Matthew Rivera proposes to Carly Jessup in the Peeps Sweet Suite. Photo by Mark Stehle Photography for Peeps®
Peeps—the chick-shaped, commonly yellow marshmallow treats are an Easter staple.
The candy carries a more personal meaning for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alums Matthew Rivera and Carly Jessup.
On March 25, Rivera proposed to Jessup in a Peeps-themed suite near Peeps headquarters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The couple started dating in 2020, but their journey began in 2018 when they met in UTC Senior Lecturer Sheena Monds’ women’s studies class.
“Carly sat across the room from me,” Rivera said. “I had the perfect line of sight. Every day in that class, I would just think Carly was so beautiful.”
The two ended up working on a class project together. Jessup was in a relationship at the time and graduated that year, so Rivera waited a couple of years before asking her out on a date to the Tennessee Aquarium.
“I never really let on that I liked her,” Rivera said. “I had a huge crush on her from that class, so I just shot my shot years later.”
Following a period of courtship in Chattanooga, Rivera’s 2020 UTC graduation, a period of long-distance dating, and their move to Macon, Georgia, together, Rivera felt prepared to pop the question.
After purchasing the ring, the only question for Rivera was: where?
The decision was made simple when Jessup stumbled upon the Peeps suite on Instagram. She immediately sent it to Rivera.
“This was a dream for Carly,” he said. “I just booked it right away not even thinking about the proposal. After a few days I was thinking, ‘Well if I do propose, where would be more personalized than the Peeps room?’”
Jessup hasn’t told many people about her massive Peeps collection that started in elementary school. From Peeps books, stuffed animals and clothing to Peeps-flavored soda, she really has it all.
“It was a thoughtful gesture by Matt,” Jessup said. “All the stuff he did behind the scenes to include something that I love so much, it was very sweet.”
Not only did she come out of the Peeps suite experience newly engaged, but she also acquired many new items for her collection—including a bejeweled Peep free-of-charge.
“I had to ask if there was anything I could use to present the ring,” Rivera said. “At first they sent over a plastic Peep and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s perfect.’ And then two days later they followed up with that thing.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is getting way more real now.’”
Since the proposal, Rivera and Jessup have garnered some attention for their unique engagement, including being featured in a People magazine article.
“Everyone has asked if I was nervous at all,” Rivera said, “and I was like, ‘I’ve been ready to marry this girl since the moment she agreed to go on a date with me.’ The fact that it’s actually real now, I feel amazing.”
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Photo Gallery by Mark Stehle Photography for Peeps®
