We love a great Bahamas proposal story, don’t you? When we read about this sweet proposal, we knew that we wanted to feature Marin & D’Wan’s Carnival Cruise marriage proposal story.
Share with us when and how you met each other.
We met through Hinge! We started talking in January of 2020 and our first date was February 13, 2020. We went to Twistee Treat for ice cream then he took me on a “romantic walk to Walmart” because I had noted on my profile that I enjoy walking.
For our second date I invited him over to meet my friends for a movie night and he brought us all Publix fried chicken! That basically sealed the deal and we’ve been inseparable ever since.
What are your favorite things to do together as a couple?
We LOVE variety. We like to travel, go hiking, visit the Orlando theme parks, do escape rooms with friends, host game nights, and LOTS of eating. We both enjoy trying new things so every date night looks a little different!
One consistent favorite, however, is going to Bahama Buck’s for shaved ice and Yahtzee.
How long were you together before getting engaged?
He asked me to be his girlfriend on March 5, 2020 and proposed just over two years later!
Did anyone help with the Carnival Cruise marriage proposal?
The proposal was a group effort! We were on a cruise with friends so our friends Jon, Wanda, and Nate were essential parts in helping capture the big moment.
Share your Carnival Cruise marriage proposal story…
We took a cruise to The Bahamas in March with Carnival, and we went with our friends Nate, Jon and Wanda. On the morning we docked in Nassau, I was on the deck with Wanda getting drinks. To “escape us” the boy said they were all going to the men’s steam room (questionable excuse in hindsight but at the moment it seemed like something they would do).
As Wanda and I were just chatting on the balcony, Nate and Jon walked up to us with roses in hand and cameras out. I kind of had an idea at this point what was happening, but was definitely surprised! They handed me the roses and said “D’Wan would like to see you in the room” so we made the 10-minute trek across the boat and down to our room.
D’Wan had made a rose petal aisle inside the room to a beautiful handwritten note and vase of roses. There were printed photos of us everywhere and the note essentially said everything he loved about me and how he felt. Then Jon told me to throw on something nice so I changed into a dress and followed them down to the pier where D’Wan was waiting!
He made a beautiful speech which made me cry, then got down on one knee. The ring got stuck in his tight pants so it took a minute. But he finally got the ring out and asked me to marry him and of course, I said yes!
What was the best moment of the proposal?
I loved having our friends get involved because our friends are so important to us, but the goosebumps moment was definitely when he got down on one knee.
Who did you tell that you were engaged first?
Obviously, our friends who were there knew first, but the first people we FaceTimed were my parents and D’Wan’s mom!
Tell us about the ring!
To be honest, D’Wan knows way more about these details than I do. I was never super into ring design but it is a beautiful silver halo ring with cool little designs on either side!
It’s from Zales and fell into my one requirement of “interesting band”.
Engagement Pictures by Alex Bandimere
I was actually surprised at how quickly I got used to being engaged. It felt like such a natural next step that there was a way shorter adjustment window than I thought.
I have loved getting to plan our future together and seeing how many people are so genuinely excited and happy for us!
What are you most excited about wedding planning?
I’ve actually basically already planned everything. When I start planning something – whether that be a trip or a wedding, I’m ALL IN.
It’s been so exciting seeing everything come together; when you first start it’s so overwhelming and difficult to see the big picture so seeing everything start to fit with each other has been very satisfying.
If you’ve already decided, when are you getting married and what is your venue?
We are getting married at Paradise Cove in Orlando on March 6, 2023!
Why did you choose that venue?
Paradise Cove is naturally stunning, within our budget, and all-inclusive which has taken out so much stress from the planning. We wanted to find a spot that was both elegant but natural and not stuffy or stiff.
We are inviting 185 and anticipating roughly 150 guests.
We had a set amount of money set aside from family that helped us create an initial budget, then we were able to look at our personal accounts and salaries to figure out how much we could contribute. We’ve been careful not to give in to the “it’s just a little bit more” mindset because it’s easy to go overboard that way!
Our wedding style is elegant Florida nature. The vibe is romance on the lake with lots of twinkle lights, open-air spaces, and natural elements
Have you selected any other vendors for your wedding?
- Caterer: 💚 Cocktails Catering
- DJ: 💚 Our DJ Rocks
- Florist: 💚 Atmospheres Floral and Decor
- Wedding Ceremony and Reception Venue: Paradise Cove, a wedding venue near Disney
- Hair and Makeup: Faces by Shannon
Don’t procrastinate! The earlier you start planning, the less on your plate at a time so it’s manageable bits at a time. We also have a wedding coordinator who has been so helpful with advice and I know will be amazing to have on the day of the wedding!
Congratulations Marin & D’Wan on your Carnival Cruise marriage proposal!
Want to feature your proposal? CLICK HERE to submit your story!
