1. When and where did you meet the groom?
Carl and I met November 2013 at Express at University Park Mall
2. What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
Count On Me by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans. No matter what, no matter how far, Carl and I have and will always be there as a support for each other. Not only support, but we have become each other's personal cheerleaders and accountability partners. He is a true definition of BESTFRIEND.
3. What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
There are so many, but one of my favorite is us randomly driving to Chicago one night to hang out. It was spur of the moment and one of the best nights I have ever had in Chicago.
4. When did you know the groom was in love?
I knew Carl was in love the moment I would see and hear him light up when talking of Marvin. But I also just knew this was going to be a love match!!!
5. What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
That this union will continue to grow in love, strength, and keep God and God's love its core!!
6. What advice do you have for the couple?
Communication Is Key
1. When and where did you meet the groom?
I met the groom in 1989 at 737 S. Falcon St.when our parents brought him home from the hospital.
2. What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
The song that reminds me of our relationship is Best Friend by Brandy. We are thick as thieves and I can call on him for anything and vice versa.
3. What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
One of my favorite memories of the groom and I would be when we went to Trap Karaoke in Detroit. That Burrito place for a late night snack was a hit.
4. When did you know the groom was in love?
I knew my brother was in love when he FaceTimed me and told me he met a great guy by the name of Marvin and he wouldn’t stop talking about him.
5. What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
One of the greatest wishes for the groom’s marriage is for a deep and enduring partnership built on love, trust, and mutual respect. This includes a lifetime of shared joy, support through challenges, and growing together as individuals and as a couple.
6. What advice do you have for the couple?
Maintain a Sense of Humor, Keep the Romance Alive and Resolve Conflicts Respectfully
1. When and where did you meet the groom?
December 9, 1991 in South Bend, IN
2. What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
Knuck if you Buck because… IYKYK, but also this song only go hard with the day 1s
Don’t be a menace to society parody: quotes we still say on the regular as if they’re common phrases
Meet the Parker’s theme song: when I say we had every body movement to the blinks memorized you wouldn’t believe me
3. What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
Playing our coined "laughing game" on long car rides
4. When did you know the groom was in love?
When he stopped calling me as often. But when he was able to truly be himself around Marvin without sacrificing his personality, you could tell it would be a forever type of love.
5. What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
That they continue to support each other in their future endeavors and uplift each other no matter the outcomes
6. What advice do you have for the couple?
Always approach each conversation knowing you have the utmost respect for each other, I feel that this allows the ability to accept different perspectives and appreciate your partner
1. When and where did you meet the groom?
I met Carl on UofM's campus in 2008 through our mutual friends Parris (GO BLUE).
2. What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
The song "Best Friend" by Saweetie and Doja Cat. The way I celebrate Carl and all the things he's accomplished. He's done amazing things and I will ALWAYS be ready to announce how awesome he is to the world. He's had my back for years and he knows I'll always have his.
3. What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
One of my favorite memories is us hanging out at each other's places doing absolutely nothing but then making a choice to walk around campus at random hours of the night to get snacks or just change the scenery, talking and laughing at any and everything. Another one is the dance competition we had around the first time we met. Neither of us won, but we definitely tried to out-dance each other.
4. When did you know the groom was in love?
To be honest, there was something different about the first time Carl met Marvin.
5. What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
My greatest wish is for this marriage to be filled with Love and Happiness. Growth and Discovery. Visions and Purposes.
6. What advice do you have for the couple?
As you continue to grow as a couple be sure to continue growing individually. There's more for you to discover about yourself, thus having more for your partner to discover about you.
1. When and where did you meet the groom?
South Bend, IN
2. What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
Green Day- Good Riddance
At every turn that life has brought our way, we’ve found a way to have joy and laugh. Knowing that it all works together for our good.
3. What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
Driving home in a blizzard, hitting a city bus, and spinning off the highway. And laughing all while being scared for our lives.
4. When did you know the groom was in love?
When he told me so. He has great self reflection. So I trusted him and his choices.
5. What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
Honesty and God. Marriage is a commitment and it takes work. You need a strong foundation in God in order for it to be fruitful and last in a meaningful way. You also need for it to be a safe space, where you can truly be honest at all times.
6. What advice do you have for the couple?
Have other married friends. You’ll feel isolated if all your friends are single. You need people in your life who are in the same place as you. Also have someone who has a successful marriage around you and use them as a sounding board.
