The Carriage House Houston

ANNE & MARK WEDDING

Ceremony

Reception

Fall

Our Wedding

If You Ask Mark: I had just returned home from a deployment to Saudi Arabia where dating prospects were non-existent to put it mildly. When I got back to the states I was single and wanted to see how dating life would be in the post COVID era. Well Facebook came out with a “Facebook Dating” section which I was interested in since Plenty of Fish was overrun with bots and ladies of the night, Tinder was… Tinder, Bumble was essentially dead, and the other dozen dating sites required money. So I went on, thinking the worst thing that would happen was that nothing would happen.&nbsp; Well as I was going through Facebook dating and I found this profile named Anne Arafiles. At the time if you said we were going to date and then get married, I would have said you were insane. I originally thought she would ignore my message like other girls, I had seen the studies and statistics so I had no faith, but there she came, with a reply. Still I was apathetic at best in the start, thought it wouldn’t go anywhere (boy was I wrong) but slowly but surely we continued to talk, and eventually we set up our first date at Wasabi Bistro a Chinese - Japanese restaurant. The date went well but I was still wary well that was until our fourthish date I nervously, and like an idiot I asked her to be my boyfriend instead of my girlfriend or for me to be her boyfriend (she still laughs at me for that grammatical mistake)&nbsp; We grew together and I realized that I loved her and I wanted to marry her. We weren’t a perfect match, we had different interests, and different energy levels but If i wanted to be with someone 1 for 1 match with myself, I wouldn’t have dated anyone. Besides I find our differences complement each other kind of like Peas and Carrots, you can see the differences clear as day but together they are perfect. (can you tell I’m hungry while i write this?)&nbsp; March of 2022 I had come up with a brilliant scheme, I will marry Anne, So I got with my friend Aron Craft and his wife Jaycie to assist me in my proposal. I had gotten an emerald engagement ring since we both were May babies and I felt diamond was a bit out of style. Funny enough Anne picked out her ring and did not realize it when we visited the Woodlands Mall. Please indulge me for this side track. We went to the mall and to the jewelry store called Zales, we got our ring sizes and then went over to the birth stone rings where she picked out her favorite emerald ring. Well we then walk off and I told her to continue down the mall and I would catch up. When she left, I bought the ring. Apparently she was none the wiser.&nbsp; So when the day came to propose Jaycie let me know she was ready to take pictures of us and I brought Anne to the Koi Garden at the waterfront in the Woodlands, it was one of her favorite places there. There I stated her full name Anne Margot Arafiles and asked her to marry me on one knee. Before I could finish the “Will you marry me” she said yes. I was so happy when she said Yes, and even made me giddy that she said it so fast without any pause. Thanks to Jaycie there are photos that immortalized the moment for us.&nbsp; From there Anne and I have been planning for the wedding day and the rest of our lives. I am the luckiest man alive and I can not wait to see where our life together leads.&nbsp; If You Ask Anne (Margot): I struggled to find love ever since I was allowed to date. I tried every dating app you can think of…. OKCupid, Tinder, Coffee Meets Bagels…. If you know me well enough, I am an extreme introvert but with a big heart hahaha. My love is not for the faint of heart ( I give my 100%, but I demand a lot in return), and each time I tried to date these “Boys” they would only leave me feeling that no one would ever measure up. There were plenty of times I felt like no one was destined to be with me and I have come to terms with the fact that I would be just a lonely dog lady with 10 dachshunds and probably 1 cat (I am obsessed with dachshunds y’all LOL) It was December 2020 and Facebook Dating was still launching at that time. Curiosity got the best out of me so I started using it and made a few swipes left and right. After using the app for a few days, I stopped and let time do its thing. After a few days, on December 14,&nbsp;Mark made his first “Hey, There” and we went on from there. Within a few weeks of texting and talking, Mark finally asked me on a date. I vividly remember that I couldn't decide what to wear on our first date so Tatay Jim (my other dad) took over the wardrobe department and became my stylist that night lol. Our first date went well, I found out that Mark lived less than 5 miles from where I live (which was awesome!). We have a lot in common; being the youngest of our siblings, sharing the same birth month, etc… We continued to text more and hung out a few times before the sealing moment came a couple of weeks later, which would ultimately launch our relationship. Because of Mark, I relived my childhood dreams by taking me to the Houston Zoo and the Science Museum. He and I get to be a child again hahaha.&nbsp;Mark was and still IS a very patient man regarding my Filipino Culture, Beliefs, Heritage, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, with my MOM. Of all her kiddos, I am the youngest so she is stricter with me than my other siblings and Mark has to follow her rules when dating her daughter. Dating me meant I had to go home at a certain time, and we were not allowed to go on long trips with just the two of us. (y’all I am 21+ and I tried to play the “Mom, I’m 21” card on her… to no avail). Most boys would run away because of my mom and her strict rules but Mark stayed and endured all the challenges that my mom was throwing at him which made me fall for him even more because he is the type of man who would not give up without a fight and in the end, my mom finally give her approval (and of course with the approval of the rest of my family).&nbsp; Knowing Mark, he is the type of guy who “Dates to Marry” and I am the same because we don't have time for that “teenage lovey-dovey” type of dating (if you know what I mean). So he finally asked THE QUESTION after 1 year and 2 months of dating. It was on a Sunday, after church, and Mark asked me to have lunch with him. It was a beautiful spring day. We were walking around The Woodlands Waterway talking about life and we started walking towards the Koi Garden. Once we reached the center of the garden, that is when he went down on his knee and asked me to marry him. Fast forward to today, I am immensely grateful to have Mark in my life who loves me unconditionally, difficulties and all. A man who not only accepts my love but makes sure I always feel that love in return. I look back at the days when I thought I would spend my life forever alone with my 10 dachshunds and 1 cat and smile thinking “If only that girl knew how lucky she’s about to become.” A few months from now, our lives will change for the better and I am looking forward to a brighter future. Any life pieces of advice for the future Mr &amp; Mrs? Hahaha.

It All Started With A Swipe

OUR STORY

Photos

Jaycie F. Craft

Aron Craft

Jona Arafiles

Robert Felvus

Kate L. Baoit

Grayson Cochran

Marietta Arafiles-Meints

Jocko The Malinois  

Wedding Party

Q + A

ARAFILES LANE WEDDING ROOM BLOCK is what you need for the special rate. October 17th is the last possible day to reserve a room with this price.

Hyatt Regency Conroe

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Houston Conroe

WoodSpring Suites Conroe

November 5th, 2024, Those from out of town Join us and the wedding party at the Walk-On's to be Fed by the Father of the Groom. Time to arrive is 5 PM

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux - Conroe, TX

Hotel and Activities

Be at the venue at 1600 Hrs (4 PM) and expect to be there for one hour at most.

Wedding Rehearsal (for Wedding Party only)

After the Wedding Rehearsal head here to be fed, @ 5pm

Wedding Party Activities

Wedding Registry 

Anne & Mark

Anne & Mark

Q + A

Is there a dress code?

What are you guys most excited for in the marriage?