We look forward to celebrating our special day with you

Marc: As a kid, I grew up on a heavy dosage of Marvel comics, Batman, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Something about the crime infested and seedy streets of New York City (Gotham) really spoke to me. So, from an early age it was New York or nowhere. Which seemed like an impossible pipe dream and a far cry from the beautiful meadows and quiet rural life of my home. However, my once in a lifetime opportunity came through working in retail (shout out to my Dad for making me take that job). The brand I worked for offered me sponsorship and the chance to open several new stores across the US, including our second largest flagship on 5th Avenue in NY. Eventually, and after 10+ years performing the thankless grind that is working in retail, I was approached about a role with Michael Page, a global recruitment firm. The chance to finally enjoy weekends felt like a no brainer and I took the plunge; completely changing my career and trying something I'd never done before...working in corporate America. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that the woman of my dreams would eventually walk through the doors of Floor 29, 622 3rd Avenue. Clair: Born & raised in San Antonio, TX I grew up with the travel bug. My Mom likes to remind me that my first flight was when I was 18 months old to Las Vegas, and from that moment on I’ve wanted to explore this big beautiful world. I visited New York City several times growing up and spent a summer there with my Mom in high school, always loving the energy the city has. My mom and I came to visit NYC for my 25th birthday and I just decided that I finally needed to live here! Six months later there I was sitting with Rio and Kitty in my Upper West Side third floor walk up studio wondering where life would take me. I was lucky enough to continue to work for Tory Burch from SATX to NYC and met some of the most amazing girls & life long friends. (You’ll notice a retail connection that Marc and I found right away!) Fast forward to late 2021, I found Michael Page and met a new bunch of amazing people. One of which changed my life. 🤍

Marc: I often hark back to my childhood, I'm an extremely nostalgic person. My appetite for comics wasn't my only vice, I also loved sitting down to watch The Wonder Years, Boy Meets World, and later down the line, The O.C. As the years went by, every one of these shows seemed to only further confirm that I would find myself with a beautiful American brunette and we would share the kind of love that I witnessed in those onscreen connections. However, as anyone who has lived in New York will tell you, the dating scene is more akin to a demolition derby and each failed romance left me with just as many battle scars. What I'm trying to get at here is, you're not exactly thinking that love is right around the corner, the meet-cute doesn't really exist. Whilst this might shock those of you who have known me for a long time, the eternal optimist, silver lining, glass half full, and serial romantic notions had been knocked out of me by the time I met Clair. With that said, the moment I laid eyes on her, it all came rushing back to me like a tidal wave in the form of everything that I had been missing. There are moments that stay with you for life, the ones that you will never forget. For me, seeing Clair, knowing that she existed, it was far more than that. With every interaction, and by that I mean outrageously flirting with one another constantly, I knew she was it. The person I had been looking for and genuinely so much more. Clair: Everyone always says love will find you when you least expect it - and truer words have never been spoken. I’ve always wanted that storybook ending; to find someone to laugh with, cry with, and feel infinitely connected to and my mom always made me feel like it was possible. Growing up eventually I thought I was asking for too much, but immediately I knew - meeting Marc changed my life. His smile lit up the room and his easy sense of humor perfectly matched mine. He made me feel confident and beautiful. Our first date I laid it all on the line, told him everything I thought might make him turn and run but he never even flinched. Since that day we’ve been inseparable and I know, deep deep down, that we are meant for one another. I am so grateful and so so excited to spend every day moving forward right by his side.

Marc: I had the pleasure of meeting Melody in September 2022, we flew down to San Antonio for the weekend. Nervous doesn't come close to covering it. Despite very encouraging and early signs of her being onboard with Clair and I, it was without a doubt the single most important trip of my life. To say that Melody went above and beyond to make me feel welcomed, at home, and relaxed, would be an understatement. Anyone back in England would have thought that she had mistaken me for actually royalty. Melody threw a champagne fueled tea party with a wide variety of English themed cookies (biscuits) that were custom made for that event specifically. Clearly, Clair had told her that the way to my heart was through my unwavering sweet tooth. I am beyond grateful and unbelievably lucky to have the family that I do, that very much now includes Melody. My own parents have been, let's call it "patient", when it comes to my love life. At an extremely deep-seeded level, it was massively important to me that my family and my future wife would see eye to eye and also do something that in-laws don't often do, which is like one another. Before they even met Clair, the whole dynamic was something I had never seen before, it was totally different. My Mum started texting her in a message chain that I wasn't a part of. Then, my sister started doing the same thing! By the time we landed in London for Christmas, I felt like I was taking someone home that my family had known my whole life. They all did everything they could to welcome each other into their lives, and that might be the biggest compliant that I could pay any of them, it was a beautiful thing to behold. Clair: On our first date I noticed Marc’s phone’s background was a picture of his family. (I thought, good sign!) On that date we talked about our families and the way he described his family made me melt. I could tell immediately that he immensely looked up to his dad, talked to his mum about everything, and was best friends with his sister. I couldn’t wait to meet them! December 2022 Marc & I headed across the pond! Marc hadn’t been home for Christmas in EIGHT years and if you know the Jones you know Christmas is the more important day of the year. I couldn’t believe they were willing to share him with my on this long over due trip, but as soon as we mentioned it all three welcomes me with open arms. From the minute we landed Louis greeted us with such excitement I knew this trip would be so full of joy. Lin & Neil we’re anxiously awaiting our arrival ready with breakfast and lots of hugs! I’m even writing this with the biggest grin on my face! Every minute after that felt like the most wonderful and comfortable experience. It felt like family. I loved all of them immediately and I’m incredibly lucky for our families to be joining.

Marc: It was our first real vacation in years, I hadn't seen a beach in so long that the sight of it felt far too unfamiliar by the time we arrived in Mexico. The trip had been booked a long time in advance and I admit, the intention behind the trip wasn't necessarily to propose. However, as the date grew closer, it was all that I could think about. I had found THE ring and on top of that, I couldn't have felt more ready. It helped that I felt confident Clair would also say yes. I've always been a planner, so this important moment needed to be executed with the precision of a surgeon in my mind's eye. I reached out to a photographer in Mexico and she turned out to be amazing. I had a lot of ideas that I ran by her and together, we schemed, collaborated, and ironed out the finer details. When it came to getting down on one knee, I blacked out. I had this perfect speech written down, rehearsed and ready to eloquently deliver. I think I just about got "will you marry me?" out. Thankfully, Clair realized what was happening. Me down on one knee, a photographer happily snapping away, and the beautiful Caribbean Sea behind us. The pictures honestly say it all, I was overwhelmed by just how amazing that moment was. Thankfully, the masseur's at our couples massage afterwards took it easy on our sunburned shoulders. Clair: Have you seen this sparkling beauty?!? Everyone wants to know if I was surprised and the answer is: he asked two twice before leaving to Mexico if I was getting my nails done 😅 hehe I didn’t know when or where but I had a sneaky feeling it would be this trip and I was over the moon! He said he had a surprise for the last day so I played along and didn’t ask questions. I also kept thinking maybe it was all in my head! The day before he told me there was a photographer (thankfully!) but then our lovely photographer said we only had a few minutes left so I thought maybe I was wrong, then next thing I know I turn around and there he is! Walking toward me, getting on one knee, saying “I need to spend the rest of my life with you”. I felt like it took him an hour to finally pop the question! I almost said just yes before he said it! It was the easiest decision I’ve ever made!