Wedding Date on Mar 10, 2018

On Friday, February 24, 2017 Farren and Monique were both invited to serve as a part of a Black History Month Event at Village East Middle School. He parked, grabbed his camera and walked through the front door, following the sounds of voices down the hallway. "Future Leaders" displayed in various marker colors on poster board fastened on the base of the wooden stage in the gymnasium. Echoes of laughter, tapping feet and voices filled the room. She was seated on the front row observing the students and program moderator perform final run-throughs of the event. As students pour into the gymnasium, teachers instruct students to take their seats and lower their voices through the display of raised hands making a fist. One by one, students emulate their teachers as the room grew silent. He saw a woman seated on the first row. She wore black pants, a black blazer and a pink blouse. He walked toward her. "Hi, I'm Farren," as he extended his hand. "What's your name?" "Hi, I'm Monique." Her brown eyes smiled. Farren took a photo of her as she spoke to the kids about leaders in the Civil Rights movement whose stories aren't often shared. Monique challenged students to declare positive affirmations over their lives. Farren got her email address and sent a message asking Monique if she would like to meet him for coffee. He made sure to attach the photo he captured. The next day, he sat in Stopher Gym at Nicholls rooting for the Lady Colonel Basketball Team when he received an email response from her. The initial phone call lasted hours which was followed by a first date on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). Farren cooked spaghetti. The night was meshed with hours of conversation and a movie to complete the evening (Get Out). They never missed a day to communicate-- face-to-face conversation, a phone call, text or Facebook message. He asked Monique to be his girlfriend at a coffee shop in New Orleans on March 4, 2017. But the 24th of every month thereafter would be their "anniversary." On Sunday afternoon, July 9, 2017 Farren and Monique went for brunch in downtown New Orleans at the Court of Two Sisters. Monique carried Farren's camera bag as they exited the car and walked two blocks in the French Quarter. They took a seat inside near a window where light rain sprinkled the trees in the courtyard. Jazz from a quartet gently filled the air in the room of people at their tables. Monique's black purse, aviator shades and Farren's camera bag faced each other beside their first plates from a delicious buffet of red beans and rice, scrambled eggs, croissants and more. Reaching into the camera bag, Farren retrieves a box. Inside of it, a ring. When Monique returned to the table, the Jazz quartet had positioned themselves near their table and continued playing. Farren stood up and then took a knee. " I would like to spend the rest of my life with you, Monique. Will you marry me?" "Yes," she said with laughter and tears. They kissed and hugged.