We're getting married!

Alright, buckle up for the wild ride that is Markell and Mariah's love story! It all started in the digital jungle of Hinge back in April 2021. It all started with Athens, Georgia, and Warner Robins, Georgia, a whopping 2-hour and 10-minute drive through the mysterious backwoods of Georgia. The distance and Mariah’s hatred of driving made a relationship seem unlikely but they decided to give it a shot. Fast forward to June 2021, and our dynamic duo finds themselves in Atlanta. Brunch at Murphy's turns into a marathon hangout at Ponce because, well, they just couldn't get enough of each other. A picnic at Lake Herrick, a rainy Atlanta adventure, and some summer shenanigans at Mercer later, they decide to make it official on June 26th, 2021. Oh, and can we talk about the romantic timing? Markell pops the question, asking Mariah to be his girlfriend, and right after—it starts pouring rain, setting the stage for a beautifully soaked beginning. As the saga unfolds, they become weekend warriors, taking turns making the drive to see each other. Markell snags his dream gig at Microsoft in Atlanta, making their distance a manageable hour. Mariah, on the other hand, sets up shop in her own Athens apartment, making the whole weekend rendezvous even easier. Weekends become a rollercoaster of exploration—Midtown and Athens, they conquer it all. They jump at every chance for a new adventure. Ten trips together down, from Tampa to Las Vegas, and everything in between, they're on a roll. Fiji? Check. And on their most recent ski trip to Lake Tahoe? Markell pops the big question! Mariah's all about the adventure activities like snorkeling and skiing, while Markell's on a mission to eat his way through every new city they visit. Cue the turning point: They had a long distance down to an exact science until Mariah heard from God that it was time for her to relocate to Oakland, CA. With faith as her compass, she ships her car, furniture, and whole life to the West Coast. Markell, the MVP, helps her find an apartment and cheers her on as she snags her dream job in restorative justice work at schools. But guess what? It wasn't long before Markell decided to pack his bags and join the Oakland party. Talk about following your heart! October 10th, 2023, marks the end of their long-distance saga. No more hours of separation—now they're just two blocks away from each other, living it up in downtown Oakland. They're building their dream life and joined an amazing church community called Storyline. Small group shenanigans and new friendships have become the highlight and brought them closer to God and each other. And then, in a classic Christmas Eve twist, Markell goes all in and officially asks Mariah to be his forever. Spoiler alert: She says yes! Another chapter kicks off in their epic love saga. A huge shoutout and thanks to all of you who were part of this day. Their lives keep changing and probably won't ever stop, but one thing remains constant—their love, inspired by the legendary love of Jesus. This is just the beginning, folks, and they can't wait to step into the covenant of marriage together and paint the town with the vibrant hues of their marriage and commitment to Christ. So, cheers to love, laughter, and a lifetime of adventures with Markell and Mariah! Thanks for coming with us on this special part of our journey!