Wedding Date on Sep 25, 2021

As a single mom Raquel had all but given up on dating when one Instagram like from Marshall on her workout video changed it all. Marshall was focused on work and Raquel was knee deep in motherhood but they both decided to take a chance. That is after Raquel blew Marshall off a few times for a coffee date as she was so burnt out on love and vowed to not date at all for the month of January. "Dry January" as she called it lasted until January 7th, because as Marshall is with everything else in life he was persistent, and finally got her to agree to a hiking date on Sugarloaf mountain. After the trek up the mountain, they decided to go antiquing at a local village row in historic New Market. Or rather Raquel wanted to go and Marshall was trying to impress. It was in one of those antique shops that a moment dear to their hearts happened. One of the shop clerks having never met them, and also not knowing it was their first date casually mentions that " Sugarloaf is a great place for a first date." They consider it a good omen as it was just six months later on that very mountain that Marshall asked Raquel to be his wife. Marshall says he knew that very first day that Raquel was the one with her fearless attitude waltzing into a porta-potty with her mini hand sanitizer and zero embarrassment about it. For Raquel it took a tad bit longer as she had a son to think of, but it only took one encounter between Lyric and Marshall that involved a poop explosion for Raquel to know that she had found the one. There have been many ups and downs since those first magical days of dating. Marshall's life changing surgery for avascular necrosis that had him bed bound for 6 weeks, then in a wheelchair and having to relearn how to walk. Then came the pandemic, building their dream home, and completing their family with the birth of beautiful baby Malin. Through life's curve balls Marshall and Raquel have come to truly know that this love is "For better or for worse. In sickness and in health. Till death do us part. " Marshall set up a beautiful day that Raquel thought was just a nice hike at the place where their very first date took place. Little did she know that he had the ring in his pocket and his best friend waiting on top to capture the moment she said yes. Raquel had no clue he was about to propose and immediately covered her and started crying when she realized what was happening. Marshall later had a sketch drawing made from the picture of this very moment that he gave to her on their wedding day. He told her that it was only fitting that he bring her back to this spot, the spot he knew that she was "the one" the minute he met her. After she gasped YES and screamed for him to put the ring on she realized that his best friend was there clicking away and capturing every second. Marshall knew that Raquel was obsessed with photographs because on their first date she had gone one and on about how beautiful Sugar Loaf mountain would be for a photoshoot. They went to the edge of the mountain to take photos as a newly engaged couple and Raquel screamed for the whole world to hear " WERE ENGAGED!!!!!" After that Marshall had planned even more surprises for Raquel. She had once mentioned that she had never had a surprise party, so Marshall took her to a nice brunch as his family and friends were setting up a surprise engagement party at his house. Still to this day Raquel describes it as the most perfect day of her life. We had our reception at the former restaurant "Vintage" where Marshall and Raquel had their first Valetines day. It was supposed to be where they went on their first date but they were closed for renovations. On that first Valentines day Raquel walked in an took on look around and said to herself " I'm going to get married here". She was careful to not say that out loud because she and Marshall had only been dating just over a month. But God and the Universe had it written in the stars for them. It was also incredibly special that Marshall has separate vows for Lyric. He knew that is he and Raquel were ever to become husband and wife, that loving Lyric was the catalyst that started it all.