Matthew Sarpong and Sarafina Chitika’s relationship began in the fall of 2015 at Harvard University, where they first met while auditioning for Eleganza, a student-run fashion, dance, and music showcase benefiting charity. Both were accepted into the event, and their initial connection grew stronger during rehearsals that semester. Sarafina, a former competitive gymnast turned passionate dancer, and Matthew, an economics major and member of Harvard’s Black Men’s Forum and step team, quickly developed a close bond.
Their friendship deepened through regular communication, including nearly daily FaceTime calls during the summer when Sarafina returned to Atlanta and Matthew stayed in Boston to intern with Harvard’s Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program. In July 2016, Matthew flew to Atlanta to take Sarafina on their first official date, highlighting his dedication early on.
Shortly after reconnecting on campus, Matthew asked Sarafina to be his girlfriend. Around the same time, she accepted a full-time internship on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, which required her to pause her studies and relocate to New York. Despite the distance and challenges, the couple maintained their relationship through frequent travel and communication.
Sarafina’s political career advanced as she later worked on Senator Elizabeth Warren’s reelection campaign, which evolved into a presidential bid. Matthew, meanwhile, completed internships in investment banking and was offered a full-time position in New York. They balanced a long-distance relationship with regular visits, traveling between Boston and Brooklyn on weekends.
In 2021, Matthew moved to London for an international assignment with his employer, while Sarafina remained stateside. They used their time apart to travel extensively, visiting countries including Scotland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Matthew returned to New York in October 2023, coinciding with Sarafina's relocation to Wilmington, Delaware, to work on the Biden-turned-Harris presidential campaign. In spring 2024, just weeks before a planned trip together, Sarafina learned of the death of her younger brother, Air Force Second Lieutenant James Chitika. Matthew was her immediate support and traveled with her to Atlanta to be with her family, offering emotional support that Sarafina described as beyond what is typically expected in a relationship.
The couple proceeded with their trip and in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Matthew proposed in a ceremony marked by symbolic white roses and live saxophone music. They opted for a legal marriage in December 2024 at the Pearl Street AME Church in Matthew’s hometown, with immediate family present. The late James Chitika was honored during the service with a reserved seat marked by his dog tags and flowers.
Following the ceremony, Matthew and Sarafina began living together in Brooklyn. Sarafina secured a role with New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s reelection campaign, allowing them to be in the same city for the first time.
Their larger wedding celebration is set for July 27, 2026, at Villa Eva on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The event will include a three-day series of festivities, such as a beach party, nightclub event, pool party, and a ceremony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in the town of Ravello. The couple designed their “friends forward” wedding around a members’ club theme called “House of Sarpong,” incorporating personalized elements such as an Old World crest used on invitations and decor.
During the ceremony, a violinist will perform “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, a song that holds emotional significance relating to Sarafina’s brother’s passing. She hopes it will provide her family with a joyful memory connected to him on what is expected to be a festive and intimate occasion.