The One Where They Say 'I do!'

Not every love story is a match made in heaven; trust us, we would know. Our love story began with quite literally an eyeroll and a chuckle. Mark and Ariana met one fine evening on the island of Grenada in August of 2021 just before the academic term had started- and what better way to get to know your peers through tequila shots and some laughter, or so we thought. Both Mark & Ariana, as most of you know, bring light into every room they enter. Now imagine 2 beams... BRIGHT beams of light being in the same room, at the same table, trying to make the same people laugh. Mark has this charm to him that can turn any story into an Emmy nominating production, and Ariana has this whit to her where she can come up with the most outlandish cross check of a comeback and not think twice about it. So, one thing led to another and heads were bumping (NOT in a good way). Eyes were rolling and sooner than later Ariana decided that the night should end on rather irritated terms. However, Mark had other ideas into socializing and knowing that the best way to someone's heart is through music, so what better way to let the night carry on than with some good ole' karaoke. After having a somewhat of a rough night to say the least from some classmates that had been onlooking, they decided to leave the bar and head back towards campus - but this time, Ariana & Mark were walking alone together. This time, instead of eyerolls being exchanged, numbers were exchanged and sooner or later they were studying together. By the time COVID hit the island things weren't in the best shape for them so they decided to head back to Florida to study and luckily, they would both be living there for the time being. And so, their love had flourished when Mark realized that around the holidays, Ariana not only brought some of her delicious homemade brownies, but she turned his house into a home. Ariana finally knew what it felt like to be loved unconditionally by someone who wanted to give her the world & more. For the first time ever, he shared the Christmas spirit with someone whom he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. For the first time ever, they both felt as though this type of love would only come once in a lifetime. So, here they are 4 years later, a dog, an apartment together, and 2 Doctorate degrees in the making! Cheers to the Perez's, may this love only last a lifetime with even more laughter and memories to be made!