<strong>Serendipitous meeting:</strong> On her first day exploring Benin in West Africa, Rachel Décoste asked a passerby, Honoré Orogbo, for directions. Two weeks later, Rachel and Honoré were engaged. See photos of their life together here.
Serendipitous meeting: On her first day exploring Benin in West Africa, Rachel Décoste asked a passerby, Honoré Orogbo, for directions. Two weeks later, Rachel and Honoré were engaged. See photos of their life together here.
Woke Enterprises, Inc. Canada
<strong>Life-changing trip:</strong> Rachel, pictured here at Ganvie Lake Village, was visiting Benin as part of a five month trip around Africa. Rachel arrived anticipating an important journey of self-discovery, but not predicting the extent to which the trip would change her life.
Life-changing trip: Rachel, pictured here at Ganvie Lake Village, was visiting Benin as part of a five month trip around Africa. Rachel arrived anticipating an important journey of self-discovery, but not predicting the extent to which the trip would change her life.
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<strong>Open conversations</strong>: Honoré offered to drive Rachel around the country and the two got to know one another quickly. "We were very open and very candid, because we were strangers and we'll never see each other again," recalls Rachel.
Open conversations: Honoré offered to drive Rachel around the country and the two got to know one another quickly. "We were very open and very candid, because we were strangers and we'll never see each other again," recalls Rachel.
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<strong>Engagement:</strong> Rachel and Honoré, pictured here on a beach in Cotonou, realized they both had feelings for one another. They got engaged just before Rachel left Benin to return to her home country of Canada.
Engagement: Rachel and Honoré, pictured here on a beach in Cotonou, realized they both had feelings for one another. They got engaged just before Rachel left Benin to return to her home country of Canada.
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<strong>Fabric shopping:</strong> Honoré also took Rachel to a market to help her buy fabric that his brother, a tailor, could make into a dress.
Fabric shopping: Honoré also took Rachel to a market to help her buy fabric that his brother, a tailor, could make into a dress.
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<strong>Full circle:</strong> Here's Rachel and Honoré wearing clothes made from that fabric.
Full circle: Here's Rachel and Honoré wearing clothes made from that fabric.
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<strong>Following their hearts</strong>: Honoré relocated to Canada to be with Rachel. Honoré sees meeting Rachel as "destiny" but considers moving across the world to be with her as proof of the importance of trusting your gut. "Just follow your heart," he says. "Follow your heart with reckless abandon."
Following their hearts: Honoré relocated to Canada to be with Rachel. Honoré sees meeting Rachel as "destiny" but considers moving across the world to be with her as proof of the importance of trusting your gut. "Just follow your heart," he says. "Follow your heart with reckless abandon."
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<strong>Wedding celebration: </strong>The couple were married in January 2019, in Benin. This photo of the two is from their 2020 celebration in Canada.
Wedding celebration: The couple were married in January 2019, in Benin. This photo of the two is from their 2020 celebration in Canada.
Two Trees Photography by Timothy J Baklinski
<strong>Family ties:</strong> Honoré's son also moved to Canada with his father. Here's the family in Ottawa together.
Family ties: Honoré's son also moved to Canada with his father. Here's the family in Ottawa together.
Woke Enterprises, Inc. Canada
<strong>Business partners:</strong> Rachel and Honoré also run a business selling warm, Canada-winter-appropriate pajamas with African prints, called <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wokeapparel.shop%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Woke Apparel.</a>
Business partners: Rachel and Honoré also run a business selling warm, Canada-winter-appropriate pajamas with African prints, called Woke Apparel.
Woke Enterprises, Inc. Canada
<strong>Exploring Canada: </strong>Here's Honoré and Rachel at Niagara Falls together.
Exploring Canada: Here's Honoré and Rachel at Niagara Falls together.
Woke Enterprises, Inc. Canada
<strong>Back in Benin</strong>: Here's the couple back in Benin earlier this year, at a pool in the town of Allada. Rachel and Honoré often wear coordinating fabrics, a Benin tradition.
Back in Benin: Here's the couple back in Benin earlier this year, at a pool in the town of Allada. Rachel and Honoré often wear coordinating fabrics, a Benin tradition.
Woke Enterprises, Inc. Canada