“The Love Experience” is an editorial project that features dynamic couples in love. The series, shot by fashion photographer Bryce Lennon, celebrates diversity through the perspective of underrepresented relationships.”
You’re pretty, do you have a brother: Mikey + Ivan
It’s time to meet our next couple for the Love Experience, Mikey and Ivan! After reconnecting with each other in recent years, this dynamic duo rekindled their romance, and have been inseparable ever since. Find out how it all went down below:
Where did you meet, and what did you think about each other when you met for the first time?
Mikey: I was out for lunch with one of my best friends, and she invited one of her friends to eat with us. The girl was really pretty, and I asked her if she had a brother. She said, “Yea!” Ironically, this is her brother! She gave him my number, and we began talking. It didn’t really go anywhere at first since we lived in separate cities (I was here, and he was living in New York at the time). We reconnected after a couple of years, and began dating. Here we are, three years later!
How has your relationship grown through the pandemic?
Ivan: During the beginning of the pandemic, it was rough being in such close quarters (I left my job a month prior to the pandemic starting). We were forced to learn different habits about each other. Attitudes were flaring, living habits weren’t matching up, and we eventually grew through it. We learned how to communicate better, and that was the biggest takeaway I got from the experience so far.
What makes this “Love Experience” different from any other relationship you’ve had in the past?
Mikey: Just being able to openly communicate about things. Also, I’m more aware of my flaws, and other areas that I need to work on in order to maintain our relationship. Not leaving because of his laws, and working with him too.
Ivan: The honesty and acceptance that came with Mikey. When I first met him, I didn’t take him seriously. There was an instance of infidelity there, but the fact that he was so open and willing to work through everything, spoke for itself. If it’s something that you want, work through it. That’s what I learned from him, the art of communication and forgiveness.
Where do you see your relationship in the next five years?
Mikey: I would love to be married. We are actively talking about having children, whether its a surrogate or through adoption.
Ivan: Initially, I never wanted kids. I was born and raised in the Bronx. New York is a very fast life, and you want everything now. Having kids was never in the picture, which was a deal breaker for Mikey. Over the three years, I was more open to the idea. Most of his friends have children. After interacting with them, I could see myself doing this. That was a slow push for me.
For anyone struggling in the dating world, what advice would you give them in regards to sustaining a healthy and loving relationship?
Mikey: Open communication, and you want to make your partner apart of your life, but not your whole life. Give yourselves time to miss each other. The key thing is communication though. We have all types of relationships out here (Open, swingers, etc), but if your expectations are communicated properly, you should be okay.
Ivan: Know what you want, and understand that you may not get everything you need out of the relationship. With Mikey and I, we had to learn how to accept a lot of things about each other. I didn’t want to accept certain things about myself or bad habits. To stay in a good relationship, you really have to look within and dig deep to fix any issues you have as an individual (It will bleed into the relationship). Just be honest with yourself!
Where can we reach you?
Instagram: @iammikey___ @lovemewanderlust