Courtney & Mark in Jekyll Island, GA

A few months into dating, Courtney and Mark gave their relationship a true test—and passed with flying colors. Courtney and Mark met in the MBA program at Emory University. The two soon paired up on a project and became close, and when a trip to China was offered through their school, they not only decided to go, they planned to travel throughout Asia together afterward. “We left for our 32-day trip and truly fell in love along the way,” Courtney says. “Our parents said if you can travel with each other for a month straight and come back still wanting to be together, then it just might be the real thing.” The Bride Courtney Ripps, 31, senior brand manager The Groom Mark McKee, 29, investment banker The Date September 30 Fourteen months later, Mark surprised Courtney with a trip to St. Lucia, and during a private waterfront dinner he dropped to one knee and proposed. The couple exchanged vows in a sunset ceremony 11 months later.