• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Love & Sex

Just Engaged: Chandra and Carl

When a mutual friend set Chandra and Carl up on a first date, they arrived to find their friend's hunch was spot on. Now they're ready to marry.
Just Engaged: Chandra and Carl
By Charli Penn · Updated October 28, 2020
The Lucky Lady: Chandra Mattiece Coleman, 35, Scientific Director

Her Leading Man: Carl Edward Quash Abbott, 34, Training and Development Manager

The Big Day: October 20, 2012

How did you meet your man?
In the midst of a great summer in Atlanta, we were both invited to a dinner meeting for a non-profit organization. I arrived first and was already seated and engaged in conversation when Carl arrived. I couldn’t help but notice Carl as he approached the table and was introduced, but decided to “wait and see” what would happen, since I knew we’d likely run into each other again. After the event, I noticed Carl’s name on the follow-up e-mails and thought it was a coincidence that he also worked in the pharmaceutical industry. About a month later, Carl attended the wedding of a good friend and at the reception was relegated to the “single persons table.” He ended up in a conversation with a woman he knew casually and asked her if she had any single friends in Atlanta that she could set him up with. She said she knew just the person — one of her really good friends. After another friend of Carl’s gave the green light (because he had met me before), and the plan to devise a set up proceeded.

Tell us about your first date.
When we decided to meet, we had a bit of a challenge juggling our super busy Saturday schedules, but finally decided on brunch. We picked the Cheesecake Factory, a place that we later realized was not a huge favorite for either of us. I arrived late (a bad trait that I have) and Carl was waiting on a bench outside the restaurant. As I approached, he had a big smile on his face, so I knew he was pleased with the set up. We went inside for lunch and had a great time. We talked and laughed as though we had known each other forever.

What was your first impression of him?
I love tall guys and he is truly that (6ft 5)! I noticed first that he was really handsome and well dressed. I felt at ease with him. I was instantly comfortable and felt confident that this was going somewhere.

When did you know he was ‘The One’?
I think I knew after that first date, it was just something different about Carl and more importantly my reaction to our interactions. In fact, I had a date the next day that I could barely get through because I had such a good time with Carl. I remember telling my best friend, “Now, I’m not going to say anything definitive just yet, but barring any craziness popping up, this could be something really special.”

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now