You can’t scroll through Instagram these days without seeing a healthy dose of Black Love.
From gorgeous couples to amazing families, there is an abundance of inspiration for happiness, joy and happily ever afters—even when you think you’ve already found it.
One of those examples comes courtesy of Courtney (@courtnwilliams) and Bryan (@bryan.a.williams) Williams.
The pair began their love story while they were both recovering from failed relationships. They both moved forward as single parents but they didn’t let that stop them from individually continuing their pursuits of love. As Courtney will tell you, Bryan slid into her DMs, respectively of course, and the two bonded over being proud parents and found that giving love a second chance could lead to overwhelming blended family bliss.
Here are 10 things to know about their inspiring love story and why they’re our Insta Couple Crush of the Week.
1. How did you meet and fall in love?
Well, my husband first reached out to me through the ‘Gram! We went on our first date the very next weekend and the rest was history. We fell in love pretty quickly. We were in a relationship three months later, engaged nine months after that, and married seven months after that.
2. What made you decide to share your love publicly?
I’ve always been an open book. I know some people have their reservations about sharing their relationship on social media, but I knew from the beginning of our relationship that this was it, so I wasn’t worried about putting us out there in fear that it wouldn’t work out. I believe everyone should share their story, you never know who it could help or inspire.
3. What do your followers love most about your love story? What do you feel inspires them?
I believe my followers love that we both were given a second chance at love. We both entered the relationship with a child from previous relationships that didn’t work out. I believe our happy ending and our blended family inspires them.
4. Is there anything you’ve decided together NOT to share? Why?
I try to be as transparent as possible, but with us having a blended family there are other parents involved in our situation. So I’m careful with what I share in regards to them because they didn’t sign up for this.
5. Share one of your most liked photos together and a funny story behind the photo!
One of our most liked photos was a picture of us from our baby shower for our newest addition, our baby girl Channing. It was liked by more than 15,000 people. A funny story behind it is although it was such a liked photo, my husband and I joke that he’s almost unrecognizable in the picture. He was on a church fast at the time where he could only eat veggies and grains and had lost SO much weight. He looked like a totally different person to me, I didn’t like it. I’m glad he’s put that weight back on and looks like my husband again!
6. What’s the glue that makes your love stick?
Definitely Jesus Christ! The times when we want to throw in the towel and quit He convicts us and reminds us that our marriage isn’t about us. He put us together for a greater purpose. We’ve been able to show people that everyone deserves second chances, that blended families can work and be drama free!
7. What do you believe is special about your love story?
The fact that I was a single mom of one before we started dating and my husband was a father of one. Our children favor to the point that people can’t even tell we are blended. I’ve had people ask me if they are twins before and they are only 10 months apart. I never gave up on love and knew God would send Mr. Right in His perfect timing. I get so many messages from single moms saying our love story has inspired them. We hope to show people that they should never give up on finding true love if that’s what they desire.
8. If your love story was an Instagram caption, what would it be?
“Bryan & Courtney Williams. Met through IG, had their first date a week later, and the rest was history. Overcame a long distance relationship, blending a family, hurt from the past and more. Now happily married and showing people that it’s something beautiful on the other side of NOT settling.”
9. Pass on the love: Whose your IG couple crush and why?
I would say Kirk Franklin and his wife Tammy Franklin. They remind me SO much of us. After all their years of marriage, they seem to still have so much fun together. They have kept their marriage and children first even with all the success they’ve had. I’ve followed Tammy for a while now and I just love her!