• Celebrity
    • OTE – Screen Kings
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • 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
    • OTE – Screen Kings
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Weddings

Bridal Bliss: Wait for Love

Memi and Dapo met in their freshman math class at Morgan State University and began dating. After splitting for two years in favor of being “best friends,” something told them to give love one more try. It was the best decision they ever made!
Bridal Bliss: Wait for Love
Kirth Bobb Photography
By Charli Penn · Updated October 28, 2020

Bride: Memi Daniyan, 26, Cost Analyst

Groom: Ayodapo Oladapo, 26, Systems Engineer

Married On: August 4, 2012

Wedding Location: Mt. Pleasant Church of Christ, Baltimore, MD

Wedding Style: Elegant Romance

Just Go For It
When Memi first laid eyes on Dapo, they were sitting in their freshman math class at Morgan State University. He was the kind of guy you couldn’t forget, and despite her best efforts, before long Memi was crushing on the cutie across the room. “All of my friends knew that I had this insane crush on a guy in my math class,” she recalls. Memi was far too nervous to make the first move, so she waited and hoped to build up the courage to walk on over. A girlfriend of Memi’s was a close friend of one of Dapo’s good friends. Unbeknownst to her, their mutual pals began working behind the scenes to make sure Dapo knew Memi existed. “By the time I was ready to say hello to him, he already knew everything about me,” says Memi. “He told me he was waiting for the right opportunity to introduce himself.” They officially became an item a few weeks later and dated for the duration of their freshman year.

My Best Friend
Although their romance fizzled before sophomore year began, they found that sharing a friendship still felt good. “We became very close friends and he was always there for me despite us dating and seeing other people,” Memi tells us. “We were always a constant in each other’s lives.” After two years of being “just friends” something told them to try love again. This time around their bond was stronger than ever and everything just fell right into place. They were inseparable from then on and ready for real love.

Smile for the Camera
When Dapo told Memi their alma mater’s newspaper was doing a special feature on couples who met in college and were still together, she was thrilled to learn that they had been selected as one of the highlighted couples. “Anyone that knows me knows I love taking pictures, so I was super excited about the shoot,” she recalls. Memi got all dolled up for the big day—hair nails and all!—and when they arrived on campus, a photographer was there to take their pictures in the special spots on campus where they first met, had their first kiss, and shared many romantic dates. It was the perfect afternoon. But the best was yet to come. Memi hadn’t a clue then, but Dapo had staged the entire thing. Suddenly they turned the corner and Memi saw all of their family and friends standing there waiting for them. There were over forty people before her and she was overwhelmed with joy. “His friends handed me flowers, and I just stood there crying and shaking as he hugged me and attempted to calm me down,” she remembers. “He proceeded to get down on one knee and ask me to be his wife. It was one of the best days of my life. I was so caught off guard.” Their engagement went viral within their network of friends and family because so many of them were right there tweeting and sharing the news and photos on Facebook. Memi was delighted! Sixteen months later they became husband and wife before nearly 600 guests in a lavish wedding weekend. Share their love!

Photos: KBobb Photography

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