1. When and where did you meet the groom?
5th grade at Darden Elementary School South Bend, IN. Circa 1999/2000.
2. What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
BAPS (Movie) Two friends who believed in each other and made it together!
3. What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
Carl just moved to San Fran for residency and I came up for a weekend Aug 3rd we went to a day party and just enjoyed being together and laughed.
4. When did you know the groom was in love?
Watching Carl love and support Marvin showed me how much in love he was with Marvin (Dr. Langston).
5. What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
Honesty, continued understanding and continued intention.
6. What advice do you have for the couple?
Give each other the same time and understanding you give your jobs. We tolerate so much from a job because there is a vested interest: the paycheck. Treat your partner like that paycheck and be patient, hold your tongue, do your work, and report back to one another.
1. When and where did you meet the groom?
Been siblings since I could breathe (Literally)
2. What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
Our relationship reminds me of the show “This is Us”, siblings that have the “same” parents but all have different perspectives of growing up. Now that we are all grown, how we are finding new ways to love each other better.
3. What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
My favorite memory is when Marvin and Ashlee took me out in Atlanta for my birthday! I had the best time, because it was the first time he saw me as a friend and not just a snitching little sister.
4. When did you know the groom was in love?
When he let Carl have our numbers. Marvin has alway been a very private man when it comes to relationships. So to let Carl talk to us without his supervision was huge for him
5. What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
To continue to be unapologetically happy and to love so hard that it makes everyone around him uncomfortable
6. What advice do you have for the couple?
Your union marks the start of a new chapter filled with love, joy, and adventure. As you stand side by side with Carl, remember that the strength of your bond lies in your unwavering support for one another. Always communicate openly, laugh often, and cherish every moment. Your love is a testament to the power of unity, and together, you can face anything that life brings your way.
1. When and where did you meet the groom?
Picture it. Mobile, AL. August 2004. A summery fall day on the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science campus. As part of “rival” groups, Marvin and I first met as frenemies first before ultimately becoming besties.
2. What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
Down For My Ninjas - C-Murder. Self-explanatory.
3. What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
Going to the US Open in New York in 2015. It just underscores how we’ve been committed to making memories and having fun, even when we didn’t have the jobs to fund the lifestyle we felt we should be living.
4. When did you know the groom was in love?
When Carl became the topic of discussion every time we got on the phone, which didn’t take long at all.
5. What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
That their great times completely eclipse any troubling times they encounter.
6. What advice do you have for the couple?
God comes first. Never take each other for granted. Always express gratitude.
1. When and where did you meet the groom?
I met Marvin in 2013 in Arizona ....he was aloof (as he likes to say)
What song, tv show or movie reminds you of your relationship with the groom and why?
House of Cards. Marvin is a film /television snob. He was the first person I knew who would sit on the couch and binge a whole show. On Netflix. Very ahead of his time. I ended up getting into this show too. And it launched many conversations on politics between us.
Also, any Tamela Mann / Tasha Cobbs song bc he blared them like others blare Beyonce. He loves to break out in praise even when he wasnt signing on the praise team.
What is one of your favorite memories of you and the groom together?
hmmmm interestingly this is a very hard question haha. Marvin is one of my greatest friends and travel buddies, so whether its driving to Las Vegas listening to the 2016 primaries before turning up in the club, getting massages on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, traversing airports overnight to get Sao Paulo....he's always a good time. THOUGH, speaking of that last one, Marvin got on a planning call for our trip to Sao Paulo and said "I've been doing my research. No one goes to Sao Paulo. Everyone goes to Rio. I think we need to go to Rio." That was a funny moment. I will also say this, some my favorite moments with Marvin is in the mundane. We were roommates for about two years. So we spent a lot of time together.
When did you know the groom was in love?
I would say pretty early on. We (Duante and I) came to Oakland to visit Marvin over the New Year holiday after he moved to Oakland. We met Carl. And I wont say that I knew immediately. But Carl just has a way. And Marvin was quickly swept away.
What is your greatest wish for the groom's marriage?
I have felt blessed to witness Carl & Marvin's love. I have seen how they fluidly move to fill in any gaps or needs in each others' lives. I have seen how they've bolstered and buttressed each other. I pray they continue to morph and mold to meet each other needs and grow into the fullness of what their love will be.
What advice do you have for the couple?
Continue to talk it out!