For a few years, we kept crossing paths at the #CarsAwards. Ross was always hosting, and Lalla was often there as a guest presenter. We noticed each other every time, but somehow never actually stopped long enough to talk. Ross recalls thinking Lalla was way out of his league; Lalla, on the other hand, very clearly remembers thinking Ross was ridiculously handsome. Timing just never quite lined up.

 

In 2021 the #CarsAwards shifted into a TV production due to the lockdown. When Lalla’s original co presenter was unable to travel, Ross was the only credentialed person available on short notice. He stepped in at the last minute to co-host. Suddenly, and rather serendipitiously, we were thrust together on stage and spending real time together. There was easy banter between takes, lots of laughing, and a very quick realisation that this all felt surprisingly natural.

 

After the show aired, Ross sent a thoughtful email thanking Lalla and casually suggesting going surfing sometime, having picked up on Lalla’s love for the ocean. That one message opened the door for Lalla to congratulate him a few weeks later when the show aired, which lead to a steady stream of messages and shortly thereafter we found ourselves heading out on our first dinner date.

 

Somewhere between Johannesburg and Stellenbosch, things just fell into place. Horses, running, dogs, shared cultures, long chats, and plenty of laughter. What started on a red carpet slowly became a life we feel incredibly grateful for.

 

Five years on, we are so excited to celebrate this next chapter and finally say “I do” surrounded by the people who mean the world to us.