Christina Griffin was the first in her family to be born outside of Ireland and has grown up in Arkansas surrounded by loving family and friends. She attended the University of Central Arkansas and earned a scholarship to the prestigious Honor’s Program, where she met most of her bridal party. She graduated in 2018 with a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and is now a registered mental health therapist serving her community in the greater Little Rock area.

Mark Hunkins grew up as a military brat and has moved around the world until he found the love of his life in Arkansas. He attended the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Minor in German. He commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and began his training to eventually become a C-130J pilot stationed at Little Rock AFB. He has now attained the rank of Captain and is an Instructor Pilot in the C-130J.

The chances of Mark and Christina’s paths crossing were 1-in-a-million but luckily destiny was in their favor. Neither of them had high hopes or expectations of finding true love when they downloaded Bumble and began the modern-day search for love with swipes. When Christina first saw Mark’s profile she was smitten by the hunk, but the pictures of his dog Orion were honestly the reason she ended up swiping right. When Mark saw Christina’s profile, his heart stopped and he knew she was way out of his league but he hoped beyond hope that she would give him a chance! Fortunately, they both matched and eventually went on their first date (Mark had to be persistent because Christina’s nerves caused her to reschedule the original date). Mark and Christina were both excited and nervous when they met at a little Thai restaurant called Zangna’s. Luckily the conversation flowed easily and it was readily apparent that they shared the same values and philosophies towards life. After dinner, neither of them wanted the night to end so they moved to BJ’s Brewhouse where they shared some drinks and talked until the restaurant closed at midnight. Mark then walked Christina back to her car and emphatically told her that he could not wait for their next date. He already knew on the first date that he had found someone beyond special.

Their second date was set a week later at the Flying Saucer and Mark arrived early to get some liquid courage in his system to settle the butterflies he had. When he got there, though, he found that Christina and her friend (and bridesmaid) Amber were already there for the same reason! Amber left soon after, leaving Mark and Christina to start their date early and continue the deep conversations they had started the previous week. They had some drinks, ate some delicious pub food, played darts, and eventually found themselves taking a stroll down the moonlit trails by the Arkansas River, where they shared their first kiss. Fireworks were flying and neither of them wanted the night to end. After sitting together on a park bench by the river talking, laughing, and sharing their hopes and dreams with each other, they realized it was already 2am and it was time to say “goodnight”. It was that date when they both had the feeling: THIS is my future life-partner!

On 11 July 2020, Christina and Mark were joined by his sister, Sarah, and several of Christina’s friends and now-bridesmaids to attempt an escape room adventure at Little Rock’s Mystery Mansion. Christina and Mark have a history of enjoying all sorts of games and often host Board Game Nights for their friends. This Escape Room adventure was going to be unlike any game the couple had done before, though. In addition to the primary objective of finding the room’s secrets and the key to escape within the 1 hour time limit, there were also 4 transparent acrylic tablets with random etchings on them hidden around the room. As the group found them, they handed each one to Christina until the final chest was opened. In it was the key to the room (completing the primary objective) and the fourth and final acrylic tablet. As Christina held all four, she started to overlay them and suddenly a hidden question was revealed: “Will You Marry Me?” As she turned around in shock, she saw Mark down on one knee with a ring in his hand. In front of their friends, he professed his love for her and told her he wanted to spend the rest of his days with her as his wife. Through tears, Christina said “Yes!” and he slid the ring on her finger. As they exited the building, they were greeted by a wall of family and friends bearing banners and balloons that had gathered to surprise and celebrate Christina and the couple’s engagement! It was at this point that Christina was told that there was going to be a pool party and cook-out at her parent’s house to celebrate the new engagement. That afternoon with friends, family, food, drinks, games, the pool, and sunshine will forever go down as one of the happiest days of our life together!

Since those early dates, Christina and Mark have travelled to Washington DC, Boston, Florida, California, and Colorado together. They have spent countless happy hours with friends and family, developing and strengthening those bonds together. They have been through a deployment when Mark went to Afghanistan for 5 months. They have experienced both family births and deaths together. They have supported each other through trying and difficult times and their love has always grown stronger as a result. They cannot wait to stand at the altar, surrounded by friends and family, and commit themselves to a lifetime of love “for better or for worse.” They cannot wait to say “I do.”