How two hearts found each other
Hannah & Mitchell · Golden hour
Once upon a time…
Hannah and Mitchell both attended the same church. They knew each other by sight — the kind of familiar face you smile at on a Sunday morning — but never really spoke. In fact, Hannah didn't even know his name yet.
1 September 2024
A church picnic changed everything. For the first time, they actually spoke — and spoke properly. What started as small talk over spread blankets and sunshine turned into a real conversation. Something clicked.
The weeks that followed
They began talking more regularly, mostly about Hannah's 3rd year exhibition. It was easy. Natural. The kind of conversation that doesn't need an excuse to happen.
14 September 2024
Mitchell plucked up the courage and messaged Hannah to ask if she'd like to go for coffee. She said yes — with one small caveat: Hannah does not drink coffee. She went and had a chocolate milkshake instead, and a good time was had by all.
A few weeks later
Mitchell invited Hannah to spend time with one of his friends from church. She joined. Afterwards they had lunch together — just the two of them — and it was over that lunch that Mitchell first hinted at having feelings for her. Hannah admitted she felt the same. Their love story had officially begun.
25 October 2024
Mitchell chose the setting carefully. Atmosphere. Romance. A place that really says something. He chose McDonald's. Undeterred by the smell of chips and the background noise of a drive-through, he asked Hannah to be his girlfriend. She said yes.
18 November 2024
On a quiet walk at Hannah's ouma's farm, Mitchell stopped, turned to her, and said it for the first time — using her full name: "Hannah Siobhan van Rij, I love you." She said it back. The farm has never been the same.
25 November 2024 · Hannah's Birthday
Their one-month anniversary landed on Hannah's birthday. Mitchell baked her a chocolate cake — from scratch. Consider the bar officially set.
24 December 2024
Mitchell drove with Hannah's ouma all the way to KZN to meet the family and spend their first Christmas together. He passed the most important test of all.
18 April 2026
Mitchell asked Hannah to be his wife. She said yes. And so began the next — and greatest — chapter of their story.
