Our wedding
Marc graduated from AIT on March 12, 2025, and as soon as they would release him, he hit the road. He drove all through the night, determined to make it home to marry Elizabeth the next day. Along the way, he stopped in Arizona to pick up his friend Rowen, who had flown in from Canada just to be there. The two of them drove through the desert, switching off music and stories to stay awake.
Back home, Elizabeth had been getting everything ready for weeks. In true Elizabeth fashion, she thrifted her wedding dress, picked out white satin kitten heels, and found a little purse to complete the look. Her mom ordered the prettiest corsages, boutonnieres, and a gorgeous floral arrangement for their dinner table later that night.
The morning of their wedding was cold and dramatic, gray skies, bursts of wind, and then rain. They both got ready at home, nervous and excited all at once. Marc wore his custom navy suit that his tailor made for graduation; it was pinstriped, fitted perfectly, and paired with a pink and blue floral tie that was just the right mix of classic and fun. Elizabeth got ready in her dress, calm but giddy, watching the weather outside and hoping it would clear up.
On the drive to the courthouse, the rain picked up. Then it started to hail. Elizabeth sat in the passenger seat, laughing nervously, wondering how she was going to make it out of the car in her satin heels.
Then, perfect timing, the rain stopped right as they parked. Marc got out, walked around to Elizabeth’s side, and picked her up so she wouldn’t ruin her shoes. He carried her across the parking lot like it was no big deal, and everyone watching smiled.
Inside, they were joined by family and friends: Elizabeth’s parents and her brother Ethan, Marc’s parents, and his friends Malik and Rowen. Everyone was buzzing with excitement. They signed their marriage certificate and were led into “Ceremony Room 1,” which, to their surprise, was actually really pretty; private and nicely decorated.
The ceremony itself was short and sweet. The court staff officiated while their family and friends watched, smiling and tearing up. Marc and Elizabeth exchanged vows, said “I do,” and sealed it with their first kiss as husband and wife.
When they stepped outside, the sky had completely cleared. The rain was gone, the air was crisp, and the sun started peeking through the clouds. They couldn’t help but laugh at how perfectly it all worked out.
To celebrate, they headed downtown with everyone for dinner and drinks at the same steakhouse where Marc had asked Elizabeth to be his girlfriend just over a year before; a full-circle moment if there ever was one. The night was filled with good food, laughter, and so much love.
The next morning, they took off for their honeymoon in Joshua Tree. They explored the small downtown shops, wandered through art exhibits, and enjoyed the quiet calm of the desert. Elizabeth found a hat that said “Buddy System,” which made Marc laugh. It was the perfect inside joke for two newlyweds who both knew she was now his battle buddy for life. Their time in Joshua Tree was slow and peaceful, hot tub nights under the stars, visits to Desert Christ Park, walks through Pioneertown, and plenty of moments to just breathe and take it all in. It was exactly the kind of start they wanted.
When they got back home, Marc started prepping for his Army move, and Elizabeth jumped back into work and grad school.
One day they made a stop in Los Angeles to design their wedding rings together. Elizabeth was able to browse all the ring settings to pick out her dream ring. Elizabeth’s mom joined and provided two diamonds from Elizabeth’s Great Grandma’s weddinig set. Something Elizabeth’s Mom know would mean a lot to her. Little did Elizabeth know, after they left with their wedding rings, Marc had something else planned. He drove her up to the Griffith Obervatory where under the stars Marc proposed to Elizabeth.
Before Marc left, they decided to take one more trip, a weeklong road trip up the California coast.They camped in Marc’s rooftop tent, spent time at the beach, stopped for pastries and coffee in Solvang, and even watched a rocket launch in Lompoc.
In April 2025, Elizabeth and her family said goodbye as Marc left for his first international Army assignment. It was emotional, but they both knew it was just the start of another chapter filled with faith and the kind of adventure they’d always dreamed of.
