B.I.O.: Mario Burney, Kandace Murray

| Print Post This | Like (13) | Comments (3)

Mario, 33, is a director of premier services. Kandace, 28, is a business operations manager. They live in Alexandria.

» The Main Event: A Florida Keys wedding with just 26 guests on Oct. 23. The reception will be on a Victorian-style veranda overlooking the beach.

» How They Met: He hosted a barbecue in his D.C. condo; his cousin Korey invited some co-workers, one of whom was Kandace.

» First Date: At Mario's house; they grabbed takeout and went to his place to watch a movie. "I ended up falling asleep on his shoulder and snoring. Extremely embarrassing."

» How He Proposed: Over a week. On Monday, he gave her a dozen roses and an envelope labeled, "Because I love you Monday," with a letter inside. On Tuesday, another gift and another letter, and so on through the week. On Sunday, he drove her to the Jefferson Memorial and gave her the final letter — and this one ended in a question.

» Pet Names: He's "Poppa," and she's "Suga Pie."

» When They Knew: When he took care of her after a minor surgery. "I asked myself, 'What the heck are you doing taking care of this girl as if you're all in love with her or something?' That's when it hit me: 'You idiot, that's exactly why you're doing it.'"

Written by Express contributor Rachel Kaufman