In a move that defied tradition and perhaps the expectations of "appropriate" wedding decorum, Tulsa couple and hip-hop artists Aaron and Mariah Sawyer replaced their "I do's" with bars and beats. According to KOCO, the couple went viral after rapping their wedding vows, garnering over 10 million views on social media platforms Instagram and TikTok. The unconventional vow exchange took place in the Sawyers' front yard in September, to the surprise of their 100 guests.

Despite the viral fame, the Sawyers faced the music of public opinion, with most social media comments skewering their performance. "Even though people were hating on our wedding vows, we were still living our dreams as hip hop artists in that same moment," Mariah told FOX23. This backlash apparently did little to dampen the newlyweds' spirits or affect their honeymoon, with Aaron stating, "It’s testament to how solid our love and relationship is because a lot of people put a lot of stress on the relationship getting a bunch of negative comments."

Their shared love of hip-hop was a foundational aspect of their relationship, so the choice to rap their wedding vows was fitting. As Mariah explained in an interview with WSAZ, "That’s how we met was through hip hop and rap so it was perfect." The Sawyers' decision to integrate their passion for music into their wedding ceremony highlights an individualistic approach towards marriage rituals in contemporary culture.

Despite the widespread criticism, the couple stood firm on their choices. "We just detach, she deleted Instagram off her phone. I’m not looking at every comment," Aaron told FOX23, revealing their method of handling the online vitriol. The Sawyers are not letting the negative feedback silence their creative expressions, with plans to track and release their wedding vows as a song, further cementing their commitment to being true to themselves as artists and as a couple.