One groom used the bridal suite for a unique pre-wedding event.
In a viral TikTok video, Maia and Grant shared a glimpse into their relationship dynamics when Grant and his friends “hijacked” her bridal suite the night before their wedding for an impromptu Pokémon card game session.
The viral video shows Grant and his friends gathering in Maia’s bridal suite engrossed in a game of Pokémon. Recounting the event, Maia exclusively tells PEOPLE, “I was coming off a cold after our rehearsal dinner and told Grant I was going to head to bed.”
“I remember him saying he wanted to hang out with his friends, and I casually mentioned that my suite had a bigger space and extra tables,” she continues. “Next thing I knew, it became the unofficial Pokémon headquarters for the night.”
Interestingly, Maia had initially set a “no Pokémon” rule for the wedding weekend. But as it turned out, that was easier said than done. Grant and all his friends had their Pokémon decks packed and ready to play.
For Grant, playing Pokémon together isn’t just a game: it’s a core part of his friendships. He and his tight-knit group have been playing together since 2019. “Every single person in that room, I don’t treat as a friend,” Grant tells PEOPLE. “Those are all like my brothers.”
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The couple, who met on Tinder in 2021, formed a strong bond over their shared love for gaming. After dating for nearly 4 years, they tied the knot on September 21, 2024, and even embraced their love of Pokémon beyond the pre-wedding festivities. Maia reveals, “We even handed out Pokémon packs at the reception!”
While some might have expected a more traditional night-before-the-wedding gathering, Grant’s choice resonated with many TikTok users calling him a “ green flag.”
Maia wholeheartedly agrees saying, “I love that this is what my husband does. He’s not partying, and this is totally on-brand for us. We’ve always just done what makes us happy and that night, playing Pokémon made them happy.”
Grant echoes those sentiments, adding, “We saw comments from people saying, ‘You have to keep him.’ Seeing people appreciate our relationship and respect that happiness looks different for everyone was really cool. And I actually knew she was the one from the first time we met.”
The couple believes their relationship works because they respect and support each other’s passions. “For us, it’s about balance,” Maia shares. “He’ll take me to Barnes & Noble because I love it, and I support his Pokémon obsession. He’s my best friend and it’s the little things that matter.”
And while Grant didn’t include Pokémon in his bachelor party, gaming still played a major role. He and his friends took on the blackjack tables at Atlantic City. “It was just about having fun together,” Grant notes. “And of course, we still ended up talking about Pokémon at some point.”
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