From Friendship to Forever

It was nearly two decades ago when Yaszin and Crescel’s story began, a tale rooted in the everyday moments of high school life. As classmates, they found themselves paired together in study groups, choir rehearsals, and scholarship meetings. What started as a shared commitment to homework and melodies slowly blossomed into something much more—an unspoken connection that neither of them quite understood at the time, but both felt deeply.

When Yaszin moved to the United States in 2011 to be with his family, their physical distance seemed to have no effect on their bond. With every message, every late-night call, their friendship deepened in a way neither could have predicted. Then, in 2012, something shifted between them. It wasn’t one big moment, but rather a series of quiet realizations that turned their connection from friendship to love. With the soft certainty of fate, they made it official, becoming a couple.

But love, they soon discovered, was never simple. Yaszin’s military service began in 2013, and with it came months apart, oceans separating them. Yet, instead of pulling them apart, the distance only strengthened what they shared. They learned to find new ways to express their affection, in letters, in dreams, in the quiet moments that stretched across time zones. Each reunion, whether brief or long-awaited, was a reminder of what they had—a love that defied  physical distaance.

In February 2016, Crescel moved to the United States to begin their life together. They stood hand in hand in a courthouse, their hearts beating as one as they made their vows, knowing that no matter where life took them, they would face it side by side. 

And life did take them places. From the warmth of Georgia to the lush beauty of Guam, they built memories, slowly but surely creating a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure. Now, in Las Vegas, their journey had come full circle. They had two beautiful children, Czya and Elyas, who filled their days with joy and wonder. Every laugh, every hug, every milestone was a reminder of the beautiful path they had walked together—a path that had begun with a friendship, and had blossomed into a lifetime of love. 

Through every trial and triumph, Yaszin and Crescel knew that they had found something rare—a love that was built to last and as they look forward to the 10-year milestone of their relationship, watching their children grow, they knew their story was far from over; it had only just begun.