A woman who encountered her future husband in a serendipitous moment at the Notting Hill Carnival over a decade ago is excited about the prospect of her daughters experiencing the very spot where their parents first met.
Bernadine Brocker Wieder, the CEO of the arts-focused blockchain company Arcual, met her spouse Theo during the inaugural day of the Notting Hill Carnival in 2011. At that time, Theo was known by a different name. Bernadine shared that she was preparing to attend the carnival with different groups of friends, one Puerto Rican and the other British. This is when she crossed paths with Theo, who was captivated by her attire. When she inquired about his name, he playfully introduced himself as “the Carnival Man.”
Bernadine decided to forgo a rave/hip hop party she was originally planning to attend that night, as she and Theo ended up engrossed in conversation throughout the evening. The meeting felt like destiny, especially since Theo had initially planned to leave the carnival earlier, but the aroma of Caribbean food enticed him to stay, leading to their fateful encounter.
Despite the years that have passed, Theo has maintained the moniker “Theo Carnival Man” in Bernadine’s phone, as a reminder of their enchanting beginning. The couple continued to attend the carnival together every year, eventually marrying in 2016 and building a life together with their two children. Their daughters, Blake and Willow, are now a part of their carnival tradition, with Bernadine eagerly anticipating their first in-person carnival experience due to the disruptions of the previous year.
Having grown up in the Dominican Republic, Bernadine is familiar with the concept of carnivals, but she finds the Notting Hill Carnival uniquely captivating due to its British Caribbean essence. She also shared that she celebrated her bachelorette party at the same carnival, wearing a vibrant and eye-catching hat that drew attention from fellow revelers.
Bernadine expressed that the Notting Hill Carnival’s charm is difficult to pinpoint precisely, but she attributes it to the amalgamation of food, music, and the element of surprise. She believes that the carnival’s ability to bring people together in joyful circumstances is what makes it so inspiring. Moreover, the carnival’s intersection of art and music resonates deeply with Bernadine and Theo, as Bernadine works in the art industry while Theo is a drummer.
Bernadine’s unique love story has left an impact on her friends, who now entertain the possibility of finding their own love stories at the carnival. Bernadine remains hopeful and encourages them to embrace the carnival’s ability to create wonderful connections.
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