Man Proposes to Peeps-Loving Girlfriend in Marshmallow Candy-Themed Hotel 'Sweet Suite'
"He knows how much I love Peeps, so going to the Peeps Sweet Suite was special enough, but this was the icing on the cake!" Carly Jessup said of her fiancé's surprise
A Georgia man planned a sweet surprise for his Peeps-loving girlfriend!
Just ahead of the Easter holiday, Matthew Rivera took his college sweetheart Carly Jessup on a trip to the Philadelphia area to stay in the popular marshmallow candy brand's exclusive Sweet Suite at the Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel in Easton, Pa., according to a Peeps press release. He surprised Jessup, 28, by getting down on one knee and popping the question — with the help of a wingman: the Peeps chick mascot.
For a limited time from March 18-29, the Sweet Suite — which has been decked out with custom-made Peeps decor and stocked with Peeps treats and merch — is hosting fans for a one- or two-night stay.
Related: They Both Said Yes! Couple Surprises Each Other by Proposing at the Same Time
When Rivera, 27, heard about the suite, he rushed to book a stay for himself and Jessup, who has been collecting Peeps items for more than 20 years, since she was a young girl.
"[She] has one of the largest collections I have ever seen," Rivera said in the release. "We were looking to take a trip somewhere, and I knew the opportunity to stay in a fully 'PEEPed-out' hotel room would be a dream for Carly. Philadelphia is nearby and was on our bucket list of cities to visit, so it was a perfect opportunity."
Rivera said that just days after booking the suite "the wheels starting turning" and he realized the trip presented "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to pull off a really special proposal for Jessup. He reached out to the customer service line for Just Born Inc., Peeps' parent company, and the team there jumped right in and helped Rivera with the proposal arrangements.
"The people at Peeps have been incredible, and helped me iron out even the smallest details," Rivera said.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
When the big moment arrived, the couple was getting ready in the colorful suite when there was a knock on the door. The Peeps chick entered carrying a basket containing a bejeweled Peeps chick.
"It’s a bit of a blur, but before I knew it, [Rivera] got down on one knee very sweetly to propose," Jessup recalled in the release. "I was very surprised!"
Related: Bride Goes Viral After Her Fiancé Proposed and Surprised Her with a Wedding on the Same Day!
She said her now-fiancé couldn't have planned a more perfect proposal. "He knows how much I love Peeps, so going to the Peeps Sweet Suite this March was special enough, but this was the icing on the cake!" added Jessup, whose favorite Peeps candy flavor is sour watermelon.
She and Rivera — who is partial to Peeps' classic yellow chick marshmallows — first met in college when they were paired up for a class project. "I [already] had developed a huge crush on her. I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen," Rivera recalled.
They reconnected a few years later, and Rivera asked Jessup out on a date — "and the rest is history," he said.
"What I love most about Carly goes beyond her looks. She has the most genuine, loving heart of anyone I have ever met," Rivera raved of his fiancée. "She inspires me to become the best person and partner every day because she deserves nothing less."
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.