 

After 5 years together, it was time for them to expand even further and venture into the unknowns of the Burbs. The suburbs of the valley. They found a sweet home where the Karate kid did and thats where under the shade of the orange tree that grows in the backyard, with Shiloh by his side, Ryan asked Volenté if she would keep growing with him forever. She said yes.