Diandrai & Shakia Webb live in the Kansas City Metro. Diandrai is from Cape Girardeau, MO, and Shakia was born and raised in KCMO. They were married May 7, 2006. They are the parents of 18 year-old Kayleece. Diandrai is a producing branch manager and mortgage loan originator at Cardinal Financial, and Shakia is a VP community development program manager.
How did you meet? At a nightclub. Diandrai: She was staring me down. Shakia: I was watching the door because the club was known to escalate quickly, and every time I looked up, our eyes connected.
Tell us about your first date. Diandrai: We went to the movies. She picked it out and it was one of the worst movies we have seen,
How did you know he/she was the one?
Shakia: Approximately three months after meeting Diandrai, I actually told him I could see him as my husband. Afterwards, we were in each other’s company almost daily and enjoyed spending time with one another. I observed stability, strong self-awareness, independence, confidence, a man of faith, family oriented, a great sense of humor, and he’s FINE.
Tell us a few memorable parts of the wedding.
Diandrai: We got married in the justice of the peace’s house in Raytown, MO, with about 15 to 20 family & friends present. The whole thing was comedy but also a very memorable and positive event that we will never forget. My dad was my best man; my mother tripped on the plastic coming down the aisle. The officiant kept saying Shakia’s name wrong during the ceremony, causing her mother to snap during the ceremony, and the officiant’s wig was not fitting right and everyone noticed.
Who’s the neat freak?
Shakia: He is! I can’t be the best at everything.
Who does the cooking?
Diandrai: She does most of the cooking and she is a pretty great cook. Shakia: I’ve been cooking since I was about 10, but he likes to think he either taught me everything or it started when I met him. I cook because I enjoy it, it’s relaxing and I love when people enjoy my cooking.
Where is your favorite weekend destination?
Diandrai: Probably our home. LOL Shakia: We enjoy staycations. A nice hotel for the weekend with good food and massages.
Who tends to be more romantic?
Diandrai: That tends to be more of a man’s job/role in a relationship, but we will have to see what she says. I do flowers on special days and dinner, and sometimes we cook together. We’ve taken trips for special milestones like her 40th and anniversaries. Shakia: He is, but I will say, I’m thoughtful when I acknowledge and celebrate him.
Who’s better at gifting ?
Diandrai: I’m better at gifting. She’s better at spending money LOL. Shakia: Hmmm, I wasn’t expecting that answer from him, but I’m not surprised. He is a thoughtful gifter.
What have you learned to appreciate about your spouse?
Diandrai: I appreciate her mothering of our daughter. I appreciate her work ethic and aspirations to be more. Her best trait is putting up with me. At times as I can tend to be a straight clown. She has to endure my jokes and laugh even when she doesn’t want to. Shakia: I appreciate and value the partnership he brings. We don’t have roles per say, and when I need him, whether I say it or not, he steps up. That applies to fatherhood, our unity, supporting me, supporting our family and friends. He is and has always been my biggest supporter and at times believed enough for the both of us.
Words of wisdom from both of you for other couples.
- Diandrai: Make your relationship your relationship and not what you think you see or have seen others doing. Take your time to understand what is important to each of you in your relationship and be prepared to work as a team and compromise. Arguments do not need to be about who wins, they need to try and hold to helping you both understand the other person’s side/perspective in any given situation. Do couple things together on the regular. Shakia: Partner with someone with similar interests, that’s how you remain friends. Your relationship is perfectly yours (do what works for the two of you). Be honest. Compromise and share the load. Maintain your identity while becoming a unit (It’s a nice balance). Talk about future plans to ensure there’s some alignment including parenting. Trust and assume best intentions of each other. Keep your business between you and your partner and lean on one another to solve any problems that arise. If needed seek professional counseling not family and friends.
