One of Rasheedah Iman Thomas’s most treasured photos is an impromptu selfie she took with a stranger who was a fellow guest at a friend’s birthday party in May 2018.
The guest, Jeffrey Pierre Ballou, had introduced himself to her as she walked through the door of Whiskey Charlie, a rooftop bar in Washington. After a brief conversation, Ms. Thomas reached for a handshake but was stunned when Mr. Ballou pulled her in for a hug instead.
“For some reason, it just felt OK, it felt comfortable, it felt right, and he smelled nice,” Ms. Thomas said. “Then he immediately ushered me over to our friends. While we were walking over, he said, ‘Can I get you something from the bar?’ which I thought was very gentlemanly.”
The two spent the rest of the night taking photos with party attendees and chatting until the bar closed. “We talked all night,” Ms. Thomas said. “Our friends left us there!” Among the flurry of photos was the selfie.
The next day, they had their first dinner date on the rooftop of Ivy City Smokehouse in Washington. After dinner, Mr. Ballou invited Ms. Thomas to his Washington home, where the drinks flowed almost as smoothly as the conversation. It wasn’t until 4 a.m. that they parted ways.
Ms. Thomas, 45, and Mr. Ballou, 57, took things slowly after that first date. They got to know each other privately after realizing the extensive number of friends and acquaintances they had in common. It wasn’t until months later, after their connection had evolved, that they broke the news about their relationship.
“As we got into the end of that year and definitely into the next year, it solidified,” Mr. Ballou said.
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Mr. Ballou, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in journalism and public affairs from American University. He currently works as a producer at ABC News in the Washington bureau.
Ms. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Howard University and is the founder of Emerald Digital Solutions, a communications and digital marketing firm. She was born and raised in Columbia, S.C.
The couple celebrated New Year’s Eve in 2019 with a trip to the Salamander Middleburg resort in Virginia, where they enjoyed spa treatments, an elaborate dinner, and the resort’s annual New Year’s Eve party. Three months later, the coronavirus pandemic hit, and their adventures ended.
Even though the couple did not live together during the pandemic — Ms. Thomas had just moved to an apartment in Hyattsville, Md., and Mr. Ballou was in his house — they managed to spend the majority of their time together. They bonded over home-cooked meals, like Mr. Ballou’s smoked red snapper, and streamed lots of TV shows.
Ms. Thomas believes the forced isolation brought them closer together, jokingly crediting “faith and food” for their strengthened bond.
“Once I felt in my heart that Rasheeda was my person, I definitely took steps,” said Mr. Ballou, who eventually began to seriously consider marriage. “The timing was very deliberate and very intentional.”
He began preparations for the proposal by first asking Ms. Thomas’s parents for their blessing over the phone. Her parents were ecstatic — her father, Dr. Benjamin Thomas, with the idea of adding another Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brother to the family, and her mother, Sherry Thomas, at having a “son-in-love.”
On Nov. 3, 2023, Mr. Ballou orchestrated what he calls “a three-act drama” that began with champagne and a proposal on the outdoor balcony of the Kennedy Center terrace rooftop restaurant. The answer was an immediate “yes!”
They then headed to the Washington Yacht Club to celebrate with their closest friends and family on the restaurant’s balcony. Ms. Thomas was surprised when her favorite musician, Stevie Wonder’s song “Isn’t She Lovely,” played over the intercom.
The couple were married Nov. 15 at their home church, Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, in front of about 130 guests. The ceremony was led by William Lamar IV, the church’s pastor.
Ms. Thomas’s friend, Samantha McElhaney John, a trained opera singer, performed “Ave Maria” as she walked down the aisle. During the ceremony, they lit candles to honor deceased loved ones, including Mr. Ballou’s parents.
“There was no nervousness. It was all love,” Mr. Ballou said about his wedding day. During their reception at the Cosmos Club, they cut their wedding cake while Stevie Wonder’s “I Was Made to Love Her” played in the background.
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